1 Samuel 18:1

1 Samuel 18:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
• New International Version (NIV)After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.
• English Standard Version (ESV)As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

Context of 1 Samuel 18:1

When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bonded to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself. 2Saul took David that day and did not let him return to his father’s house. 3Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.

1 Samuel 18:1 word by word

וַיְהִ֗י כְּכַלֹּתוֹ֙ לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל־שָׁא֔וּל וְנֶ֙פֶשׁ֙ יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן נִקְשְׁרָ֖ה בְּנֶ֣פֶשׁ דָּוִ֑ד וַיֶּאֱהָבֵ֥הוּ יְהוֹנָתָ֖ן כְּנַפְשֽׁוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And it came to pass, when he had made an endכָּלָהkâlâh · to end: finishH3615
• of speakingדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
• unto Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• that the soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soulH5315
• of Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָןyehônâthân · JonathanH3083
• was knitקָשַׁרqâshar · to conspireH7194
• of Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• lovedאָהֵב'âhab 'âhêb · to love: loverH157

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 18:1

• 1 Samuel 14:1One day Jonathan the son of Saul said to his young armor bearer, “Come, let us go over to the Philistine garrison on the other side.” But he did not tell his father.
• Genesis 44:30Now, therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the young man is not with us, since his life is bound up in the young man’s life,
• Judges 20:11So all the men of Israel assembled against the city, united as one man.
• 1 Chronicles 12:17David went out to meet them and said to them, “If you have come peacefully to me to help me, my heart shall be united with you; but if you have come to betray me to my adversaries, since there is no violence or wrong in my hands, may the God of our fathers look on [what you are doing] and punish [you].”
• Psalms 86:11Teach me Your way, O Lord, I will walk and live in Your truth; Direct my heart to fear Your name [with awe-inspired reverence and submissive wonder].
• Colossians 2:2[For my hope is] that their hearts may be encouraged as they are knit together in [unselfish] love, so that they may have all the riches that come from the full assurance of understanding [the joy of salvation], resulting in a true [and more intimate] knowledge of the mystery of God, that is, Christ,
• 2 Samuel 18:3But the men said, “You should not go out [to battle with us]. For if in fact we retreat, they will not care about us; even if half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us. So now it is better that you be ready to help us from the city [of Mahanaim].”
• 2 Samuel 19:2So the victory on that day was turned into mourning for all the people, for the people heard it said on that day, “The king grieves for his son.”
• 2 Samuel 20:17So when he approached her, the woman asked, “Are you Joab?” He answered, “I am.” Then she said to him, “Listen to the words of your maidservant.” He answered, “I am listening.”
• Deuteronomy 13:6“If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you cherish, or your friend who is as [precious to you as] your own life (soul), entices you secretly, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods’ (gods whom neither you nor your fathers have known,
• 2 Samuel 1:26I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; You have been a good friend to me. Your love toward me was more wonderful Than the love of women.
• Proverbs 18:24The man of too many friends [chosen indiscriminately] will be broken in pieces and come to ruin, But there is a [true, loving] friend who [is reliable and] sticks closer than a brother.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 18:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1When he had made an end of speaking - These first five verses are omitted by the Septuagint. See the notes on the preceding chapter, 1 Samuel 17 (note). Jonathan loved him as his own soul - The most intimate friendship subsisted between them; and they loved each other with pure hearts fervently. No love was lost between them; each was worthy of the other. They had a friendship which could not be affected with changes or chances, and which exemplified all…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Was knit with the soul of David - The same forcible phrase occurs of Jacob‘s love for Benjamin (marginal reference). Jonathan‘s truly heroic character is shown in this generous love of David, and admiration of his great deed.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Jonathan's friendship for David. (1-5) Saul seeks to kill David. (6-11) Saul's fear of David. (12-30) Verses 1-5 The friendship of David and Jonathan was the effect of Divine grace, which produces in true believers one heart and one soul, and causes them to love each other. This union of souls is from partaking in the Spirit of Christ. Where God unites hearts, carnal matters are too weak to separate them. Those who love Christ as their own souls, will be…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1David and Jonathan shared many similarities, both were: young and capable, military heroes, had strong faith in God, and had claims to Israel's throne (each had a reason he could become king). Jonathan's true character showed when he recognized and supported God's choice of David as the next king of Israel (see 1 Samuel 18:3–4; 20:12–17). Jonathan loved him as himself: See 1 Samuel 20:17; 2 Samuel 1:26. Others in this chapter are also said to love David…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-41Sa 18:1-4. Jonathan Loves David. 1. the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David--They were nearly of an age. The prince had taken little interest in David as a minstrel; but his heroism and modest, manly bearing, his piety and high endowments, kindled the flame not of admiration only, but of affection, in the congenial mind of Jonathan.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 18:1

• Constancy
• David
• Friendship
• Jonathan

In the dictionaries

• David
• Jonathan
• Saul
• Paul, Saul
• Ascribe
• Avoid
• Kingdom
• Soul
• Stripling
• Tabret

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings