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1 Samuel 20:17

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Samuel 20:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And Jonathan caused David to swear again, for the love that he had to him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And Jonathan caused David to swear again, for the love that he had to him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
1 Samuel 20:17 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Samuel 20

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
14And thou shalt not only while yet I live show me the lovingkindness of Jehovah, that I die not;
15but also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever; no, not when Jehovah hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth.
16So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, [saying], And Jehovah will require it at the hand of David`s enemies.
17And Jonathan caused David to swear again, for the love that he had to him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
18Then Jonathan said unto him, To-morrow is the new moon: and thou wilt be missed, because thy seat will be empty.
19And when thou hast stayed three days, thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel.
20And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark.
← 1 Samuel 20:161 Samuel 20:18 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And Jonathan caused David to swear again, etc.] Or Jonathan added to make David swears f411; having sworn himself to make a covenant of friendship with David and his family, he moved and insisted on it, that David should swear to keep covenant with him, and his family: because he loved him; it was not so much for the good and safety of his offspring that he made this motion, and was so desirous of renewing and enlarging his covenant with David, as it was his strong love and affection for him; being on that account desirous that there might be the strictest friendship imaginable retained between the two families; or he made him swear by his love to him, as some understand it, which is not so…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Swear again - Heb. and Jonathan added or proceeded to make David swear; that is, having himself sworn to David or adjured David, in the foregoing verse, he here requires David's oath to him, by way of restipulation or confirmation. Loved him - Because he had a true friendship for David, he desired that the covenant might be inviolably observed through all their generations. 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 20:19”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“20:17 See 18:3; 23:16-18.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“because he loved him: or, by his love toward him for he loved: Sa1 18:1, Sa1 18:3; Deu 13:6; Sa2 1:26; Pro 18:24 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 20:18”
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Related study paths

Read 1 Samuel 20 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification