2 Samuel 1:26 Meaning and Explanation
“I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →David grieves for his brother Jonathan, whose love to him was wonderful, surpassing the love of women.
What Does 2 Samuel 1:26 Mean?
David's lament reaches its most tender point. He calls Jonathan his brother and confesses his distress, remembering a friendship so pure and faithful that he names its love wonderful, surpassing even the love of women. Theirs was a covenant bond, loyal unto death.
This is one of Scripture's great portraits of faithful friendship. Jonathan had defended David, warned him, and loved him without rivalry, even surrendering his own claim to the throne. Such steadfast, self-giving devotion is a foretaste of the greater love that lays down its life for a friend. To be loved like this, and to grieve such love, is among the deepest gifts and sorrows of the human heart.
2 Samuel 1:26 in the Original Language
ahavah (אַהֲבָה), 'love' -- covenant loyalty and devotion, a love bound by faithfulness rather than mere feeling.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 1:26
What does 2 Samuel 1:26 mean?
David grieves for his brother Jonathan, whose love to him was wonderful, surpassing the love of women.