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

15don’t ever withdraw your kindness from my household — not even when the Lord cuts off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.” 16Then Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the Lord hold David’s enemies accountable.” Jonathan once again swore to David in his love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself. 18Then Jonathan said to him, “Tomorrow is the New Moon; you’ll be missed because your seat will be empty. 19The following day hurry down and go to the place where you hid on the day this incident began and stay beside the rock 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 with Saul, Jonathan was bound to David in close friendship, and loved him as much as he loved himself.
• Deuteronomy 13:6“If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you embrace, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, ‘Let’s go and worship other gods’ — which neither you nor your ancestors have known,
• 2 Samuel 1:26I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother. You were such a friend to me. Your love for me was more wondrous than the love of women.
• Proverbs 18:24One with many friends may be harmed, but there is a friend who stays 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