2 Samuel 1:26
in 2 Samuel 1I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother. You were delightful to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: Very pleasant hast thou been unto me: Thy love to me was wonderful, Passing the love of women.
KJV
I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
⋯
This verse in 2 Samuel 1
Commentary
10 notes on this verseFor, besides the loss of a true friend, which is inestimable; he lost him who both could, and undoubtedly would have given him a speedy, and quiet, and sure possession of the kingdom, whereas now, he met with long and troublesome interruptions. Of women - That is, that love wherewith they love their husbands, or children for their affections are usually more ardent than mens.
This site's exposition
How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle
on 2 Samuel 1:25-26
The refrain returns a second time and the lament narrows from the nation's grief to David's own, distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan. Thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women, opens the covenant thread that runs from Jonathan stripping himself of robe and sword for David at 1 Samuel 18:1-4 through their last meeting at 23:16-18, where Jonathan strengthened David's hand in God. Blaikie and the older writers read the phrase as covenant loyalty rather than romance, the same weight of chesed that names the kindness of God shown later to Jonathan's own son at chapter 9.
This site's exposition
I grieve for you, Jonathan
John Wesley reads the love of women as the love women bear their husbands and children. Wesley adds that David lost the brother who would have given him the throne of Saul in peace. Chrysostom praises Jonathan, who loved David and never envied him.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
I will now cite you from the Scriptures a wonderful instance of friendship. Jonathan, the son of Saul, loved David, and his soul was so knit to him, that David in mourning over him says, "Thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. Thou wast wounded unto death." What then? did he envy David? Not at all, though he had great reason. How? Because, by the events he perceived that the kingdom would pass from himself to him, yet he felt nothing of the kind. He did not say, "This is he that is depriving me of my paternal kingdom," but he favored his obtaining the sovereignty; and he spared not his father for the sake of his friend. Yet let not any one think him a parricide, for he did not injure his father, but restrained his unjust attempts. He rather spared than injured him. He did not permit him to proceed to an unjust murder. He was many times willing even to die for his friend, and far from accusing him, he restrained even his father's accusation. Instead of envying, he joined in obtaining the kingdom for him. Why do I speak of wealth? He even sacrificed his own life for him. For the sake of his friend, he did not even stand in awe of his father, since his father entertained unjust designs, but his conscience was free from all such. Thus justice was conjoined with friendship. Such then was Jonathan. Let us now consider David. He had no opportunity of returning the recompense, for his benefactor was taken away before the reign of David, and slain before he whom he had served came to his kingdom. What then? As far as it was allowed him and left in his power, let us see how that righteous man manifested his friendship. "Very pleasant," he says, "hast thou been to me, Jonathan; thou wast wounded unto death." Is this all? […]
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
It is the vanity of this world that what is most pleasant to us we are most liable to be distressed in. The more we love the more we grieve. (3.) He was deeply concerned for the honour of God; for this is what he has an eye to when he fears lest the daughters of the uncircumcised, that are out of covenant with God, should triumph over Israel, and the God of Israel,
And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. 4 And David said unto him, How went the matter? And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:100%@v3-4
I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, &c.--The fondness for dress, which anciently distinguished Oriental women, is their characteristic still.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-run:15w-of-29
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Charles Spurgeon1834–1892
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2336: “The Love Of Jonathan and the Love Of Jesus” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) · Written before 1892.
proposed
DAVID was a poet and when he found that his best-beloved friend had fallen by the arrows of the Philistines, he wept greatly and then he cheered his heart by writing the very fine elegy which, in later years was called, "The Song of the Bow." Even if David's lamentation is judged according to the canons of literary taste, it must be placed among the first of poetical compositions. Thus David tried to keep his friend's memory green—the song was meant to be a memorial of him.
A commentator
Charles Spurgeon1834–1892
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2336: “The Love Of Jonathan and the Love Of Jesus” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) · Written before 1892.
proposed
DAVID was a poet and when he found that his best-beloved friend had fallen by the arrows of the Philistines, he wept greatly and then he cheered his heart by writing the very fine elegy which, in later years was called, "The Song of the Bow." Even if David's lamentation is judged according to the canons of literary taste, it must be placed among the first of poetical compositions. Thus David tried to keep his friend's memory green—the song was meant to be a memorial of him. Such friends as Jonathan are not common and when we have had them, we must not forget them. It is sad that, in these days, friendship is proverbially a frail thing. Friends are like swallows that are with us in our summertime and gone when the damps of autumn begin to gather. When a man has a faithful friend, let him grapple him to his side with hooks of steel! And when he loses him, let him know that he has lost what will be very hard to replace and let him not forget his friend though he is buried beneath the sod. True friendship likes to fashion memorials of the departed. We keep mementos of the loved ones we have lost. We like to think of the happy days of communion we have had together and we will not allow the cherished name to be blotted out from the memory of men. When I thought of this subject, I said to myself, "I shall see many, tonight, who are lovers of the Lord Jesus Christ. I shall be face to face with thousands who love Him as they love their own soul." I believe that is my happiness now. Well then, beloved Friends, let us who love Christ keep Him always in memory. If you can speak of His name, be not silent.
The words behind it
13 Hebrew wordsEvery 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.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| צַר־ | tzar- | it is distress | H6887 → | |
| לִ֣י | li | to <the> me | ||
| עָלֶ֗יךָ | ʾaleikha | on you | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| אָחִי֙ | ʾachi | O brother my | H251 → | 630 times |
| יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן | yehonatan | Jonathan | H3083 → | 81 times |
| נָעַ֥מְתָּ | naamta | you were pleasant | H5276 → | |
| לִּ֖י | li | to <the> me | ||
| מְאֹ֑ד | meod | very | H3966 → | 300 times |
| נִפְלְאַ֤תָה | nifleatah | it was wonderful | H6381 → | |
| אַהֲבָֽתְךָ֙ | ʾahavatekha | love your | H160 → | 38 times |
| לִ֔י | li | to <the> me | ||
| מֵאַהֲבַ֖ת | meahavat | more than [the] love of | H160 → | 38 times |
| נָשִֽׁים׃ | nashim | women | H802 → | 781 times |
צַר־it is distress
tzar-H6887 →
לִ֣יto <the> me
li
עָלֶ֗יךָon you
ʾaleikhaH5921 →5755 times
אָחִי֙O brother my
ʾachiH251 →630 times
יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ןJonathan
yehonatanH3083 →81 times
נָעַ֥מְתָּyou were pleasant
naamtaH5276 →
לִּ֖יto <the> me
li
מְאֹ֑דvery
meodH3966 →300 times
נִפְלְאַ֤תָהit was wonderful
nifleatahH6381 →
אַהֲבָֽתְךָ֙love your
ʾahavatekhaH160 →38 times
לִ֔יto <the> me
li
מֵאַהֲבַ֖תmore than [the] love of
meahavatH160 →38 times
נָשִֽׁים׃women
nashimH802 →781 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach 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
1 Samuel 23:16And Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and strengthened his hand in God,
it leads to
- Isaiah 35:3–4
Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees!
- Hebrews 12:12–13
Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees.
- Job 4:3–4
Surely you have instructed many, and have strengthened their feeble hands.
- 2 Timothy 2:1
You therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
- Ephesians 6:10
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
- Isaiah 35:3–4
Through
1 Samuel 20:17And Jonathan had David reaffirm his vow out of love for him, for Jonathan loved David as he loved himself.
it leads to
- 1 Samuel 18:3
Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 18:24
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
- 1 Samuel 18:3
Through
1 Samuel 19:2so he warned David, saying, “My father Saul intends to kill you. Be on your guard in the morning; find a secret place and hide there.
it leads to
- Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
- Proverbs 17:17
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About 2 Samuel
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2336: “The Love Of Jonathan and the Love Of Jesus” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homilies on 2 Timothy 7; John Chrysostom, HOMILIES ON 2 TIMOTHY 7; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and W. G. Blaikie, The Second Book of Samuel (Expositor's Bible).