Bible Strands
1 Samuel 20:17
And Jonathan had David reaffirm his vow out of love for him, for Jonathan loved David as he loved himself.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jonathan speaks to David during their clandestine meeting as David prepares to flee Saul’s death warrant. He forces David to renew their oath of protection before they separate.
The words — The Hebrew וַיּוֹסֶף (va.yossef) means "and he repeated," paired with לְהַשְׁבִּיעַ (lehashvia) meaning "to make swear an oath." Together they describe Jonathan’s insistence that David formally restate his commitment.
The thread — This vow of selfless loyalty echoes the covenant Jonathan previously made with David in 1 Samuel 18:3 and aligns with the principle of a friend staying closer than a brother in Proverbs 18:24. The narrative frame in 1 Samuel 20:16 and 1 Samuel 20:18 grounds the oath in the immediate crisis of the New Moon feast.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that covenant loyalty requires active repetition, not passive sentiment. It asks the reader to prioritize concrete commitment over convenience when relationships are threatened.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 18:24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
- 1 Samuel 18:1 After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself.
- 1 Samuel 18:3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as 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.
- 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,