Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
Parallel translations
- WEB Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
- KJV Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
- NKJV Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
- NASB Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
- NLT And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jonathan makes a covenant with David out of love for him. Their bond is formalized as a solemn, lasting commitment.
Overview
Jonathan seals his friendship with David by making a covenant, grounded in his love for him. The covenant gives their relationship the weight of a binding, faithful commitment before God. Jonathan's self-giving love, willing to honor the future king above his own claim, beautifully pictures love that seeks another's good ahead of self-interest.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- 1 Sam 20:8–17Therefore deal faithfully with your servant, for you have brought me into a covenant with you before the LORD. If there is iniquity in me, then kill me yourself; why should you bring me to your father?”
- 1 Sam 20:42And Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for the two of us have sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘May the LORD be a witness between you and me, and between your descendants and mine forever.’” Then David got up and departed, and Jonathan went back into the city.
- 2 Sam 21:7Now the king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the LORD between David and Jonathan son of Saul.
- 2 Sam 9:1–3Then David asked, “Is there anyone left from the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for the sake of Jonathan?”
- 1 Sam 23:18So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.
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Christ at the center
The rise of the anointed king after Israel's failed first choice points to the true Anointed One (Messiah means 'anointed'), the shepherd-king after God's own heart from Bethlehem.
How 1 Samuel 18:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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