Meaning of the Name Jonathan
Jonathan comes from the Hebrew forms "Yehonatan" or the shortened "Yonatan." It means "Yahweh has given" or "the LORD has given." It is a typical Hebrew theophoric name containing the divine element.
Origin
The name Jonathan is of Hebrew origin.
Who is Jonathan in the Bible?
Jonathan is especially known as the son of King Saul and the close friend of David. He is remembered both for courage and for his loyal friendship with David. Other Jonathans appear in Scripture, but the most famous is the son of Saul, king of Israel.
The story of Jonathan in the Bible
Jonathan was the son of Saul, Israel's first king, and the natural heir to the throne. Scripture first introduces him as a man of courage: in 1 Samuel 14 he attacks a Philistine outpost with only his armor-bearer at his side, sparking a great victory for Israel. After David defeats Goliath, the story turns to their friendship; according to 1 Samuel 18, Jonathan loved David as his own soul, made a covenant with him, and gave him his robe and weapons. When Saul sought David's life, Jonathan was caught in between, yet he warned his friend, defended him before his father, and helped him escape, accepting that David rather than he would become king. Jonathan finally fell in battle against the Philistines alongside his father and brothers. In his lament in 2 Samuel 1:26, David declares how precious Jonathan's love had been to him, which is why Jonathan remains one of the Bible's most powerful examples of selfless friendship.
Is Jonathan mentioned in the Quran?
The name Jonathan does not appear in the Quran; although his close friend David (Dawud) is honored as a prophet in Islamic tradition, Jonathan himself is not mentioned. His story is told in the Old Testament books of 1 and 2 Samuel.
Verses where Jonathan appears
- 1 Samuel 14:1 —
Now it fell on a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, that is on the other side.” But he didn’t tell his father.
- 1 Samuel 18:1 —
When he had made an end of speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
- 2 Samuel 1:26 —
I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.