1 Samuel 23:18

1 Samuel 23:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And they two made a covenant before the Lord: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.
• New International Version (NIV)The two of them made a covenant before the Lord. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And the two of them made a covenant before the Lord. David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So the two of them made a covenant before the Lord. And David stayed in the woods, and Jonathan went to his own house.

Context of 1 Samuel 23:18

16Saul's son, Jonathan, went to visit David at Horesh. He told David to be brave, because God would keep him safe. 17Jonathan said to David, ‘Do not be afraid. My father will never be able to hurt you. You will be the next king to rule over Israel. I will be your most important officer. My father Saul also knows that is true.’ Jonathan and David promised again in the Lord's name that they would be faithful friends of one another. Then Jonathan went to his home. David stayed at Horesh. 19Some people from Ziph went to visit Saul at Gibeah. They said to Saul, ‘David is hiding among our people. He is on Hakilah hill, south of Jeshimon. He is hiding in the Horesh hills. 20Now, King Saul, we know that you want to catch David. So you can come to our land at any time. We will help you to catch him.’

1 Samuel 23:18 word by word

וַיִּכְרְת֧וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֛ם בְּרִ֖ית לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וַיֵּ֤שֶׁב דָּוִד֙ בַּחֹ֔רְשָׁה וִיהוֹנָתָ֖ן הָלַ֥ךְ לְבֵיתֽוֹ׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And they twoשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
• madeכָּרַתkârath · to cut: make(covenant)H3772
• a covenantבְּרִיתberîyth · covenantH1285
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• and Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• abodeיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
• in the woodחֹ֫רֶשׁchôresh · HoreshH2793
• and Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָןyehônâthân · JonathanH3083
• wentהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
• to his houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 23:18

• 1 Samuel 18:3Jonathan made a special promise to be David's friend, because he loved David as much as he loved his own life.
• 1 Samuel 20:12Then Jonathan said to David, ‘I make this promise to you, and the Lord, Israel's God, knows that it is true. Tomorrow or the next day I will find out what my father is thinking about you. If he is feeling friendly to you, I will send someone to tell you.
• 2 Samuel 9:1David asked, ‘Is there anyone from Saul's family who is still alive? I want to be kind to them because Jonathan was my friend.’
• 2 Samuel 21:7The king did not give Jonathan's son Mephibosheth to them. He was kind to Mephibosheth because of David's promise to Jonathan, Saul's son. David had made that promise in the Lord's name.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 23:18

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-18Verses 14-18 David made no attempt against Saul; he kept God's way, waited God's time, and was content to secure himself in woods and wildernesses. Let it make us think the worse of this world, which often gives such bad treatment to its best men: let it make us long for that kingdom where goodness shall for ever be in glory, and holiness in honour. We find Jonathan comforting David. As a pious friend, he directed him to God, the Foundation of his…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18a covenant: See 1 Samuel 18:3–4; 20:12–17. Jonathan went home: This was likely the last time David and Jonathan saw each other.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 23:18

• David
• Friendship
• Jonathan
• Malice
• Unselfishness

In the dictionaries

• David
• Jonathan
• Town
• Covenant, in the Old Testament
• Horesh
• Jonathan (2)
• Samuel, Books of
• Hachilah, the Hill

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 23

• 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
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings