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

1David finished talking to Saul. After that, Jonathan became David’s closest friend. He loved David as much as ⌞he loved⌟ himself. 2(From that day on Saul kept David ⌞as his servant⌟ and didn’t let him go back to his family.) So Jonathan made a pledge of mutual loyalty with David because he loved him as much as ⌞he loved⌟ himself. 4Jonathan took off the coat he had on and gave it to David along with his battle tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt. 5David was successful wherever Saul sent him. Saul put him in charge of the fighting men. This pleased all the people, including Saul’s officials.

1 Samuel 18:3 word by word

וַיִּכְרֹ֧ת יְהוֹנָתָ֛ן וְדָוִ֖ד בְּרִ֑ית בְּאַהֲבָת֥וֹ אֹת֖וֹ כְּנַפְשֽׁוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָןyehônâthân · JonathanH3083
• and Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• madeכָּרַתkârath · to cut: make(covenant)H3772
• a covenantבְּרִיתberîyth · covenantH1285
• because he lovedאַהֲבָה'ahăbâh · loveH160
• him as his own soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soulH5315

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 18:3

• 1 Samuel 20:8Now, be kind to me. After all, you forced me into an agreement with the Lord. If I have committed any crime, kill me yourself. Why bother taking me to your father?”
• 1 Samuel 23:18Both of them made a pledge in the Lord’s presence. David stayed in Horesh, and Jonathan went home.
• 2 Samuel 9:1David asked, “Is there anyone left in Saul’s family to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
• 2 Samuel 21:7But the king spared Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson, because of the oath in the Lord’s name 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