2 Samuel 1:26

2 Samuel 1:26 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
• New International Version (NIV)I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant have you been to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.
• New King James Version (NKJV)I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; You have been very pleasant to me; Your love to me was wonderful, Surpassing the love of women.

Context of 2 Samuel 1:26

24You women of Israel, weep for Saul. He gave you beautiful clothes to wear. He gave you gold and jewels to fix on your clothes. 25Brave soldiers have died as they fought a great battle! Jonathan's dead body lies on Gilboa's hills. My brother, Jonathan! I am very sad about your death. You were my good friend. Your love for me was very special. It was better than the love of women. 27The brave men have fallen in the battle! Their weapons are now useless.’

2 Samuel 1:26 word by word

צַר־לִ֣י עָלֶ֗יךָ אָחִי֙ יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן נָעַ֥מְתָּ לִּ֖י מְאֹ֑ד נִפְלְאַ֤תָה אַהֲבָֽתְךָ֙ לִ֔י מֵאַהֲבַ֖ת נָשִֽׁים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• I am distressedצָרַרtsârar · to constrainH6887
• for thee, my brotherאָח'âch · brother: compatriotH251
• Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָןyehônâthân · JonathanH3083
• veryמְאֹדme'ôd · muchH3966
• pleasantנָעֵםnâ‛êm · be pleasantH5276
• hast thou been unto me: thy loveאַהֲבָה'ahăbâh · loveH160
• to me was wonderfulפָּלָאpâlâ' · to wonderH6381
• of womenאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 1:26

• 1 Samuel 18:1David finished talking with Saul. After that, Saul's son Jonathan became a very good friend of David. Jonathan loved David as much as he loved his own life.
• 1 Samuel 19:2So he told David, ‘My father Saul is trying to kill you. Be careful tomorrow morning. Hide in a secret place and stay there.
• 1 Samuel 20:17Jonathan asked David to promise again that they would be friends. That was because Jonathan loved David as much as he loved his own life.
• 1 Samuel 23:16Saul's son, Jonathan, went to visit David at Horesh. He told David to be brave, because God would keep him safe.

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 1:26

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-27Verses 17-27 Kasheth, or "the bow," probably was the title of this mournful, funeral song. David does not commend Saul for what he was not; and says nothing of his piety or goodness. Jonathan was a dutiful son, Saul an affectionate father, therefore dear to each other. David had reason to say, that Jonathan's love to him was wonderful. Next to the love between Christ and his people, that affection which springs form it, produces the strongest friendship…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 26surpassing the love of women: Jonathan’s loyalty and friendship with David involved great personal risk and sacrifice. This kind of commitment was stronger than any other relationship David described in his life, including the love he received from his wives. The phrase does not suggest a sexual relationship. Instead, it emphasizes deep loyalty and covenant friendship. The book of First Samuel highlights Jonathan’s love for David three times in 1 Samuel…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 24-2724-27. Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, &c.--The fondness for dress, which anciently distinguished Oriental women, is their characteristic still. It appears in their love of bright, gay, and divers colors, in profuse display of ornaments, and in various other forms. The inmost depths of the poet's feeling are stirred, and his amiable disposition appears in the strong desire to celebrate the good…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 1:26

• Brother
• David
• Elegy
• Friendship
• Jonathan
• Mourning
• Poetry
• Song
• Women

In the dictionaries

• Jonathan
• Beauty
• Brother
• David
• Empty
• Gilboa
• Jasher
• Lamentation
• Lamentations, Book of
• Lovely

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 1

• 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