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

World English Bible

"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, World English Bible

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1 Samuel 20:17 in Other Translations

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1 Samuel 20 — Context

14

You shall not only while yet I live show me the loving kindness of Yahweh, that I not die;

15

but also you shall not cut off your kindness from my house forever; no, not when Yahweh has cut off the enemies of David everyone from the surface of the earth."

16

So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "Yahweh will require it at the hand of David's enemies."

17

Jonathan caused David to swear again, for the love that he had to him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

18

Then Jonathan said to him, "Tomorrow is the new moon: and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty.

19

When you have stayed three days, you shall go down quickly, and come to the place where you did hide yourself when the business was in hand, and shall remain by the stone Ezel.

20

I will shoot three arrows on its side, as though I shot at a mark.

1 Samuel 20:17 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 20:17 say?
1 Samuel 20:17 in the World English Bible reads: “Jonathan caused David to swear again, for the love that he had to him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.”
Where is 1 Samuel 20:17 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 20:17 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 20, verse 17.
Who wrote 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Samuel, Nathan, and Gad). It was written c. 930–722 BC.
What is the book of 1 Samuel about?
1 Samuel marks Israel's transition from judges to kings. It traces the births and ministries of the prophet Samuel, the rise and tragic fall of Saul as Israel's first king, and the anointing of the shepherd boy David, whose faith makes him a man after God's own heart.
What are the major themes of 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel explores themes including Kingship, Prophet, Faith vs. Fear, God's Sovereign Choice, Anointing. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 Samuel 20:17.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 20:17 in?
1 Samuel 20:17 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 Samuel 20:17?
1 Samuel 20:17 reads (WEB): “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 it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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