1 Samuel 25 25

1 Samuel 25:25 kjv

Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.

1 Samuel 25:25 nkjv

Please, let not my lord regard this scoundrel Nabal. For as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and folly is with him! But I, your maidservant, did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent.

1 Samuel 25:25 niv

Please pay no attention, my lord, to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name?his name means Fool, and folly goes with him. And as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my lord sent.

1 Samuel 25:25 esv

Let not my lord regard this worthless fellow, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. But I your servant did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent.

1 Samuel 25:25 nlt

I know Nabal is a wicked and ill-tempered man; please don't pay any attention to him. He is a fool, just as his name suggests. But I never even saw the young men you sent.

1 Samuel 25 verses

1 Samuel 25 25 Meaning

1 Samuel 25:25 serves as Abigail's humble and astute plea to David, distancing herself from her husband Nabal's foolish actions and preventing David from shedding innocent blood. She emphasizes Nabal's inherent nature, highlighted by his name, to explain his outrageous behavior, thereby shifting the focus from his insult to his inherent depravity. This plea underscores Nabal's spiritual blindness and calls David to a higher standard of discernment.

1 Samuel 25 25 Context

The immediate context of 1 Samuel 25:25 is Abigail's desperate and strategic attempt to de-escalate David's wrath against her household. David, along with his 600 men, had provided protection for Nabal's vast flocks during their stay in the wilderness. In return for this unspoken "protection money," David sent messengers to request provisions from Nabal during sheep-shearing, a time of feasting. Nabal, whose name literally means "fool," insultingly refused David's legitimate request, dismissing David as an escaped servant. Enraged by this insult and threat to his honor, David vowed to utterly destroy Nabal and all his men by morning. Abigail, hearing of this, quickly gathered provisions and went out to meet David, humbling herself before him to avert his planned vengeance. This specific verse comes during her powerful and persuasive intercession, where she minimizes Nabal's offense by pointing to his innate character flaw.

The broader historical context involves David's anointing as king and his subsequent flight from Saul's relentless pursuit. David, operating outside the established kingdom, relied on his wits, strength, and the support of his growing band of followers. This period tested his character, often presenting temptations to take matters into his own hands, as he almost did with Nabal. Nabal represents a powerful and wealthy, yet spiritually obtuse, member of the Israelite community, oblivious to God's hand on David. Abigail, conversely, exhibits remarkable spiritual insight and wisdom, understanding God's covenant with David (which she explicitly mentions in later verses of the chapter) and acting to preserve his future righteous reign by preventing a sinful act of vengeance.

1 Samuel 25 25 Word analysis

• Please let not my lord regard (אֲדֹנִ֤י לָב֙ יָשִׂ֤ם):
  • ʾăḏōniy (my lord): A deferential title, repeatedly used by Abigail to express her deep respect for David and acknowledge his authority. It signifies her submission and humility, a stark contrast to Nabal's disrespect.
  • lāʾ yāśīm (not set/lay upon): Implies "do not pay attention to" or "do not set your heart upon." Abigail urges David not to dwell on Nabal's actions or take them personally to heart, implying Nabal is not worthy of David's righteous anger.
• this worthless fellow, Nabal (בְּלִיַּעַל נָבָל):
  • beliyyaʿal (worthless fellow, good for nothing, scoundrel): Literally means "without profit," "useless," or "unprofitable." In biblical usage, it often denotes extreme wickedness, depravity, or a complete rejection of God's ways. It's often translated as "sons of Belial" for wicked men (e.g., Deut 13:13, 1 Sam 2:12). Abigail doesn't just call him rude; she brands him as utterly evil, morally corrupt. This strong term portrays Nabal as irredeemably bad.
  • Nabal (נָבָל): This is a powerful wordplay. Nabal's name literally means "fool," "senseless," or "impious." Abigail emphasizes the direct correlation between his name and his nature, suggesting his actions are entirely consistent with his very being.
• for as his name is, so is he (כִּשְׁמוֹ כֶּן־הוּא):
  • kîšmô ken-hûʾ (as his name, so he): A profound Hebrew idiom expressing the idea that a person's character or destiny is directly reflected in their name. In ancient Israelite culture, names were not merely labels but often revealed intrinsic qualities, prophesied roles, or recalled circumstances of birth. Here, it is a statement of Nabal's ingrained foolishness and spiritual insensitivity.
• Nabal is his name, and folly is with him (נָבָל שְׁמוֹ וּנְבָלָה עִמּוֹ):
  • Nabal shᵉmô wunᵊḇālāh ʿimmô (Nabal his name and foolishness with him): Abigail repeats and amplifies the wordplay. The second instance of "Nabal" is paired with nivlāh (folly, disgraceful thing, villainy, wickedness). This noun, derived from the same root as Nabal's name, signifies moral turpitude, something despicable or abhorrent. It's not just a lack of intelligence but active depravity or wickedness, especially behavior that causes public shame or moral defilement (e.g., Deut 22:21 where nivlah is associated with gross indecency). Abigail connects his nature to his very essence and actions.
• but as for me, your servant, I did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent (וַאֲנִי אֲמָתְךָ לֹא רָאִיתִי אֶת־נַעֲרֵי אֲדֹנִי אֲשֶׁר שָׁלַחְתָּ):
  • waʾăniy ʾămāṯeka (but as for me, your servant): Abigail humbly identifies herself, again using "your servant" (ʾāmāh), showing reverence and creating distance from her husband.
  • loʾ rāʾîtî (did not see): This is her direct excuse, pleading ignorance. She claims she was not privy to Nabal's actions or David's messengers. This serves to exculpate herself and by extension her entire household (to a degree), suggesting Nabal acted alone in his foolishness, not on their collective behalf. This strengthens her argument for mercy for the innocent members of her household.
  • naʿarê ʾăḏōniy (young men of my lord): A respectful way to refer to David's men.

1 Samuel 25 25 Bonus section

• Polemics against pagan name magic/fate: While ancient cultures often associated names with destiny or intrinsic character (as Abigail does here), this passage grounds Nabal's 'fate' in his moral choice to live foolishly rather than as a magical predetermined outcome. His nivlah is an active state of wickedness, not just bad luck. It warns against superficial judgment by name alone and underscores that true folly is spiritual.
• Character foil: Nabal is a deliberate foil to David, highlighting David's temptations to act according to his own might rather than God's will. Abigail acts as God's instrument to keep David from shedding "blood without cause," refining his character for his future kingship. Her intervention in this scene becomes crucial in David's development, reminding him of dependence on divine justice, not personal vengeance.
• Significance of the word "Belial": The term "Belial" evolves in biblical literature to become almost personified evil in later texts (2 Cor 6:15 linking it to Satan). Abigail's early use of it here marks Nabal as a fundamentally wicked individual, placing his actions within a framework of opposition to righteousness rather than simple boorishness.
• Abigail's foresight and leadership: This verse showcases Abigail's swift and decisive leadership, filling the vacuum left by Nabal's incompetence and protecting her household from collective punishment due to his singular folly. Her wisdom stands in stark contrast to her foolish husband's inability to comprehend the implications of his actions.

1 Samuel 25 25 Commentary

1 Samuel 25:25 is a masterful display of Abigail's wisdom, humility, and theological insight, serving as a pivotal point in David's early kingship narrative. She cleverly redirects David's murderous rage from Nabal's personal insult to Nabal's inherent, indeed divinely ordained, foolishness. By emphasizing the meaning of his name and relating it to "Belial" (utter wickedness) and nivlah (moral depravity), Abigail frames Nabal not just as a rude man, but as a personification of unredeemable folly and spiritual blindness. This shifts Nabal from being merely an antagonist David must punish to a pitiable, utterly useless individual not worth David's focus or the stain of innocent blood.

Her plea, steeped in self-effacing humility ("your servant") and respect for David ("my lord"), disarms his anger. Her stated ignorance ("I did not see") serves both as an honest truth and a rhetorical device to underscore Nabal's autonomous folly and justify her own intervention. This verse sets the stage for her deeper theological arguments (in later verses) that remind David of God's anointing, his future kingship, and the importance of preserving his conscience from reckless bloodshed. It reveals the character chasm between Nabal, whose actions reflect his wicked essence, and Abigail, whose wisdom aligns with divine prudence, thereby protecting David from a monumental moral failure and maintaining his path to the throne untarnished by the sin of vengeance. Abigail embodies Proverbs 15:33, demonstrating that "humility comes before honor," an honor she seeks to preserve for David.