1 Samuel 18:3

1 Samuel 18:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
• New International Version (NIV)And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

Context of 1 Samuel 18:3

1After 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. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 4And Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt. 5So David marched out and prospered in everything Saul sent him to do, and Saul set him over the men of war. And this was pleasing in the sight of all the people, and of Saul’s officers as well.

1 Samuel 18:3 word by word

וַיִּכְרֹ֧ת יְהוֹנָתָ֛ן וְדָוִ֖ד בְּרִ֑ית בְּאַהֲבָת֥וֹ אֹת֖וֹ כְּנַפְשֽׁוֹ׃Read the interlinear

• Then Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָןyehônâthân · JonathanH3083
• madeכָּרַתkârath · to cut: make(covenant)H3772
• a covenantבְּרִיתberîyth · covenantH1285
• with Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• because he lovedאַהֲבָה'ahăbâh · loveH160
• himאֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
• as himselfנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soulH5315

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 18:3

• 1 Samuel 20:8Therefore show kindness to 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?”
• 1 Samuel 23:18So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.
• 2 Samuel 9:1Then David asked, “Is there anyone left from the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for the sake of Jonathan?”
• 2 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.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 18:3

• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-4Because Jonathan loved David and knew God had chosen David to be Israel's next king (see 1 Samuel 20:13–17, 30–31; 23:17), he made a serious promise of friendship with him. Jonathan gave David items that showed his status as the king's son and crown prince, symbolically passing his right to be the next king to David.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. 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.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 18:3

• Covenant
• David
• Friendship
• Jonathan

In the dictionaries

• David
• Jonathan
• Ascribe
• Avoid
• Kingdom
• Soul
• Stripling
• Tabret
• Valiant
• Covenant, in the Old Testament

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