David: God's own heart Chapter 10 Jonathan - Sacred Kiss

 

"Then they kissed one another and wept with one another—David weeping the most."

— 1 Samuel 20:41

In today’s modern lens, the word kiss often carries romantic connotations. But in the world of ancient Israel, kissing held a much broader, deeper meaning—one rooted in covenant, kinship, and sacred honor.

When David and Jonathan embraced and kissed one another before parting, it was not an act of romance—it was a holy expression of brotherhood, forged in trials, trust, and shared tears. In ancient Israelite culture, such a kiss was customary among family members and close companions. It was a gesture of farewell, loyalty, and profound love, not unlike the way a soldier might embrace his comrade before the battlefield or a father bless his son with a kiss on the forehead.

From the patriarchs onward, the kiss was a sign of familial bond. Jacob kissed his father Isaac to receive a blessing (Genesis 27:26–27). Joseph wept and kissed his brothers when revealing his identity (Genesis 45:15). Even Moses greeted Aaron with a kiss when reunited after years apart (Exodus 4:27). These were kisses of reunion, reconciliation, or release.

David and Jonathan's kiss was exactly that: a covenant farewell between kindred spirits. They were bound not only by blood—David had married Jonathan’s sister Michal—but by soul. Scripture tells us that "the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David" (1 Samuel 18:1). Their final kiss was not sensual, but sacred. A warrior’s goodbye. A brother’s blessing. A friend’s silent promise that even in separation, their bond would not be broken.

As believers, we too are called to relationships marked by covenant faithfulness, sacrificial love, and spiritual kinship. Though our customs may differ, the heart behind them remains: love that weeps, love that stays, love that blesses even when it must let go.

Let this be a reminder that not all love is romantic. Some love is loyal. Some love is brotherly. And some love, like David and Jonathan’s, is a God-ordained covenant that transcends time, politics, and even the shadow of death. The two made a covenant before the Lord before going their separate ways.