And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.

1 SAMUEL 23:18KJV
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1 Samuel 23:18 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 23:18 mean?

1 Samuel 23:18 describes how David and Jonathan made a solemn agreement together before God, after which David stayed in the forest and Jonathan returned home. This moment marks a deep bond of loyalty and friendship between the two men, even as David was hiding from King Saul.

In this scene, Jonathan, the son of King Saul, visits David while David is on the run. Jonathan encourages David and they renew their covenant—an agreement of mutual support and faithfulness—before the LORD. The verse highlights the trust and commitment between David and Jonathan, set against a backdrop of danger and uncertainty.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 23:18

  • בְּרִית (berit, H1285) — "covenant": This word means a binding agreement or promise, often with deep personal and spiritual significance. Here, it shows that David and Jonathan’s friendship was not just personal but carried a sacred commitment before God.
  • לִפְנֵי (lifnei, H6440) — "before": This word means "in the presence of." Their covenant was not private; it was made openly before the LORD (יהוה, YHWH, H3068), emphasizing its seriousness and accountability to God.
  • יָשַׁב (yashav, H3427) — "abode": This verb means "to dwell" or "to remain." It indicates that David continued to hide in the forest (חֹרֶשׁ, choresh, H2793), showing the ongoing danger he faced even after this moment of encouragement.

Why 1 Samuel 23:18 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Jonathan, despite being Saul’s son, remained loyal to David, even risking his own position and safety.
  • The mention of making the covenant "before the LORD" underscores that their agreement was not just a private pact but a spiritual commitment, highlighting the seriousness of their loyalty.
  • The verse connects to the wider story by showing that David’s support system was not just military or political, but also deeply personal and spiritual, which helped sustain him during his time of hardship.

Where else these words appear

“wood” Hebrew H2793 · used in 7 verses

  • 1 Samuel 23:15 And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.
  • 1 Samuel 23:19 Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?
  • Isaiah 17:9 In that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch, which they left because of the children of Israel: and there shall be desolation.

“Jonathan” Hebrew H3083 · used in 73 verses

  • Judges 18:30 And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.
  • 1 Samuel 20:28 And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem:
  • 2 Samuel 9:6 Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!