1 Samuel 20:9

9 And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee; for, if I knew with certainty that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, would I not tell it thee?

1 Samuel 20:9 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 20:9

And Jonathan said, far be it from thee
To entertain such a thought of me, or to have the least suspicion of me, that I should conceal my father's ill intentions against thee, if known to me;

for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come
upon thee, then would I not tell it thee?
certainly I would; canst thou doubt of my kindness and fidelity? surely thou hast no reason, when such a covenant of friendship subsists between us, and there has not been the least breach of it on either side.

1 Samuel 20:9 In-Context

7 If he say thus, It is well, -- thy servant shall have peace; but if he be very wroth, be sure that evil is determined by him.

8 Deal kindly then with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of Jehovah with thee; but if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?

9 And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee; for, if I knew with certainty that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, would I not tell it thee?

10 Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly?

11 And Jonathan said to David, Come and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field.