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.
- 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.
- 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 kindly with your servant; for you have brought your servant into a covenant of Yahweh with you; but if there is iniquity in me, kill me yourself; for why should you bring me to your father?”
- 1 Sam 20:42Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, because we have both sworn in Yahweh’s name, saying, ‘Yahweh is between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’” 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 Yahweh’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.
- 2 Sam 9:1–3David said, “Is there yet any who is left of Saul’s house, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
- 1 Sam 23:18They both made a covenant before Yahweh. Then David stayed in the woods, and Jonathan went to his house.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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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