1 Samuel 23:18 kjv
And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.
1 Samuel 23:18 nkjv
So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David stayed in the woods, and Jonathan went to his own house.
1 Samuel 23:18 niv
The two of them made a covenant before the LORD. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.
1 Samuel 23:18 esv
And the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home.
1 Samuel 23:18 nlt
So the two of them renewed their solemn pact before the LORD. Then Jonathan returned home, while David stayed at Horesh.
1 Samuel 23 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 18:3-4 | Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul... took off the robe... giving it to David. | Initial covenant based on love. |
| 1 Sam 20:16-17 | So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David... David swore again to Jonathan, because of his love for him. | Further covenant focusing on David's future line. |
| 1 Sam 20:42 | Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace... The Lord is between you and me..." | Emotional farewell, invoking the Lord's witness. |
| 2 Sam 9:1 | David said, "Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, to whom I may show kindness for Jonathan's sake?" | David honors the covenant after becoming king. |
| 2 Sam 9:7 | David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan..." | David's enduring loyalty to Jonathan's lineage. |
| Prov 17:17 | A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. | Jonathan embodies true friendship. |
| Prov 18:24 | A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. | Jonathan's unwavering loyalty to David. |
| John 15:13 | Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. | Jonathan's love shows a type of selfless sacrifice. |
| 1 Sam 23:16 | And Jonathan, Saul’s son, rose and went to David in the forest and strengthened his hand in God. | Immediate preceding action, strengthening in the Lord. |
| Gen 15:18 | On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram... | Example of a divine covenant. |
| Jer 31:33 | "But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel... I will put my law within them..." | Prophecy of the New Covenant. |
| Heb 8:6 | ...Christ is the mediator of a better covenant... | Christ as mediator of superior covenant. |
| 2 Sam 7:12-16 | "I will raise up your offspring after you... and I will establish his kingdom." | God's covenant with David concerning his kingship. |
| Rom 8:31 | If God is for us, who can be against us? | Divine assurance protecting the anointed king. |
| Ps 27:1 | The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? | Trust in God during adversity, like David's. |
| Phil 2:3-4 | Do nothing from selfish ambition... but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. | Jonathan's selflessness exemplified. |
| Luke 14:26 | "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father... he cannot be my disciple." | Jonathan's prioritizing loyalty to God's chosen over familial loyalty. |
| Ps 57:1 | Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge... | David's need for refuge during persecution. |
| Ps 142:7 | Bring me out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name! | David's cry for deliverance, in hidden places. |
| 2 Tim 3:12 | Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. | Reminder of the persecution David faced. |
1 Samuel 23 verses
1 Samuel 23 18 Meaning
This verse signifies the renewal and solemnization of the deep bond between Jonathan and David. Despite the perilous circumstances, Jonathan courageously met David to strengthen him in God, reaffirming their covenant. This act of loyal friendship underscored Jonathan's selfless acknowledgment of God's divine plan for David to be the future king, even at the cost of his own rightful inheritance. It also marked the practical end of their face-to-face interaction, as Jonathan returned to the precarious environment of Saul's court while David continued to evade capture.
1 Samuel 23 18 Context
First Samuel 23 finds David continuously fleeing from King Saul, who is relentless in his pursuit to kill David, driven by envy and paranoia. David, now a hunted fugitive, often seeks refuge in wilderness areas like the forest of Ziph. Earlier in this chapter, David is involved in saving the city of Keilah from the Philistines but must leave after discovering Saul intends to trap him there. It is in this desperate context, where David is surrounded by betrayers and danger, that Jonathan seeks him out. Verse 18 directly follows Jonathan's words of encouragement in 1 Sam 23:17, where Jonathan affirms that David will be king and that Jonathan himself will be second to him, recognizing God's divine will. This brief, secret encounter serves as a profound moment of reaffirmation and strength for David amidst intense hardship, solidifying the unique spiritual and personal bond between the two men.
1 Samuel 23 18 Word analysis
- And Jonathan (וַיִּכְרֹ֣ת יְהוֹנָתָּן֙ – vayyikrot Yehonatan): "Jonathan" (יְהוֹנָתָן – Yehonatan) means "Yahweh has given." His name contrasts sharply with his actions; he willingly gave up his rightful claim to the throne. This points to his unwavering obedience to God's perceived will, even when it meant personal loss. Jonathan acted as God's instrument to strengthen David.
- made a covenant (בְּרִ֥ית – berit): The Hebrew verb used is כָּרַת (karath), literally "to cut," implying the solemn act of "cutting" or enacting a covenant. A covenant was a binding agreement, often accompanied by sacrifices (cutting of animals) symbolizing the penalty for breaking it. This was not merely a friendly promise but a formal, divinely witnessed oath, solidifying the previous covenants mentioned in 1 Sam 18:3 and 1 Sam 20:16. It underscores the profound and enduring commitment between them, placing it under God's sanction.
- with David (עִם־דָּוִ֖ד – ‘im-Dawid): David (דָּוִיד – Dawid) means "beloved." Here, the beloved of God and the beloved of Jonathan stood together, reaffirming their unbreakable bond in the face of immense adversity.
- in the forest (בַּחֹ֑רְשָׁה – bachorshah): Refers to "Horesh," a specific location, likely a dense wooded area or a specific "woodland." This emphasizes the secret, clandestine nature of their meeting, away from Saul's spies, in a place that highlights David's status as a fugitive. The wilderness setting often symbolizes a place of testing, refuge, and divine encounters in biblical narratives.
- and Jonathan went to his house. (וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ יְהוֹנָתָן֙ לְבֵיתֹֽו׃ – vayyelekh Yehonatan leveto): This simple phrase marks a poignant separation. Jonathan returned to the dangers of Saul's volatile court, aware of the divine future for David but constrained by his position. This also records the final direct interaction between Jonathan and David as live, active participants in their respective roles before Jonathan's death on Mount Gilboa. It signifies their paths diverging for the last time.
1 Samuel 23 18 Bonus section
The renewed covenant between David and Jonathan in 1 Samuel 23:18 highlights the theme of spiritual kinship transcending earthly power struggles and family loyalties. Jonathan's unique ability to discern God's will and accept David's divinely appointed kingship, despite being the crown prince, marks him as a truly exceptional figure. This encounter is often seen as a final, direct encouragement from Jonathan, setting David firmly on the path toward kingship with divine blessing. The setting "in the forest" or "in Horesh" is also significant; it is in a place of perceived vulnerability and solitude that God uses a true friend to deliver powerful assurance and strength, reinforcing David's reliance not on human might, but on divine providence and covenant. This loyalty laid the foundation for David's kindness to Mephibosheth later (2 Sam 9), showing the long-term impact of this covenant.
1 Samuel 23 18 Commentary
This concise verse captures a moment of profound spiritual and relational significance. Jonathan's act of seeking David out in the dangerous wilderness, affirming God's plan for David's kingship, and reaffirming their covenant, demonstrates remarkable humility, faith, and selfless loyalty. He 'strengthened his hand in God,' not merely offering moral support, but pointing David to the divine source of his strength and future. The covenant, once again "cut," confirmed a bond rooted not just in personal affection, but in acknowledgment of God's sovereign will, setting a high standard for friendship and devotion to God's chosen leader. Jonathan's subsequent return home underscores the cost and risk of his unwavering commitment to David and to the divine purpose. This encounter provided vital spiritual and emotional sustenance for David, reminding him that he was not abandoned, even in the depths of his persecution.