1 Samuel 25:32 kjv
And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:
1 Samuel 25:32 nkjv
Then David said to Abigail: "Blessed is the LORD God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me!
1 Samuel 25:32 niv
David said to Abigail, "Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me.
1 Samuel 25:32 esv
And David said to Abigail, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me!
1 Samuel 25:32 nlt
David replied to Abigail, "Praise the LORD, the God of Israel, who has sent you to meet me today!
1 Samuel 25 32 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 20:6 | Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also kept you from sinning against me..." | God preventing sin through intervention |
| 1 Sam 25:33 | Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand! | David blesses Abigail for her divine role |
| Ps 18:46 | The LORD lives! And blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation! | Blessing God for salvation/deliverance |
| Ps 19:13 | Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless... | Prayer for prevention of sin |
| Ps 32:8 | I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. | God's guidance to prevent going astray |
| Ps 37:23 | The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way. | Divine ordering of steps |
| Ps 119:133 | Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me. | Divine guidance and sin prevention |
| Prov 16:9 | The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps. | God's sovereignty over human plans |
| Prov 20:24 | A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way? | Human lack of full understanding, God's direction |
| Is 48:17 | Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you for your profit, who leads you in the way you should go." | God as instructor and guide |
| Jer 10:23 | I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. | Acknowledging God's ultimate control |
| Acts 9:3-6 | As he traveled, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him... "Lord, what shall I do?" | Divine interruption to redirect a persecutor |
| Jas 1:5 | If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach... | God provides wisdom for right action |
| 1 Chr 29:10 | Therefore David blessed the LORD before all the assembly. And David said: "Blessed are you, O LORD, the God of our father Israel, forever and ever." | David's habitual blessing of God |
| Eph 1:3 | Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. | God as the source of all blessings |
| Rom 11:36 | For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. | All things from God |
| Phil 2:13 | For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. | God's internal work to guide and enable |
| Rom 12:19 | Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." | Leaving vengeance to God |
| Matt 5:38-39 | You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil... | Christ's teaching on not repaying evil |
| Luke 1:68 | "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people." | Praising God for salvation/deliverance |
1 Samuel 25 verses
1 Samuel 25 32 Meaning
David's immediate declaration "Blessed be the LORD" signifies a profound moment of divine revelation and gratitude. He acknowledges that Abigail's timely arrival and intervention were not coincidental, but a direct act of divine providence by God, the God of Israel. This realization prevented him from carrying out a vengeful, sinful act of bloodshed against Nabal's household, which would have incurred serious bloodguilt and blemished his character as God's anointed. The verse expresses David's immediate relief and recognition of God's preventative grace.
1 Samuel 25 32 Context
This verse is a pivotal moment in the dramatic narrative of 1 Samuel chapter 25. Prior to this, David, facing hunger with his 600 men while fleeing from King Saul, sends messengers to Nabal, a wealthy but surly man in Carmel, requesting provisions in exchange for protection his men had provided. Nabal arrogantly and insultingly refuses David's request, mocking David as a mere fugitive. Enraged by this public affront and denial of hospitality, David arms himself and 400 of his men, swearing to wipe out Nabal and every male in his household. As David marches towards Nabal's home with murderous intent, Abigail, Nabal's wise and discerning wife, learns of her husband's folly and David's impending vengeance. Without Nabal's knowledge, she quickly gathers an abundance of food and provisions and goes out to meet David, humbling herself before him. She eloquently and courageously appeals to David, takes the blame for Nabal's sin, reminds David of his divine calling and the unsuitability of him shedding innocent blood or avenging himself. 1 Samuel 25:32 captures David's immediate reaction upon hearing Abigail's words and understanding her wise intervention. It is the moment his rage dissipates and he recognizes God's hand in saving him from a grievous sin. This entire narrative underscores themes of divine providence, human folly, and the consequences of rash actions versus wise counsel. Historically, blood vengeance was a common practice, but it often led to endless cycles of violence. David, as God's anointed, was called to a higher standard.
1 Samuel 25 32 Word analysis
- And David said: David's words here mark a significant shift from his previous rage. It indicates a moment of revelation and humble submission to God's will, interrupting his violent course.
- to Abigail: The addressee is crucial. It acknowledges Abigail as God's instrument. This direct address validates her courage and wisdom.
- 'Blessed: (Heb. בָּרוּךְ, baruch) - This word expresses deep adoration, praise, and thanksgiving. It's not a wish, but a declaration of God's praiseworthy nature. It shows David shifting his focus from his own frustrated anger to acknowledging God's goodness and action. The emphasis is on the blessed nature of the One who acts.
- be the LORD: (Heb. יְהוָה, YHWH, often vocalized as Jehovah or Adonai - God's covenant name) - David blesses God's personal, revealed, covenant name. It underscores the active involvement of the covenant God in David's life and affairs. This is an immediate response of worship to divine intervention.
- the God of Israel: This emphasizes God's unique relationship with His chosen people and David as their future king. It roots God's intervention within the framework of His redemptive plan and care for His anointed leader and His people. It implicitly connects this act to God's faithfulness to His promises concerning Israel.
- who sent you: (Heb. שָׁלַח, shalach - "to send," "to stretch out," "to dismiss") - The active voice of the verb highlights God's deliberate, intentional act of commissioning Abigail. Her arrival was not random or coincidental, but providentially ordained by God specifically to intervene. It speaks volumes about God's sovereign control over circumstances and even the specific timing and actions of individuals.
- this day: This phrase emphasizes the precision and immediacy of God's intervention. It implies that Abigail arrived at the exact moment necessary to prevent David from committing a grave sin, highlighting God's perfect timing.
- to meet me!: This directly states the divine purpose behind Abigail's mission. Her specific task was to encounter David and prevent his rash decision, averting impending disaster for both David and Nabal's household.
Words-group analysis:
- "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel": This common benediction in the Old Testament indicates a deep theological understanding on David's part. It demonstrates his recognition that his salvation from his own sinful impulse came from outside himself, from God's gracious intervention. It echoes themes of divine faithfulness to His covenant and His protection over His anointed.
- "who sent you this day to meet me": This phrase beautifully captures the concept of divine providence. God uses an ordinary person (Abigail) and orchestrates circumstances to intervene in the precise moment. David's eyes are opened to see God's hand, preventing him from sin that would have marred his kingship and brought guilt upon him. This demonstrates God's proactive role in protecting His servants from self-inflicted harm.
1 Samuel 25 32 Bonus section
The phrase "who sent you" (shalach) implies a divine commissioning. In the Old Testament, being "sent" by God often designates prophetic or authoritative action. While Abigail is not formally a prophetess, her words to David (especially 1 Sam 25:28-31) were undeniably prophetic in their discernment of God's will and their foresight concerning David's future kingship and the consequences of unrighteous bloodshed. David recognizes that her arrival was akin to an angelic messenger or a divine oracle preventing him from incurring "bloodguilt" (damim) that would haunt him as king. This divine prevention not only saved David from a sin against God but also against his future office, ensuring he would come to the throne without this specific blemish, upholding the justice and righteousness that his kingship was meant to embody for the Lord's people.
1 Samuel 25 32 Commentary
1 Samuel 25:32 is a powerful testament to God's preventative grace and providential care. David, blinded by rage and intent on a sinful act of vengeance, is suddenly brought to a halt by the timely appearance and wise words of Abigail. His immediate blessing of the Lord is a profound moment of humility and recognition of divine intervention. It highlights that even God's anointed servants are prone to sin, but God, in His mercy, often provides a "way of escape" or, as in this case, a "way of prevention."
The verse underscores several key theological truths:
- God's Sovereignty and Providence: God actively intervenes in human affairs, even using unexpected agents (a woman like Abigail) to fulfill His purposes and prevent harm. His timing ("this day") is perfect.
- The Nature of Sin and Grace: David was on the brink of committing presumptuous sin—shedding innocent blood in personal vengeance. God's grace, conveyed through Abigail, prevented this moral downfall, saving David from a significant blemish on his record, especially important for one who would become king of Israel.
- Spiritual Discernment and Humility: David's swift turning from rage to worship demonstrates spiritual discernment and a commendable humility. He recognized God's hand even when it countered his immediate desires. This contrasts sharply with Nabal's hardened heart and lack of understanding.
- The Value of Wise Counsel: The narrative praises Abigail's wisdom (vv. 3, 33) and shows how a wise person, used by God, can deliver even the most powerful individuals from self-destructive paths.
This verse serves as a crucial point in David's spiritual journey, reminding us that even in our anger or perceived justification, God's standards of justice and mercy prevail, and He often uses human instruments to keep us from straying. It challenges believers to be alert to God's providential leading and to humbly accept wise counsel that diverts them from sin.