1 Samuel 20:17

1 Samuel 20:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
• New International Version (NIV)And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now Jonathan again caused David to vow, because he loved him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

Context of 1 Samuel 20:17

15You shall never cut off your lovingkindness and faithfulness from my house, not even when the Lord cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.” 16So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David. [He added,] “May the Lord require it at the hands of David’s enemies. [that is, hold them accountable for any harm they inflict on David].” Jonathan made David vow again because of his love for him, for Jonathan loved him as himself. 18Then Jonathan said to David, “Tomorrow is the New Moon [festival], and you will be missed because your seat will be empty. 19When you have stayed for three days, you shall go down quickly and come to the place where you hid yourself on that eventful day [when my father tried to kill you], and shall stay by the stone Ezel.

1 Samuel 20:17 word by word

וַיּ֤וֹסֶף יְהֽוֹנָתָן֙ לְהַשְׁבִּ֣יעַ אֶת־דָּוִ֔ד בְּאַהֲבָת֖וֹ אֹת֑וֹ כִּֽי־אַהֲבַ֥ת נַפְשׁ֖וֹ אֲהֵבֽוֹ׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָןyehônâthân · JonathanH3083
• caused Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• to swearשָׁבַעshâba‛ · to swearH7650
• againיָסַףyâsaph · to add: againH3254
• because he lovedאַהֲבָה'ahăbâh · loveH160
• him: for he lovedאָהֵב'âhab 'âhêb · to love: loverH157
• his own soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soulH5315

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 20:17

• 1 Samuel 18:1When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bonded to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself.
• 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 20:17

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-23Verses 11-23 Jonathan faithfully promises that he would let David know how he found his father affected towards him. It will be kindness to ourselves and to ours, to secure an interest in those whom God favours, and to make his friends ours. True friendship rests on a firm basis, and is able to silence ambition, self-love, and undue regard for others. But who can fully understand the love of Jesus, who gave himself as a sacrifice for rebellious, polluted…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17See 1 Samuel 18:3 and 23:16–18.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 20:17

• Alliances
• Oath

In the dictionaries

• David
• Jonathan
• Artillery
• Require
• Jesse
• Jonathan (2)
• Oath
• Samuel, Books of
• Alliances
• New Moon

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 20

• 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