1 Samuel 18:3 kjv
Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
1 Samuel 18:3 nkjv
Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
1 Samuel 18:3 niv
And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
1 Samuel 18:3 esv
Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.
1 Samuel 18:3 nlt
And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself.
1 Samuel 18 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 15:18 | On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram... | God making covenants with humanity. |
| Exod 24:7-8 | ...And they said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient." And Moses took the blood... | Covenant sealing, binding agreement. |
| 2 Sam 7:12-16 | When your days are fulfilled... I will raise up your offspring... and I will establish his kingdom... | Davidic Covenant, God's enduring promise to David. |
| Jer 31:31-34 | "Behold, the days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant..." | Prophecy of the New Covenant. |
| Gal 3:15-18 | ...a human covenant, once ratified, no one annuls or adds to it... | The permanence of a ratified covenant. |
| Heb 8:6 | ...the ministry of Jesus is even more excellent, for he is the mediator of a better covenant... | Christ as mediator of a superior covenant. |
| Prov 17:17 | A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. | Friendship defined by steadfast love. |
| Prov 18:24 | ...there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. | Deeper bond than familial ties. |
| John 15:13 | Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. | Self-sacrificial love as ultimate friendship. |
| Ruth 1:16-17 | But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you... where you go I will go..." | Example of intense, faithful loyalty. |
| 1 Sam 20:17 | And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul. | Reinforces the deep, enduring love and covenant. |
| 1 Sam 23:17-18 | And Jonathan said to him, "Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you..." | Jonathan's support and affirmation of David's future. |
| 2 Sam 1:26 | I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant have you been to me... | David's mourning reflects their deep bond. |
| 2 Sam 9:1, 7 | And David said, "Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness... | David honoring the covenant with Jonathan's family. |
| Rom 12:10 | Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. | Christian imperative for deep, honor-filled love. |
| Phil 2:3-4 | Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. | Jonathan's humility in valuing David over himself. |
| 1 Pet 4:8 | Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. | Fervent, sincere love as a Christian virtue. |
| 1 John 3:16 | By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us... | The standard of love from Christ, foreshadowed. |
| Deut 6:5 | You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. | Echoes the "love as his own soul" in its intensity. |
| Matt 6:24 | No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other... | Jonathan's choice to prioritize loyalty to David/God. |
| Ps 118:8-9 | It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. | Jonathan's actions reflect trusting God's chosen King. |
| Col 3:12-14 | ...put on then as God's chosen ones... compassion, kindness, humility... above all these, love... | The supreme quality of love in God's people. |
1 Samuel 18 verses
1 Samuel 18 3 Meaning
The verse describes the profound moment when Jonathan and David entered into a solemn covenant, a sacred and binding agreement, because Jonathan loved David with an intensity comparable to his own soul or life. This bond signifies a deep, unwavering loyalty and affection, transcending ordinary friendship and laying the foundation for their enduring relationship amidst great challenges.
1 Samuel 18 3 Context
This verse occurs immediately following David's triumphant defeat of Goliath, an event that instantly propelled him from an unknown shepherd to a national hero. Jonathan, Saul's eldest son and heir apparent, witnesses this divine anointing on David's life and feels an immediate, profound kinship. Chapter 18 then narrates the swift shift in King Saul's disposition towards David, from favor to intense jealousy, precisely as David's popularity escalates. Jonathan's covenant with David stands in stark contrast to Saul's developing animosity, highlighting Jonathan's remarkable selflessness and devotion to God's chosen future for Israel, even if it meant yielding his own claim to the throne. Historically, such a covenant between potential rivals for a throne was highly unusual and underscored the unique nature of Jonathan's love and recognition of God's hand on David.
1 Samuel 18 3 Word analysis
- Then (וַיִּכְרֹ֣ת - wayyikrōṯ): This conjunctive imperfect (waw-conversive) indicates immediate temporal succession, linking the covenant directly to the events preceding it, especially Jonathan's initial attraction to David after the Goliath encounter. It marks a pivotal moment in the narrative flow.
- Jonathan (יְהוֹנָתָ֗ן - Yehonatan): "Yahweh has given." The name itself carries significance. He is Saul's firstborn and heir, making his voluntary bond with David all the more remarkable. His action speaks to recognizing divine favor over personal ambition.
- and David (וְדָוִד֙ - wəḏāwiḏ): The one whom God has chosen, recently established as a national hero. Their combined names signal a new, divinely sanctioned leadership emerging in contrast to Saul.
- made a covenant (כָּרַ֤ת בְּרִית֙ - kārat berit): The Hebrew verb karat (cut) paired with berit (covenant) refers to the ancient practice of cutting animals and passing between them to solemnize an oath (e.g., Gen 15), signifying the participants were committing to such an extent that violation would bring a similar judgment upon themselves. It implies a sacred, binding, and lasting agreement, more than just a casual promise. This was a formalized, enduring pact of loyalty, likely involving an oath sworn before God.
- because (כִּ֣י - kī): A causal conjunction, directly connecting the covenant-making action to the powerful motivation that follows. It explicitly states the reason for their unique bond.
- he loved (אֲהֵב֤וֹ - ʾaḥēḇō): From the verb ʾāhab, meaning to love deeply, strongly, or affectionately. This is not a superficial liking but a profound emotional and spiritual bond. It suggests Jonathan saw something in David that resonated deeply with his own spirit.
- him (אֹת֗וֹ - ʾōṯō): Refers to David. The intensity of Jonathan's affection for David is the driving force.
- as his own soul (כְּנַפְשֹֽׁו - kənafshō): From nephesh, often translated "soul" but encompasses the whole being, life, self, desire, breath. To love another kənafshō means to love them as deeply and entirely as one loves oneself, valuing their well-being and life as much as one's own. It signifies utmost devotion, empathy, and identification. It speaks of a bond so close that David's future and welfare became as important to Jonathan as his own.
Words-group analysis
- "Jonathan and David made a covenant": This phrase establishes a formal, unbreakable bond between two individuals, one the crown prince and the other God's anointed successor. This covenant supersedes typical royal succession politics and reflects divine intentionality over human schemes. It suggests mutual agreement and a recognition of shared purpose, likely spiritual.
- "because he loved him as his own soul": This explanatory clause reveals the driving force behind the covenant. It elevates the bond from a mere political alliance to one based on pure, selfless, and profound affection. Jonathan's love was the catalyst, marking a complete spiritual and emotional surrender of self-interest for the sake of David, and by extension, for God's plan. It foreshadows Jonathan's consistent actions to protect and affirm David's ascent to kingship, even at his own detriment.
1 Samuel 18 3 Bonus section
The deeper implications of Jonathan's action extend to the covenant tradition within the Bible. By "cutting a covenant," Jonathan was entering a relationship patterned after God's own covenant-making with His people. This love served as a strong bulwark against Saul's antagonism towards David and guaranteed the future safety and welfare of Jonathan's family through David's actions, as seen in the care for Mephibosheth (2 Sam 9). Furthermore, many scholars view Jonathan's selfless act of acknowledging and embracing God's chosen one (David) despite it meaning relinquishing his own claim to the throne as a type or foreshadowing of Christ's humility and submission to the Father's will, even unto death, for the salvation of others. This is a foundational relationship for understanding selfless devotion in a political landscape.
1 Samuel 18 3 Commentary
1 Samuel 18:3 is the pivotal verse initiating one of the Bible's most profound and exemplary friendships. Jonathan, the natural heir to Saul's throne, instinctively recognized God's anointing upon David, immediately embracing him not as a rival but as his very soul. The act of "making a covenant" signifies a solemn, binding commitment far surpassing mere friendship, placing their relationship under divine witness. Jonathan's selfless love, articulated as "as his own soul," stands in stark contrast to his father Saul's escalating paranoia and jealousy towards David. This verse encapsulates Jonathan's incredible humility and foresight, aligning himself with God's ultimate plan rather than his personal ambition, offering a model of loyalty and sacrificial love.