H6587 H6587
a step (noun); used in the phrase 'as a step between me and death' in 1 Samuel 20:3
This noun means 'step' or 'pace,' appearing only in 1 Samuel 20:3 in Jonathan and David's conversation about Saul's murderous intent. David swears: 'As the LORD lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.' The expression 'a step' (or 'one step') conveys extreme proximity—David is one pace away from being killed. The imagery is spatial: death is not some distant possibility but an immediate threat, as close as a single footfall. This dramatic declaration emphasizes the urgency of David's situation and his need for Jonathan's help in discerning Saul's true intentions.
Senses
1. sense 1 — First Samuel 20:3 records David's urgent appeal: 'There is but a step between me and death.' The multilingual glosses (step, paso) consistently translate the distance metaphor. Jonathan has been skeptical about his father's plans to kill David, but David insists Saul is hiding his intent from Jonathan. The 'step' image makes tangible the peril—death is not merely possible but imminent, requiring immediate action. This leads to their elaborate signal plan to determine Saul's intentions. The phrase became proverbial for extreme danger, expressing life's fragility when threatened. 1×
AR["كَـ-خُطْوَةٍ"]·ben["পদক্ষেপের-মতো"]·DE["wie-ein-step"]·EN["as-a-step"]·FR["comme-un-step"]·heb["כ-פסע"]·HI["जैसे-कदम"]·ID["seperti-selangkah"]·IT["come-un-gradino"]·jav["namung-satindak"]·KO["한-걸음처럼"]·PT["como-um-passo"]·RU["как-шаг"]·ES["como-paso"]·SW["hatua"]·TR["bir-adım"]·urd["بس-ایک-قدم"]
Related Senses
H4941 1. justice, righteousness (134×)H4941 2. judgment, judicial decision (119×)H4941 3. ordinances, statutes (plural) (110×)H8199 1. to judge, adjudicate (98×)G2919 1. judge, pass judgment (76×)H8199 2. judge (person, office-holder) (61×)G2920 1. judgment / condemnation (48×)H7378 1. Qal: quarrel, contend, strive (42×)H4941 4. prescribed ordinance, regulation (34×)G1832 1. it is lawful, it is permitted (32×)G2917 1. judgment, condemnation (27×)G2919 2. be judged, stand trial (27×)H5360 1. vengeance, retribution (27×)H7378 2. Qal: plead, defend, litigate (22×)G2723 1. accuse, bring charges against (20×)G2923 1. judge (one who judges/decides) (19×)G2632 1. condemn, pass judgment against (18×)H1777 1. judge, adjudicate (18×)H1576 1. recompense, retribution (17×)H5359 1. vengeance, retribution (17×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† פֶּ֫שַׂע n.[m.] step; כְּפ׳ בֵּינִי וּבֵין הַמָּ֑וֶת 1 S 20:3.