1 Samuel 25 22

1 Samuel 25:22 kjv

So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.

1 Samuel 25:22 nkjv

May God do so, and more also, to the enemies of David, if I leave one male of all who belong to him by morning light."

1 Samuel 25:22 niv

May God deal with David, be it ever so severely, if by morning I leave alive one male of all who belong to him!"

1 Samuel 25:22 esv

God do so to the enemies of David and more also, if by morning I leave so much as one male of all who belong to him."

1 Samuel 25:22 nlt

May God strike me and kill me if even one man of his household is still alive tomorrow morning!"

1 Samuel 25 verses

1 Samuel 25 22 Meaning

David makes a solemn and severe oath, invoking God's wrath upon himself and more, if he does not utterly destroy every male individual connected to Nabal's household by the morning light. This imprecation highlights the extreme offense David felt from Nabal's public insult and ingratitude, provoking him to a desired act of comprehensive vengeance against Nabal's lineage.

1 Samuel 25 22 Context

First Samuel chapter 25 details an episode during David's fugitive period, where he and his men protected Nabal's shepherds in the wilderness. When David respectfully requested provisions from Nabal during sheep-shearing, a time of feasting, Nabal harshly and contemptuously refused, questioning David's identity and worth. This gross insult, coupled with Nabal's ingratitude, deeply angered David. Having gone into hiding from Saul, David's group functioned as protectors for others, and customary payment or tribute was expected. Nabal’s scornful refusal, calling David a mere runaway servant, challenged David's honor and his ability to provide for and protect his men. This public shaming led David to take 400 armed men, intent on destroying Nabal and all his household males, before Abigail, Nabal's discerning wife, intervened.

1 Samuel 25 22 Word analysis

• So and more also: The Hebrew idiom `koh yaseh elōhīm vēkoh yōsīph` (כֹּה יַעֲשֶׂה אֱלֹהִים וְכֹה יוֹסִיף) is a very strong and common formula for a self-curse or oath in the Old Testament. It signifies "may God do such and such to me, and even more than that," if the oath is broken or the intent is not carried out. It functions as an absolute guarantee of commitment, here indicating the depth of David's vengeful intent.
• God do to David: This refers to God acting upon `me` (David himself) if he fails to execute the threat. It is an intensifier, essentially David invoking the worst upon himself if he does not follow through with his stated vengeance. It elevates his human vow into a divinely enforced commitment.
• By morning light: `ʿad bōqēr` (עַד הַבֹּקֶר). This phrase emphasizes immediacy and a strict deadline. It underscores the urgency and unwavering determination of David’s decision, signifying his wrath had set a rapid timeline for devastating action.
• leaving to Nabal every male: The Hebrew phrase translated here is `mashtin beqir` (מַשְׁתִּין בְּקִיר), literally "one who urinates against a wall." This is an ancient, vulgar idiom, universally understood in the ancient Near East as meaning "every male person" or "every living male." It often included animals as well (such as a male dog) in some contexts, but here primarily signifies the complete eradication of Nabal's male descendants and even his male servants and household. It conveys utter contempt and a desire for total obliteration of a man's legacy and line, signifying not just killing, but humiliating destruction, preventing any male from continuing his name or property. It implies wiping out the very essence of Nabal’s existence and honor.

1 Samuel 25 22 Bonus section

• The raw human emotion of anger and a thirst for vengeance depicted in this verse is a stark contrast to the divine principles of non-retaliation and love for enemies taught in the New Testament. It highlights the progressive revelation of God's character and ethical standards.
• This specific idiom, "one who urinates against a wall," carries significant polemical weight. In ancient pagan cults, particularly those of fertility gods like Baal, acts of urination could be part of cultic rituals or curses. By employing this phrase, David (or the biblical narrator using it) could subtly be juxtaposing the utter contempt for a lineage destined for complete erasure, against any notion of their potency or continuation through such pagan beliefs or practices, affirming that only Yahweh's will dictates life and death, blessing and curse. It’s an assertion of power over another's posterity.
• The dramatic tension created by this extreme oath makes Abigail's subsequent successful intercession all the more remarkable, as it was directly challenging a divinely sworn, culturally binding commitment. Her actions effectively diverted David from committing a great sin, illustrating God's redemptive grace through human agents.

1 Samuel 25 22 Commentary

This verse powerfully conveys David’s enraged response to Nabal's profound insult. The language chosen, particularly the forceful oath "so and more also," and the gruesome idiom "every male (who urinates against a wall)," reveals the extent of his fury and his resolve to entirely erase Nabal’s male lineage and property. This desire for total destruction was deeply rooted in ancient cultural codes of honor, where such a public slight demanded an overwhelming punitive response. David's willingness to invoke divine judgment upon himself if he failed demonstrates the seriousness of his vow. This episode stands as a critical juncture, showing David on the precipice of acting in rash and sinful vengeance, potentially blemishing his character and jeopardizing his future kingship. God, however, used Abigail's wisdom and intervention to prevent David from incurring bloodguilt, demonstrating His active providence in preserving His anointed and ensuring that ultimate vengeance belonged to Him alone. David’s acknowledgment of God's role through Abigail (v. 32-33) underscores that divine restraint and justice supersede human retaliation.