What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 20:17?

And Jonathan had David reaffirm his vow

The narrative pauses to show the weight Jonathan puts on the covenant he and David have already made (1 Samuel 18:3).

• Reaffirming the vow underscores that promises before God are never casual. Numbers 30:2 says, “When a man makes a vow to the LORD … he must not break his word.”

• Jonathan knows Saul is hunting David; danger makes clarity essential (1 Samuel 20:12-16).

• Their covenant centers on God’s faithfulness, not mere human optimism—a reminder that “two are better than one” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12) when the partnership is anchored in the Lord.

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out of love for him

Jonathan’s request is love-driven, not power-driven.

• Love motivates accountability; true affection seeks another’s spiritual good. Proverbs 27:6 notes, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.”

• Jesus later models this same pattern, saying, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

• Love here is active, protective, and self-sacrificing—qualities urgently needed as Saul’s hostility escalates.

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for Jonathan loved David

Scripture states the fact, leaving no ambiguity.

• Their friendship reflects Proverbs 17:17: “A friend loves at all times.”

• Jonathan’s love is demonstrated, not merely declared; he warns David, intercedes with Saul, and resigns his own claim to the throne (1 Samuel 23:16-18).

• The depth of feeling surfaces again in David’s lament after Jonathan’s death (2 Samuel 1:26).

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as he loved himself

The standard mirrors God’s timeless command: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18; echoed in Matthew 22:39).

• Loving another as oneself means pursuing their welfare with the same urgency you pursue your own. Ephesians 5:28 applies the principle to marriage, yet the ethic is universal.

• Jonathan illustrates what selfless love looks like in real time—ceding royal rights, sharing resources, and risking reputation and life.

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summary

Jonathan’s insistence that David reaffirm their vow highlights the sacredness of covenant, a covenant birthed in genuine, self-giving love that mirrors God’s own command to love others as ourselves. Their friendship shows how steadfast, sacrificial commitment honors the Lord and provides strength in the face of hostility, inviting believers today to value promises, cherish godly friendships, and love with the same wholehearted devotion.