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 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

1Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2Saul took him that day, and would not let him go home to his father’s house anymore. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. 4And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt. 5So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved wisely. And Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.

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 20:8Therefore you shall deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the Lord with you. Nevertheless, if there is iniquity in me, kill me yourself, for why should you bring me to your father?”
• 1 Samuel 23:18So the two of them made a covenant before the Lord. And David stayed in the woods, and Jonathan went to his own house.
• 2 Samuel 9:1Now David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
• 2 Samuel 21:7But the king spared Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the Lord’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the 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