1 Samuel 18:3
◄  1 Samuel 18:3  ►
New International Version (©2011)
And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.

New Living Translation (©2007)
And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself.

English Standard Version (©2001)
Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as much as himself.

International Standard Version (©2012)
Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as he loved himself.

NET Bible (©2006)
Jonathan made a covenant with David, for he loved him as much as he did his own life.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
So Jonathan made a pledge of mutual loyalty with David because he loved him as much as [he loved] himself.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

American King James Version
Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

American Standard Version
Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And David and Jonathan made a covenant, for be loved him as his own soul.

Darby Bible Translation
And Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

English Revised Version
Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

World English Bible
Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

Young's Literal Translation
And Jonathan maketh -- also David -- a covenant, because he loveth him as his own soul,

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

18:1-5 The friendship of David and Jonathan was the effect of Divine grace, which produces in true believers one heart and one soul, and causes them to love each other. This union of souls is from partaking in the Spirit of Christ. Where God unites hearts, carnal matters are too weak to separate them. Those who love Christ as their own souls, will be willing to join themselves to him in an everlasting covenant. It was certainly a great proof of the power of God's grace in David, that he was able to bear all this respect and honour, without being lifted up above measure.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Then Jonathan and David made a covenant,.... A covenant of friendship; entered into a solemn agreement to keep up and maintain a cordial respect to each other, and to support each other's interest both in life and after death, whoever was the survivor; and in consequence of this David had a friend at court, when Saul fell out with him, and who pleaded his cause, and discovered his father's plots, and was the means of preserving David's life:

because he loved him as his own soul; so that this covenant was not founded in mere words, but in sincere and cordial affection, and was lasting and inviolable.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

3. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant—Such covenants of brotherhood are frequent in the East. They are ratified by certain ceremonies, and in presence of witnesses, that the persons covenanting will be sworn brothers for life.

1 Samuel 18:3 Parallel Commentaries

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Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


Jonathan Befriends David
1And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house. 3Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

1 Samuel 20:8 As for you, show kindness to your servant, for you have brought him into a covenant with you before the LORD. If I am guilty, then kill me yourself! Why hand me over to your father?"
1 Samuel 20:41 After the boy had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone and bowed down before Jonathan three times, with his face to the ground. Then they kissed each other and wept together--but David wept the most.
1 Samuel 22:8 Is that why you have all conspired against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is concerned about me or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today."
1 Samuel 23:18 The two of them made a covenant before the LORD. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.
2 Samuel 21:7 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.