ISFJ 1w9 Characters
Ethan Kai’s Jonathan from House of David is a classic ISFJ 1w9: faithful, principled, and quietly heroic. As the eldest son of King Saul, Jonathan is caught between familial duty, spiritual conviction, and shifting political alliances. This personality breakdown explores how his loyalty to tradition, empathy for others, and unwavering sense of morality reflect both his MBTI and Enneagram types. Whether leading soldiers into battle or diffusing palace tension with grace, Jonathan shows us the quieter side of courage.
Introverted Sensing
Jonathan is highly respectful of Samuel, based on what he knows about him, and trusts that their long-term association will convince Samuel to remove the curse from his father. When trouble comes, he seeks out Samuel to plead for his father’s sanity, but then accepts that God has no desire to liberate his father and that he will not be king after his father (which must be a hard pill to swallow). He is highly obedient to the traditions of his father, and to the laws under which they live, reminding his mother that even a queen can be put to death for consulting with witches and performing spells. Jonathan is known for his courage, proactive decisions, and for being an intelligent, strategic soldier on the battlefield, with a long history of success.
Extraverted Feeling
Only Jonathan asks his sister how she feels about an arranged marriage, in an invitation to speak to him about it (and for him to advocate for her, if it makes her unhappy). He believes in talking to and convincing Samuel, rather than threatening him or alienating him. He accepts what Samuel says, rather than to fight with him about it. Jonathan is fine with making decisions based on what is best for everyone involved, and deprioritizes himself (he brushes off everyone telling him to get married again and over his grief, but doesn’t want his sisters marrying someone they dislike just to build an alliance). Jonathan knows to have men follow him, he has to build a rapport with them and take as many risks as they do, so he often puts himself into dangerous situations alongside of them.
Introverted Thinking
Once he understands how God thinks, he doesn’t argue any longer with Samuel about his father being removed from power, because it makes sense to him. Jonathan likes to do recon and find out what lies ahead of them, so he can strategize the best way to win battles against the Philistines without excessive loss of life.
Extroverted Intuition
When Jonathan climbs the mountain to find Samuel and experiences a flash of the future, rather than feeling confident about it, he is confused and asks Samuel why it makes no sense. He isn’t used to interpreting dreams, symbols, or portents, and relies on Samuel to tell him what they mean.
The Enneagram 1
There is a small chance Jonathan could be a 6 and it may show up more clearly in later seasons; but he seems gut-motivated. He’s proactive, and sets out to infiltrate the Philistine camp with a handful of men to kill his enemies or gather information about them, rather than sit around and wait for things to happen. He accuses his mother of dabbling in witchcraft, reminds her that it’s punishable by death, and banishes the witch from the castle without listening to her argument (telling her to leave, before he changes his mind). Jonathan is harsh on David at first, but comes to respect him for his courage later on, forming the basis for their eventual friendship. He always keeps his temper, and behaves in public, but also refuses to talk about the loss of his wife, which he sees as private.
The 9 Wing
His siblings squabbling bothers him, and he either tries to diffuse tension and make people get along, or he tunes it out. He is the more responsible brother, and the one everyone approves of, because he goes about his business quietly and under his own initiative. Jonathan has strong opinions, but also can be merciful, and want to avoid scenes / conflict in his interactions with others. He tries appeasement and conversations rather than violence much of the time.
Jonathan’s Legacy
Jonathan’s character arc in House of David is deeply grounded in faith, humility, and a desire to do what’s right even at great personal cost. His ISFJ personality gives him a rich inner life tied to duty and experience, while his 1w9 Enneagram type balances moral certainty with a longing for peace. Whether confronting dark spiritual practices or standing by those he trusts, Jonathan is a portrait of integrity in a turbulent world.
