1 Samuel 18:1
New International Version
After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.

New Living Translation
After David had finished talking with Saul, he met Jonathan, the king’s son. There was an immediate bond between them, for Jonathan loved David.

English Standard Version
As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

Berean Standard Bible
After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself.

King James Bible
And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

New King James Version
Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

New American Standard Bible
Now it came about, when he had finished speaking to Saul, that Jonathan committed himself to David, and Jonathan loved him as himself.

NASB 1995
Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself.

NASB 1977
Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now it happened when he had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

Amplified Bible
When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bonded to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself.

Christian Standard Bible
When David had finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan was bound to David in close friendship, and loved him as much as he loved himself.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When David had finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan committed himself to David, and loved him as much as he loved himself.

American Standard Version
And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And when David had finished speaking to Shaul, the soul of Yonathan cleaved to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his soul

Contemporary English Version
David and Saul finished talking, and soon David and Jonathan became best friends. Jonathan thought as much of David as he did of himself.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

English Revised Version
And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
David finished talking to Saul. After that, Jonathan became David's closest friend. He loved David as much as [he loved] himself.

Good News Translation
Saul and David finished their conversation. After that, Saul's son Jonathan was deeply attracted to David and came to love him as much as he loved himself.

International Standard Version
When David finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan became a close friend to David, and Jonathan loved him as himself.

JPS Tanakh 1917
And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

Literal Standard Version
And it comes to pass, when he finishes to speak to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan has been bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loves him as his own soul.

Majority Standard Bible
After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself.

New American Bible
By the time David finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan’s life became bound up with David’s life; he loved him as his very self.

NET Bible
When David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan and David became bound together in close friendship. Jonathan loved David as much as he did his own life.

New Revised Standard Version
When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

New Heart English Bible
It happened, 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.

Webster's Bible Translation
And 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.

World English Bible
When he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

Young's Literal Translation
And it cometh to pass, when he finisheth to speak unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan hath been bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loveth him as his own soul.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jonathan Befriends David
1After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself. 2And from that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house.…

Cross References
Genesis 44:30
So if the boy is not with us when I return to your servant, and if my father, whose life is wrapped up in the boy's life,

Deuteronomy 13:6
If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you embrace, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, "Let us go and worship other gods" (which neither you nor your fathers have known,

1 Samuel 19:1
Then Saul ordered his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Jonathan delighted greatly in David,

1 Samuel 20:17
And Jonathan had David reaffirm his vow out of love for him, for Jonathan loved David as he loved himself.

2 Samuel 1:26
I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother. You were delightful to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.


Treasury of Scripture

And 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.

1 Samuel 14:1-14,45
Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father…

Genesis 44:30
Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life;

Judges 20:11
So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.

loved him

2 Samuel 18:3
But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city.

2 Samuel 19:2
And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.

2 Samuel 20:17
And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.

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Bound David David's Dear End Ended Joined Jonathan Knit Loved Saul Soul Speak Speaking Spirit Talk Talking
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Bound David David's Dear End Ended Joined Jonathan Knit Loved Saul Soul Speak Speaking Spirit Talk Talking
1 Samuel 18
1. Jonathan befriends David
5. Saul envies his praise
10. seeks to kill him in his fury
12. fears him for his good success
17. offers him his daughters for snare
23. David persuaded to be the king's son-in-law,
25. gives two hundred foreskins of the Philistines for Michal's dowry
28. Saul's hatred and David's glory increase














(1) The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David.--We have in this and the following chapters somewhat of a detailed account of David at the Court of Saul. In 1 Samuel 16 this Court life of the future king has been already touched upon, notably in 1Samuel 18:21-23, where the affection of Saul for David was mentioned, where also the appointing of the young shepherd to a post about the king's person is recorded. But this mention in 1 Samuel 16 considerably anticipated the course of events. In relating the results of this affection of Saul for David, the writer of what we may term the episode treating of the influence of music and poetry passed over, so to speak, the story of several years, in the course of which took place the single combat of David with the Philistine giant, and the victorious campaign in which the young hero took so distinguished a part. The history here takes up the thread of the future king's life, after the campaigns which immediately followed the discomfiture of the Philistine champion (1Samuel 18:6 and following). 1Samuel 18:1-4 simply relate the beginning of the world-famous friendship between Prince Jonathan and David.

The Hebrew is rendered "was knit," or better, was bound up. This is a strong term, and is used in Genesis 44:30 of Jacob's love to Benjamin: "seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life." Aristotle, Nicom. ix. 8, has noted that friends are called one soul.

Jonathan loved him as his own soul.--As has been before remarked, the character of the princely son of Saul is one of the most beautiful in the Old Testament story. He was the type of a true warrior of those wild, half-barbarous times--among brave men seemingly the bravest--a perfect soldier, whether fighting as a simple man-at-arms or as the general of an army--chivalrous and generous--utterty free from jealousy--a fervid believer in the God of Israel--a devoted and loyal son--a true patriot in the highest sense of the word, who sealed a devoted life by a noble death, dying as he did fighting for his king and his people. The long and steady friendship of Jonathan no doubt had a powerful and enduring influence on the after life of the greatest of the Hebrew sovereigns. The words, the unselfish, beautiful love, and, above all, the splendid example of the ill-fated son of Saul, have no doubt given their colouring to many of the noblest utterances in David's Psalms and to not a few of the most heroic deeds in David's life.

We read of this friendship as dating from the morrow of the first striking deed of arms performed by David when he slew the giant. It is clear, however, that it was not the personal bravery of the boy hero, or the rare skill he showed in the encounter, which so singularly attracted Prince Jonathan. These things no one would have admired and honoured more than the son of Saul, but it needed more than splendid gallantry and rare skill to attract that great love of which we read. What won Jonathan's heart was the shepherd boy's sublime faith, his perfect childlike trust in the "Glorious Arm" of the Lord. Jonathan and David possessed one thing in common--an intense, unswerving belief in the power of Jehovah of Israel to keep and to save all who trusted in Him. . . .

Verse 1. - When he had made an end of speaking. This conversation took place as soon as the pursuit of the Philistines and the collecting of the spoil were over. There would then be a muster of the Israelites, and Abner would naturally present the youthful champion to the king, who is represented as having virtually forgotten him, and as anxious to learn his history; nor had his stay been long enough for Abner to remember him. As this conversation is narrated as an introduction to the account of Jonathan's friendship for David, the last four verses of ch. 17. ought to be prefixed to ch. 18. A new beginning commences with them, in which we are told of the commencement of this friendship, of the growth of Saul's hatred, and of the trials which befell David, proceeding on the king's part from bad to worse, till at last he was driven away and compelled to lead the life of an outlaw. But by his envy, cruelty, and bad government Saul was alienating the minds of the people from him, and preparing the way for his own downfall and David's ultimate triumph. The episode of Jonathan's love is as beautiful as Saul's conduct is dark, and completes our admiration for this generous and noble hero. The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David. These kindred spirits had so much in common that, as David with modest manliness answered the king's questions, an intense feeling of admiration grew up in the young warrior's heart, and a friendship was the result which ranks among the purest and noblest examples of true manly affection. The word rendered knit literally means knotted, tied together firmly by indissoluble bonds.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
After
וַיְהִ֗י (way·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

David had finished
כְּכַלֹּתוֹ֙ (kə·ḵal·lō·ṯōw)
Preposition-k | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3615: To be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent

speaking
לְדַבֵּ֣ר (lə·ḏab·bêr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

with
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Saul,
שָׁא֔וּל (šā·’ūl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites

the souls
וְנֶ֙פֶשׁ֙ (wə·ne·p̄eš)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

of Jonathan
יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן (yə·hō·w·nā·ṯān)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3083: Jonathan -- 'the LORD has given', the name of a number of Israelites

and David
דָּוִ֑ד (dā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

were knit together,
נִקְשְׁרָ֖ה (niq·šə·rāh)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7194: To tie, gird, confine, compact, in love, league

and Jonathan
יְהוֹנָתָ֖ן (yə·hō·w·nā·ṯān)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3083: Jonathan -- 'the LORD has given', the name of a number of Israelites

loved him
וַיֶּאֱהָבֵ֥הוּ (way·ye·’ĕ·hā·ḇê·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 157: To have affection f

as himself.
כְּנַפְשֽׁוֹ׃ (kə·nap̄·šōw)
Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion


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OT History: 1 Samuel 18:1 It happened when he had made (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 17:58
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