1 Samuel 18:3

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1 Samuel

1 Samuel 18

1 Samuel 18:3

3 And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.

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1 Samuel 18:3 in Other Translations

KJV

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

ESV

3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.

NLT

3 And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself.

MSG

3 Jonathan, out of his deep love for David, made a covenant with him.

CSB

3 Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as much as himself.

1 Samuel 18:3 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 18:3

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.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

1 Samuel 18:3 In-Context

1 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.

2 From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family.

3 And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.

4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.

5 Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.