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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)So the two of them renewed their solemn pact before the Lord. Then Jonathan returned home, while David stayed at Horesh.

Context of 1 Samuel 23:18

16And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. 17“Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.” The two of them made a covenant before the Lord. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh. 19The Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hakilah, south of Jeshimon? 20Now, Your Majesty, come down whenever it pleases you to do so, and we will be responsible for giving him into your hands.”

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 18:3And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
• 1 Samuel 20:12Then Jonathan said to David, “I swear by the Lord, the God of Israel, that I will surely sound out my father by this time the day after tomorrow! If he is favorably disposed toward you, will I not send you word and let you know?
• 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 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