1 Samuel 25 24

1 Samuel 25:24 kjv

And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid.

1 Samuel 25:24 nkjv

So she fell at his feet and said: "On me, my lord, on me let this iniquity be! And please let your maidservant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your maidservant.

1 Samuel 25:24 niv

She fell at his feet and said: "Pardon your servant, my lord, and let me speak to you; hear what your servant has to say.

1 Samuel 25:24 esv

She fell at his feet and said, "On me alone, my lord, be the guilt. Please let your servant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your servant.

1 Samuel 25:24 nlt

She fell at his feet and said, "I accept all blame in this matter, my lord. Please listen to what I have to say.

1 Samuel 25 verses

1 Samuel 25 24 Meaning

1 Samuel 25:24 depicts Abigail's profound act of humility and self-sacrifice before David. She prostrates herself completely at his feet, signifying ultimate reverence, submission, and a desperate plea for mercy. Her repeated cry, "On me, my lord, on me let this iniquity be!" is a courageous and remarkable offer to personally bear the full guilt and consequences, or the potential blame and punishment, associated with Nabal's foolish actions. This extraordinary act seeks to divert David's wrath from her husband Nabal and his household, preventing him from shedding innocent blood in a fit of vengeance. Her intercession highlights a crucial moment where divine wisdom guides human action to avert grave sin and preserve David's character before his anointing as king.

1 Samuel 25 24 Context

This verse is pivotal within 1 Samuel chapter 25, occurring immediately after David's enraged oath to destroy Nabal and his entire household for his insulting refusal to provide provisions. David, still in his phase of being pursued by Saul, had protected Nabal's shepherds, but Nabal, "surly and mean in his dealings" (1 Sam 25:3), repaid kindness with contempt. Abigail, Nabal's wife, a woman of "good understanding and beautiful appearance," acts quickly and independently to avert the impending catastrophe. She secretly gathers provisions and rushes to meet David before his wrath can be executed. Her sudden appearance, combined with her posture and powerful words of self-abasement and intercession, is designed to disarm David and turn him from a potentially grave sin of unjustified retribution and bloodguilt, aligning David with G-d's will and preventing an act that would later mar his kingship. Historically, tribal societies held strong obligations of hospitality and vengeance; David, as a protector, expected due honor. Nabal's insult was a direct challenge, and David's oath reflects the societal norms of severe retribution, yet G-d uses Abigail to guide David toward justice rather than impulsive vengeance, contrasting with prevalent blood-feud norms where honor often dictated lethal retaliation.

1 Samuel 25 24 Word analysis

• And she fell (וַתִּפֹּל – vattippol): From the Hebrew root נָפַל (naphal), meaning "to fall, cast down." This indicates complete prostration, not merely kneeling. It signifies an act of deep reverence, utter humility, and absolute submission. It is a posture of earnest petition, placing oneself entirely at the mercy of another, acknowledging their superior authority and power.
• at his feet (לְרַגְלָיו – le'raglav): Literally "to his feet." This further emphasizes the extreme nature of her prostration and humility. It implies placing herself beneath him, vulnerable and entirely dependent on his will, demonstrating absolute surrender and deference. It's a common posture for supplication in the ancient Near East, symbolizing subservience and desperate appeal for grace.
• and said (וַתֹּאמֶר – vattomer): A simple conjunctive, introducing her powerful and redemptive words.
• 'On me, my lord, on me' (עָלַי אֲדֹנִי עָלָי – ‘alay adoni ‘alay):
  • On me (‘alay): Literally "upon me." This is a profoundly sacrificial declaration, indicating a willingness to bear the consequences or blame. The repetition (‘alay...‘alay) dramatically intensifies the plea and highlights her earnestness and unwavering resolve to take the burden upon herself. It functions as a bold and emphatic offer of substitution.
  • my lord (adoni): A respectful and deferential term for a superior or master. While used for human leaders, it conveys recognition of David's authority, power, and the potential for devastating judgment. It establishes her position as one humbly pleading to an authoritative figure, seeking to persuade and influence.
• let this iniquity be!' (יִהְיֶה הֶעָוֹן הַזֶּה – yihyeh he‘avon hazzeh):
  • let be (yihyeh): A volitional or jussive form of the verb "to be," functioning as a strong request or an emphatic statement: "Let it be," "May it fall." It underscores the seriousness of her request.
  • this iniquity (הֶעָוֹן הַזֶּה – he‘avon hazzeh):
    • iniquity (‘avon): A critical term. It refers to a deep moral failing, wickedness, guilt, or sin, but especially highlights the punishment or consequence that flows from that sin. It can denote the burden of guilt. In this context, it refers to the grave wrong done by Nabal, which demands severe punishment, but it also carries the prophetic implication of the "bloodguilt" that David would incur if he carried out his vow of destruction, thereby burdening his future kingship. Abigail is offering to take on this severe responsibility and the resultant consequence, whatever it might be. Her phrase might imply "Let the blame and its consequence, which rests upon this situation (due to Nabal's actions or your potential vengeance), fall upon me instead of them."

1 Samuel 25 24 Bonus section

Abigail's immediate and radical self-abasement ("fell at his feet") is an extreme measure reserved for the most desperate pleas, demonstrating the critical urgency she perceived in turning David from his vengeful path. Her intercession here showcases a type of wisdom not just practical but profoundly spiritual, recognizing David's divine calling and the need to preserve him from defiling himself before becoming king. The repetition of "on me" is a rhetorical device called anaphora, employed to stress the absolute and earnest nature of her willingness to take on the burden. This phrase functions as a kind of a protective spell, spiritually placing herself between David's sword and Nabal's household. Her character is held up in scripture as an example of sagacity that avoids foolish outcomes and steers individuals, even future kings, towards righteousness. Her foresight extends to predicting David's future greatness and reminding him not to have "cause for regret or clear conscience" concerning his actions later (1 Sam 25:31), underscoring that acts of vengeance could lead to ongoing remorse and hinder his claim as a king appointed by the L-rd.

1 Samuel 25 24 Commentary

Abigail's declaration in 1 Samuel 25:24 is an astonishing act of intercession rooted in extraordinary wisdom and foresight. By completely humbling herself and volunteering to bear the "iniquity"—the guilt, consequence, and burden of the situation—she masterfully shifts David's focus from his wrath to her self-sacrificing offer. This act transcends simple politeness; it is a deep theological insight into substitution and propitiation. She places herself as a mediator, absorbing the potential divine judgment. Her willingness to take Nabal's spiritual and physical responsibility on herself parallels the L-rd's pattern of providing substitution for the guilty. Abigail acts as a physical representation of intercession and highlights how divine grace can avert wrath through a humble, willing offering. This critical intervention saved not only Nabal's household but also preserved David from an act of bloodguilt that would have compromised his future anointing as king, a fact David acknowledges later in the chapter. It serves as an example of wise, preemptive peacemaking and a profound echo of Christ's eventual bearing of our collective iniquity.