ANNEX B
David & Jonathan (Same-Gender Love is Not a Sin)
For readers who aren’t convinced that David and Jonathan shared a deep, romantic bond, let’s unpack the evidence.
The Word ‘Homosexual’ Was Never in the Bible. The term “homosexual” never appeared in the original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts of the Bible. In fact, it wasn’t even present in early English translations. Some argue that modern translations added it to “clarify” the original meaning—but that’s revisionism, not scholarship.
The truth is, homosexuality as an identity didn’t exist yet in biblical times. Same-gender attraction certainly did, but cultural expectations meant most people still married and had children. The way societies understood sexuality evolved over time—back then, there wasn’t even language for it. So, when we examine biblical relationships, we must assess them in their own historical and linguistic context rather than impose modern categories.
David & Jonathan: A Love Story
One of the clearest examples of same-gender love in the Bible is the relationship between David and Jonathan. From the moment they met, Jonathan was captivated by David—his love for him was deep, personal, and unwavering.
“As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as his own soul. Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, along with his armor, sword, bow, and belt.”— 1 Samuel 18:1-4
How do we describe a “straight” man behaving this way?
• “The soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David.” The Hebrew verb נִקְשְׁרָ֖ה (niqshərāh) means “to bind, conspire,” but in this verse, it is parsed in the feminine form, showing Jonathan’s posture of emotional vulnerability and deep attachment.
• Jonathan immediately made a covenant with David.
• Jonathan stripped himself of his royal robe and placed it on David—an act of intimate devotion.
• Jonathan gave David his military gear. This was no ordinary gear—it was the armor of a crown prince.
Jonathan was utterly devoted to David. And yet, the text says little about David’s feelings for Jonathan—until their final farewell.
The Kiss, The Covenant, The Tears
“As soon as the boy was gone, David arose from the south, fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times. They kissed one another and wept together, and David wept the most.”— 1 Samuel 20:41-42 (Dead Sea Scrolls)
Even though Jonathan had a crush on David—and by today’s standards, was clearly “homosexual”—he still spoke about both of their offspring. Again, this does not contradict his orientation because the concept of sexuality had not yet been fully understood.
But what we do see here is deep emotional and physical intimacy between two men, with no hint of shame or condemnation. There is no homophobia in the original manuscripts.
David’s Lament: Love Beyond Friendship
When Jonathan was killed, David mourned him in a way that shatters any claim that this was just “brotherly” affection:
“I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was more wonderful than the love of women.”— 2 Samuel 1:26
• “Brother” (אָח – ’ach) here does not mean “bro” in a casual sense. It denotes an intimate, family-like bond.
• “Dear” literally translates to very special.
• “Your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.” The Hebrew phrasing here is direct, and some translations make it even clearer.
Had David and Jonathan been alive today, they would be recognized as a deeply loving same-gender couple.
David’s Bisexuality & Jonathan’s Exclusive Love
David later married multiple women and had concubines. This suggests that David may have had a bisexual identity—attracted to both men and women. Jonathan, however, only ever loved David. From what was written, his devotion was singular. David not only reciprocated Jonathan’s love, but he also publicly honored it. There was no embarrassment, no denial, no erasure. And the covenant they made?
“Beriyth” refers to a contract made by passing between pieces of cut flesh, and “Karath” means to cut or make a covenant. This wasn’t a casual promise—it was the most solemn, binding, and intimate contract known in the ancient world. And it was between two men.
Conclusion: Love Beyond Time & Labels
The Bible does not condemn David and Jonathan’s relationship. Only modern interpretations do. Their love story was recorded, celebrated, and respected in scripture. Over centuries, homophobic readings have diluted their love, twisting it into something that fits religious biases. But the original texts speak for themselves. David loved Jonathan. Jonathan loved David. Their love was real, and it mattered.