Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
Parallel translations
- WEB Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
- BSB Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
- 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 thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD with thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?
- 1 Sam 20:42And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.
- 2 Sam 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.
- 2 Sam 9:1–3And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?
- 1 Sam 23:18And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.
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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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