Jonathan

יְהוֹנָתָן · ye.ho.na.tan · H3083Hיוֹנָתָן · yo.na.tan · H3129N“given of God” Hitchcock's 186982 mentions in 3 books, most in 1 Samuel (60)

Who he was

Jonathan was the eldest son of King Saul and a prominent figure in the early monarchy of Israel. He first appears in the biblical narrative as a brave warrior, leading a thousand men in a successful attack against a Philistine garrison (1 Samuel 13:2–3). Jonathan's faith and courage were further demonstrated when he and his armor-bearer challenged another Philistine outpost, believing that God could save by many or by few (1 Samuel 14:6–14).

Jonathan is perhaps best known for his deep friendship with David, which began after David's victory over Goliath (1 Samuel 18:1). The two made a covenant, and Jonathan gave David his robe, armor, sword, bow, and belt as a sign of their bond (1 Samuel 18:3–4). When Saul's jealousy towards David grew, Jonathan interceded on David's behalf, temporarily reconciling them (1 Samuel 19:1–7).

As Saul's hostility towards David intensified, Jonathan helped David escape and reaffirmed their covenant (1Sa.20). They parted ways, with Jonathan remaining loyal to his father while still maintaining his friendship with David (1 Samuel 23:16–18).

Jonathan died in battle alongside his father and brothers at Mount Gilboa, fighting against the Philistines (1 Samuel 31:2; 1 Chronicles 10:2). David deeply mourned the loss of his friend, composing a lament in honor of Saul and Jonathan (2Sa.1).

Jonathan's legacy continued through his son Mephibosheth, whom David showed kindness for Jonathan's sake (2 Samuel 4:4; 9.1-7). David also spared Mephibosheth's life when the Gibeonites sought retribution for Saul's actions (2 Samuel 21:7–9).

The story of Jonathan and David's friendship has become a timeless example of loyalty, selflessness, and the power of covenant relationships. Despite the challenges and conflicts they faced, their bond remained strong, transcending political and familial ties.

Article: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Family

FatherSaulMotherAhinoamSiblingsAbinadab, Malchi-shua, Merab, Michal, Ish-bosheth, Armoni, MephiboshethChildrenMephibosheth

Family relations: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Every mention

82 references, counted from STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0 · verse text: World English Bible (public domain)

1 Samuel60 mentions

1 Samuel 13:2Saul chose for himself three thousand men of Israel, of which two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in the Mount of Bethel, and one thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin.…1 Samuel 13:3Jonathan struck the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear!”1 Samuel 13:16Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people who were present with them, stayed in Geba of Benjamin; but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.1 Samuel 13:22So it came to pass in the day of battle that neither sword nor spear was found in the hand of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan; but Saul and Jonathan his son had them.1 Samuel 14:1Now it happened on a day that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come! Let’s go over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side.” But he didn’t…1 Samuel 14:3including Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli the priest of Yahweh in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. The people didn’t know that Jonathan was gone.1 Samuel 14:4Between the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines’ garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side and a rocky crag on the other side; and the name of the one was…1 Samuel 14:6Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come! Let’s go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that Yahweh will work for us, for there is no restraint on Yahweh…1 Samuel 14:8Then Jonathan said, “Behold, we will pass over to the men, and we will reveal ourselves to them.1 Samuel 14:12The men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armor bearer, and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you something!” Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come up after me, for Yahweh…1 Samuel 14:13Jonathan climbed up on his hands and on his feet, and his armor bearer after him, and they fell before Jonathan; and his armor bearer killed them after him.1 Samuel 14:14That first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armor bearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were half a furrow’s length in an acre of land.1 Samuel 14:17Then Saul said to the people who were with him, “Count now, and see who is missing from us.” When they had counted, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.1 Samuel 14:21Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines before and who went up with them into the camp from all around, even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.1 Samuel 14:27But Jonathan didn’t hear when his father commanded the people with the oath. Therefore he put out the end of the rod that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand…1 Samuel 14:29Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. Please look how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey.1 Samuel 14:39For as Yahweh lives, who saves Israel, though it is in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But there was not a man among all the people who answered him.1 Samuel 14:40Then he said to all Israel, “You be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” The people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.”1 Samuel 14:41Therefore Saul said to Yahweh, the God of Israel, “Show the right.” Jonathan and Saul were chosen, but the people escaped.1 Samuel 14:42Saul said, “Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son.” Jonathan was selected.1 Samuel 14:43Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done!” Jonathan told him, and said, “I certainly did taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand; and behold, I must…1 Samuel 14:44Saul said, “God do so and more also; for you shall surely die, Jonathan.”1 Samuel 14:45The people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As Yahweh lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he…1 Samuel 14:49Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal.1 Samuel 18:1When he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.1 Samuel 18:3Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.1 Samuel 18:4Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David with his clothing, even including his sword, his bow, and his sash.1 Samuel 19:1Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul’s son, greatly delighted in David.1 Samuel 19:2Jonathan told David, saying, “Saul my father seeks to kill you. Now therefore, please take care of yourself in the morning, live in a secret place, and hide yourself.1 Samuel 19:4Jonathan spoke good of David to Saul his father, and said to him, “Don’t let the king sin against his servant, against David; because he has not sinned against you, and because his works…1 Samuel 19:6Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan; and Saul swore, “As Yahweh lives, he shall not be put to death.”1 Samuel 19:7Jonathan called David, and Jonathan showed him all those things. Then Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as before.1 Samuel 20:1David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said to Jonathan, “What have I done? What is my iniquity? What is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?”1 Samuel 20:3David swore moreover, and said, “Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes; and he says, ‘Don’t let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved;’ but truly as Yahweh lives…1 Samuel 20:4Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever your soul desires, I will even do it for you.”1 Samuel 20:5David said to Jonathan, “Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to dine with the king; but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field to the third day at evening.1 Samuel 20:9Jonathan said, “Far be it from you; for if I should at all know that evil were determined by my father to come on you, then wouldn’t I tell you that?”1 Samuel 20:10Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you roughly?”1 Samuel 20:11Jonathan said to David, “Come! Let’s go out into the field.” They both went out into the field.1 Samuel 20:12Jonathan said to David, “By Yahweh, the God of Israel, when I have sounded out my father about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if there is good toward David, won’t I then…1 Samuel 20:13Yahweh do so to Jonathan and more also, should it please my father to do you evil, if I don’t disclose it to you and send you away, that you may go in peace. May Yahweh be with you as he…1 Samuel 20:16So Jonathan made a covenant with David’s house, saying, “Yahweh will require it at the hand of David’s enemies.”1 Samuel 20:17Jonathan caused David to swear again, for the love that he had for him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.1 Samuel 20:18Then Jonathan said to him, “Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty.1 Samuel 20:25The king sat on his seat, as at other times, even on the seat by the wall; and Jonathan stood up, and Abner sat by Saul’s side, but David’s place was empty.1 Samuel 20:27On the next day after the new moon, the second day, David’s place was empty. Saul said to Jonathan his son, “Why didn’t the son of Jesse come to eat, either yesterday, or today?”1 Samuel 20:28Jonathan answered Saul, “David earnestly asked permission of me to go to Bethlehem.1 Samuel 20:30Then Saul’s anger burned against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse rebellious woman, don’t I know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the…1 Samuel 20:32Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said to him, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?”1 Samuel 20:33Saul cast his spear at him to strike him. By this Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death.1 Samuel 20:34So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and ate no food the second day of the month; for he was grieved for David, because his father had treated him shamefully.1 Samuel 20:35In the morning, Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little boy with him.1 Samuel 20:37When the boy had come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the boy, and said, “Isn’t the arrow beyond you?”1 Samuel 20:38Jonathan cried after the boy, “Go fast! Hurry! Don’t delay!” Jonathan’s boy gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.1 Samuel 20:39But the boy didn’t know anything. Only Jonathan and David knew the matter.1 Samuel 20:40Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy, and said to him, “Go, carry them to the city.”1 Samuel 20:42Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, because we have both sworn in Yahweh’s name, saying, ‘Yahweh is between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’” He arose…1 Samuel 23:16Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David into the woods, and strengthened his hand in God.1 Samuel 23:18They both made a covenant before Yahweh. Then David stayed in the woods and Jonathan went to his house.1 Samuel 31:2The Philistines overtook Saul and his sons; and the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.

2 Samuel17 mentions

2 Samuel 1:4David said to him, “How did it go? Please tell me.” He answered, “The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen and are dead. Saul and Jonathan his son are…2 Samuel 1:5David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”2 Samuel 1:12They mourned, wept, and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Yahweh, and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.2 Samuel 1:17David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son 2 Samuel 1:22From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, Jonathan’s bow didn’t turn back. Saul’s sword didn’t return empty.2 Samuel 1:23Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives. In their death, they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles. They were stronger than lions.2 Samuel 1:25How the mighty have fallen in the middle of the battle! Jonathan was slain on your high places.2 Samuel 1:26I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women.2 Samuel 4:4Now Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news came about Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel; and his nurse picked him up and fled. As she…2 Samuel 9:1David said, “Is there yet any who is left of Saul’s house, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”2 Samuel 9:3The king said, “Is there not yet any of Saul’s house, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “Jonathan still has a son, who is lame in his feet.”2 Samuel 9:6Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, fell on his face, and showed respect. David said, “Mephibosheth?” He answered, “Behold, your servant!”2 Samuel 9:7David said to him, “Don’t be afraid, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your father. You will eat bread at my…2 Samuel 21:7But the king spared Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of Yahweh’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.2 Samuel 21:12So David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh Gilead, who had stolen them from the street of Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hanged…2 Samuel 21:13and he brought up from there the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son. They also gathered the bones of those who were hanged.2 Samuel 21:14They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zela, in the tomb of Kish his father; and they performed all that the king commanded. After that, God…

1 Chronicles5 mentions

What the dictionary says

Whom Jehovah gave, the name of fifteen or more persons that are mentioned in Scripture.

Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)

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Sources

STEPBible TIPNR · Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References · CC BY 4.0 · github.com/STEPBible/STEPBible-Data
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (1869) · Public domain