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1 Samuel 18:3

in 1 Samuel 18

Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

KJV

Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

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This verse in 1 Samuel 18

Commentary

6 notes on this verse

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Then Jonathan and David made a covenant--Such covenants of brotherhood are frequent in the East. They are ratified by certain ceremonies, and in presence of witnesses, that the persons covenanting will be sworn brothers for life.

This site's exposition

the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together

on 1 Samuel 18:1-4

Jonathan is heir to Saul’s throne, and his love falls on the man Samuel has anointed to take it. He gives David his robe, tunic, sword, bow and belt, the king’s son handing over the tokens of a throne. The covenant sworn here holds through 20:14 to 15 and beyond.

This site's exposition

Jonathan made a covenant with David

Jamieson, Fausset and Brown describe such a covenant as a bond of brothers, made before witnesses and sworn for life. Saul's own son makes this covenant with David. Jonathan loved David as himself, and the verse gives that love as its one reason.

The record, by era

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Bede

Commentary on Samuel · Written before 735.

proposed

Jonathan and David made a covenant, etc. Christ and the Church made a covenant of mutual charity and peace. For the Church loved Him in its more perfect members, so much so that it was ready to die for Him; deeming it just to give …

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

Then Jonathan and David made a covenant,....

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

Those who love Christ as their own souls will be willing to join themselves to him in an everlasting covenant. That both court and country agree to bless him. It is but seldom that they agree in their favourites; yet David was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also (which was strange) in the sight of Saul's servants,

The words behind it

7 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וַיִּכְרֹ֧תand he made

    vaiyikhrotH3772 →288 times

  • יְהוֹנָתָ֛ןJonathan

    yehonatanH3083 →81 times

  • וְדָוִ֖דand David

    vedavidH1732 →999 times

  • בְּרִ֑יתa covenant

    beritH1285 →284 times

  • בְּאַהֲבָת֥וֹin love his

    beahavatoH160 →38 times

  • אֹת֖וֹ<obj.> him

    ʾotoH853 →10935 times

  • כְּנַפְשֽׁוֹ׃like own self his

    kenafshoH5315 →754 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

1 Samuel 18:1After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself.10 worksProverbs 17:17A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.7 works1 Samuel 20:42And Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for the two of us have sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘May the LORD be a witness between you and me, and between your descendants and mine forever.’” Then David got up and departed, and Jonathan went back into the city.6 works1 Samuel 20:8–17Therefore deal faithfully with your servant, for you have brought me into a covenant with you before the LORD. If there is iniquity in me, then kill me yourself; why should you bring me to your father?”6 works2 Samuel 21:7Now the king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the LORD between David and Jonathan son of Saul.5 works1 Samuel 23:18So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.5 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
2 Samuel 9:1–3Then David asked, “Is there anyone left from the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for the sake of Jonathan?”4 works1 Samuel 22:8Is that why all of you have conspired against me? Not one of you told me that my own son had made a covenant with the son of Jesse. Not one of you has shown concern for me or revealed to me that my son has stirred up my own servant to lie in wait against me, as is the case today.”4 works1 Samuel 20:17And Jonathan had David reaffirm his vow out of love for him, for Jonathan loved David as he loved himself.4 worksPhilippians 2:20I have nobody else like him who will genuinely care for your needs.4 works1 Samuel 20:16So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the LORD hold David’s enemies accountable.”3 worksDeuteronomy 13:6If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you embrace, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (which neither you nor your fathers have known,3 works1 Samuel 20:41When the young man had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone, fell facedown, and bowed three times. Then he and Jonathan kissed each other and wept together—though David wept more.3 works2 Chronicles 23:1Then in the seventh year, Jehoiada strengthened himself and made a covenant with the commanders of hundreds—with Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zichri.2 works1 Chronicles 12:17And David went out to meet them, saying, “If you have come to me in peace to help me, my heart will be united with you; but if you have come to betray me to my enemies when my hands are free of violence, may the God of our fathers see it and judge you.”2 works2 Kings 11:4Then in the seventh year, Jehoiada sent for the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, and the guards, and had them brought into the house of the LORD. There he made a covenant with them and put them under oath. He showed them the king’s son2 worksGenesis 21:27So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant.2 worksGenesis 21:32After they had made the covenant at Beersheba, Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army got up and returned to the land of the Philistines.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    2 Samuel 21:7

    Now the king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the LORD between David and Jonathan son of Saul.

    it leads to

    • 1 Samuel 23:18

      So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • 1 Samuel 20:15

      and do not ever cut off your loving devotion from my household—not even when the LORD cuts off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.”

    • 2 Samuel 4:4

      And Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the report about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up…

    • 2 Samuel 9:10

      You and your sons and servants are to work the ground for him and bring in the harvest, so that your master’s grandson may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, is…

    • 1 Samuel 20:8

      Therefore deal faithfully with your servant, for you have brought me into a covenant with you before the LORD. If there is iniquity in me, then kill me yourself; why should you bring me…

  • Through

    1 Samuel 20:42

    And Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for the two of us have sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘May the LORD be a witness between you and me, and between…

    it leads to

    • 1 Samuel 1:17

      “Go in peace,” Eli replied, “and may the God of Israel grant the petition you have asked of Him.”

  • Through

    1 Samuel 23:18

    So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.

    it leads to

    • 1 Samuel 20:42

      And Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for the two of us have sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘May the LORD be a witness between you and me, and between…

    • 2 Samuel 21:7

      Now the king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the LORD between David and Jonathan son of Saul.

Where this verse is studied

About 1 Samuel

Saul Attempts to Kill David — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
Saul Attempts to Kill David — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
1 Samuel: the study guide →Read 1 Samuel 18 →

This page draws on Bede, Commentary on Samuel; Jamieson Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in 1 Samuel 18 →