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.
• New International Version (NIV)The two of them made a covenant before the Lord. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And the two of them made a covenant before the Lord. David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home.
• 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

16Then Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God. 17And he said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Even my father Saul knows that.” So the two of them made a covenant before the Lord. And David stayed in the woods, and Jonathan went to his own house. 19Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding with us in strongholds in the woods, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon? 20Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king’s hand.”

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 18:3Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
• 1 Samuel 20:12Then Jonathan said to David: “The Lord God of Israel is witness! When I have sounded out my father sometime tomorrow, or the third day, and indeed there is good toward David, and I do not send to you and tell you,
• 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 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