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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself.

Context of 1 Samuel 18:3

1After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. 2From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 4Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt. 5Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.

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 20:8As for you, show kindness to your servant, for you have brought him into a covenant with you before the Lord. If I am guilty, then kill me yourself! Why hand me over to your father?”
• 1 Samuel 23:18The two of them made a covenant before the Lord. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.
• 2 Samuel 9:1David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
• 2 Samuel 21:7The 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