1 Samuel 24:21 Meaning and Explanation
“Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father’s house.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Saul asks David to swear he will not destroy Saul's descendants or blot out his family name.
What Does 1 Samuel 24:21 Mean?
Knowing the throne will pass to David, Saul makes a request born of a father's fear: swear by the LORD not to cut off his descendants or erase his family name. In that age a new dynasty often wiped out the old. Saul asks the very man he hunted to show his house the mercy he himself failed to show.
The plea reveals how deeply Saul now trusts David's integrity — he stakes his children's lives on David's oath. And David's known mercy makes the request reasonable, for the man who spared the king can be trusted with the king's house. There is grace in being the kind of person an enemy can appeal to. Faithfulness builds a name that others lean on even in their fear.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 24:21
What does 1 Samuel 24:21 mean?
Saul asks David to swear he will not destroy Saul's descendants or blot out his family name.