1 Samuel 23 · Verse 18

1 Samuel 23:18

And they two made a covenant before the Lord: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.
1 Samuel 23:18, King James Version

1 Samuel 23:18 in other translations

BSBSo the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.
WEBThey both made a covenant before the LORD. Then David stayed in the woods and Jonathan went to his house.
ASVAnd they two made a covenant before Jehovah: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.
YLTAnd they make a covenant both of them before Jehovah; and David abideth in the forest, and Jonathan hath gone to his house.
DARBYAnd they two made a covenant before Jehovah; and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.
BBEAnd the two of them made an agreement before the Lord: and David went on living in Horesh, and Jonathan went back to his house.
WebsterAnd they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.

What does 1 Samuel 23:18 mean?

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel 23:14-18

David made no attempt against Saul; he kept God's way, waited God's time, and was content to secure himself in woods and wildernesses. Let it make us think the worse of this world, which often gives such bad treatment to its best men: let it make us long for that kingdom where goodness shall for ever be in glory, and holiness in honour. We find Jonathan comforting David. As a pious friend, he directed him to God…

Read the full comment on 1 Samuel 23:14-18 →

1 Samuel 23:18 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיִּכְרְת֧וּvai.yikh.re.Tuand they madeH3772
שְׁנֵיהֶ֛םshe.nei.Hem[the] two of themH8147
בְּרִ֖יתbe.Rita covenantH1285
לִפְנֵ֣יlif.Nei<to> beforeH6440
יְהוָ֑הYah.wehYahwehH3068
וַיֵּ֤שֶׁבvai.Ye.shevand he remainedH3427
דָּוִד֙da.VidDavidH1732
בַּחֹ֔רְשָׁהba.Cho.re.shahat <the> HoreshH2793
וִיהוֹנָתָ֖ןvi.ho.na.Tanand JonathanH3083
הָלַ֥ךְha.Lakhhe wentH1980
לְבֵיתֽוֹ\׃\ \סle.vei.Toto house hisH1004

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Samuel 23:18

  • 1 Samuel 20:42

    And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.

  • 2 Samuel 21:7

    But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the Lord’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.

  • 1 Samuel 18:3

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

  • 2 Samuel 9:1

    And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?

  • 1 Samuel 20:12-17

    And Jonathan said unto David, O Lord God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to morrow any time, or the third day, and, behold, if there be good toward David, and I then send not unto thee, and shew it thee; The Lord do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father to do thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and the Lord be with thee, as he hath been with my father. And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the Lord, that I die not: But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the Lord hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth. …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
18:3; 20:12-17,42; 2Sa 9:1; 21:7

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Samuel 23:17

    And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.

  • 1 Samuel 23:18

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

  • 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?

Read all of 1 Samuel 23

1 Samuel 23:18 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y entrambos hicieron alianza delante de Jehová: y David se quedó en el bosque, y Jonathán se volvió á su casa.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et ils firent, les deux, alliance devant l’ Éternel; et David demeura dans le bois, et Jonathan s’en alla à sa maison.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und sie schlossen beide einen Bund vor Jehova. Und David blieb im Walde, und Jonathan ging nach seinem Hause.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Percussit ergo uterque fœdus coram Domino: mansitque David in silva, Jonathas autem reversus est in domum suam.