Translations
Modern
When the young man had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone, fell facedown, and bowed three times. Then he and Jonathan kissed each other and wept together—though David wept more.
Traditional
And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.
Literal
The boy had gone, and David arose from the side at the south, and he fell on his nostrils to the ground, and he bowed down three times. And they kissed one another, and they wept one with another. But David did so more.
Latin
Cumque abiisset puer, surrexit David de loco qui vergebat ad austrum, et cadens pronus in terram, adoravit tertio: et osculantes se alterutrum, fleverunt pariter, David autem amplius.
Original
Hebrew
English
When the young man had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone, fell facedown, and bowed three times. Then he and Jonathan kissed each other and wept together—though David wept more.
Notes
David … bowed: Jonathan had a higher social rank, making David's gesture appropriate.
he and Jonathan … wept: For the first time in the story, the text shows that both men openly shared their grief (see 1 Samuel 18:1, 3–4; 20:17).
Theme notes and profiles
David Jeroboam I Jonathan Saul David's Response to Unfriendly Leaders
Events
People
David: Anointed king of Israel, ancestor of Jesus Christ
Glossary
Topics
Arrow: Shot by Jonathan As a Sign to David Jonathan and David Love to Man: Jonathan Weeping of Jonathan and David