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

After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself. 2And from that day Saul kept David with him 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

• Afterהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
• David had finishedכָּלָהkâlâh · to end: finishH3615
• speakingדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
• withאֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
• Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• the soulsנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soulH5315
• of Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָןyehônâthân · JonathanH3083
• and Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• were knit togetherקָשַׁרqâshar · to conspireH7194
• loved himאָהֵב'âhab 'âhêb · to love: loverH157

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 18:1

• 1 Samuel 14:1One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But Jonathan did not tell his father.
• Genesis 44:30So if the boy is not with us when I return to your servant, and if my father, whose life is wrapped up in the boy’s life,
• Judges 20:11So all the men of Israel gathered as one man, united against the city.
• 1 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.”
• Psalms 86:11Teach me Your way, O LORD, that I may walk in Your truth. Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name.
• Colossians 2:2that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ,
• 2 Samuel 18:3But the people pleaded, “You must not go out! For if we have to flee, they will not care about us. Even if half of us die, they will not care. But you are worth ten thousand of us. It is better now if you support us from the city.”
• 2 Samuel 19:2And that day’s victory was turned into mourning for all the people, because on that day they were told, “The king is grieving over his son.”
• 2 Samuel 20:17When he had come near to her, the woman asked, “Are you Joab?” “I am,” he replied. “Listen to the words of your servant,” she said. “I am listening,” he answered.
• Deuteronomy 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,
• 2 Samuel 1:26I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother. You were delightful to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.
• Proverbs 18:24A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays 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