1 Samuel 25:33 kjv
And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.
1 Samuel 25:33 nkjv
And blessed is your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand.
1 Samuel 25:33 niv
May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands.
1 Samuel 25:33 esv
Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from working salvation with my own hand!
1 Samuel 25:33 nlt
Thank God for your good sense! Bless you for keeping me from murder and from carrying out vengeance with my own hands.
1 Samuel 25 33 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 32:35 | Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; In due time their foot shall slip; ... | Vengeance belongs to God. |
| 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. | New Testament reiteration of God's vengeance. |
| Heb 10:30 | For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge His people." | God is the sole judge and avenger. |
| Prov 16:32 | He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. | Self-control prevents destructive actions. |
| Jas 1:19-20 | ...let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. | Human anger hinders God's righteousness. |
| Prov 14:29 | Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. | Patience linked with understanding, hasty temper with folly. |
| Prov 2:6 | For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. | Wisdom and understanding come from God. |
| Prov 8:12 | I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge and discretion. | Wisdom resides with discernment. |
| Prov 19:11 | Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. | Discernment promotes slowness to anger. |
| Eccl 7:9 | Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools. | Anger is characteristic of folly. |
| 1 Sam 25:39 | When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Blessed be the Lord who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and has kept back His servant from evil; for the Lord has returned the evildoing of Nabal on his own head." | David credits God with avenging him. |
| Ps 7:4 | ...if I have done evil to him who was at peace with me, or plundered my enemy without cause... | David's internal character check against wronging others. |
| Ps 106:38 | They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters... | Condemnation of shedding innocent blood. |
| Ps 51:14 | Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of Your righteousness. | Plea for deliverance from bloodguilt. |
| 1 Sam 18:14 | And David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him. | God's presence brings success and restraint. |
| Ps 119:66 | Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in Your commandments. | Prayer for good judgment (similar to discretion). |
| 1 Pet 3:8-9 | ...not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but on the contrary, blessing... | Christians called to respond with blessing, not revenge. |
| 2 Sam 22:3-4 | ...my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge... I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. | God as the ultimate deliverer from enemies. |
| Ps 94:1 | O Lord, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth! | God's righteous vengeance is invoked. |
| Prov 3:21 | My son, do not let them depart from your eyes— Keep sound wisdom and discretion. | Exhortation to cling to wisdom and discretion. |
| Col 3:8 | But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, obscene talk from your mouth. | Command to put away anger and wrath. |
| Luke 6:27-28 | But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. | Higher calling to love enemies, contrasting with vengeance. |
1 Samuel 25 verses
1 Samuel 25 33 Meaning
David blesses Abigail for her wisdom and for having restrained him from sin. He acknowledges that her intervention, understood as a divine blessing, prevented him from engaging in a sinful act of vengeance, which would have resulted in unjust bloodshed and him taking justice into his own hands, a prerogative that belongs solely to the Lord.
1 Samuel 25 33 Context
Chapter 25 details the interaction between David, Nabal, and Abigail. After providing protection to Nabal's shepherds, David sends his men to request provisions from Nabal during sheep shearing, a time of feasting. Nabal, a rich but ill-tempered and foolish man, insults David and refuses. Enraged, David vows to destroy Nabal and all his males. Abigail, Nabal's wise and discerning wife, secretly intercedes by preparing a large offering and humbly appealing to David. She prophetically reminds David of his divine calling as future king and the stain that revenge and bloodshed would put on his reputation and conscience. This verse is David's heartfelt response to Abigail, recognizing her words as divinely inspired, diverting him from a terrible sin.
1 Samuel 25 33 Word analysis
- blessed be your discretion (בָּרוּךְ תְּבוּנָתֵךְ, baruch t'vunatek):
- blessed (בָּרוּךְ, baruch): Means "praised," "laudable." It acknowledges God's favor or presence within Abigail's wisdom. This is not David blessing Abigail as one superior, but recognizing a blessing from God that manifests through her.
- your discretion (תְּבוּנָתֵךְ, t'vunatek): Refers to her understanding, insight, or good sense. Tevunah denotes practical wisdom, discernment, and the ability to grasp implications, distinguishing right from wrong. It's often divinely given and implies understanding divine principles, more than mere shrewdness.
- and blessed be you (וּבְרוּכָה אָתְּ, u'v'rukhah at):
- blessed be you: Extends the praise from her quality to her person. It implies that Abigail herself is blessed by God to possess such discretion, making her a vessel of divine wisdom.
- who have kept me (אֲשֶׁר כְּלִיתִנִי, asher k'litini):
- kept me: From the root kala, meaning "to restrain," "to hold back," "to withhold." It emphasizes Abigail's decisive action in preventing David from fulfilling his rash vow. Her words were effective and binding.
- this day: Highlights the immediate and critical nature of her intervention. It was precisely on this day that David was about to commit a grievous sin, and she stopped it.
- from coming to bloodshed (מִבּוֹא בְדָמִים, mi'bo b'damim):
- bloodshed (בְדָמִים, b'damim): Literally "in bloods," or "blood-guilt." This refers to taking life unjustly. Shedding innocent blood was a grave sin in Israel, carrying a curse (Deut 19:10) and potentially impacting one's legacy (2 Sam 1:16, 2 Sam 21:1).
- from coming to: David was on the brink of incurring bloodguilt by killing innocent people in Nabal's household, a common ancient Near Eastern practice in vengeance that God's law forbade for His chosen leader.
- and from avenging myself (וּלְהוֹשִׁיעַ יָדִי לִי, u'l'hoshia yadi li):
- avenging myself: Literally "to deliver my hand for myself." This is a Hebrew idiom for taking matters into one's own hands, specifically regarding vengeance or retribution. David would have acted as judge and executioner, circumventing divine justice and arrogating God's role.
1 Samuel 25 33 Bonus section
- The Polemic against Self-Vengeance: In a world where personal vengeance (blood feuds, destroying entire households) was common, David's recognition that he must not "avenge himself with his own hand" stands as a theological polemic against human-driven retribution. It asserts God's ultimate sovereignty over justice and vengeance (Deut 32:35; Rom 12:19), setting apart God's people as those who trust divine timing and methods, rather than worldly ones.
- Abigail's Strategic Humility: Abigail approached David not with defiance but with humility, bringing a lavish gift, bowing down, and taking the blame. This disarmed David's rage and opened his heart to her counsel, making her message more effective. Her approach exemplifies wisdom in action, demonstrating how to wisely confront someone in power.
- Divine Providence through Human Instruments: This passage beautifully illustrates how God intervenes in human affairs through faithful, discerning individuals. Abigail was God's chosen instrument to preserve David's integrity and course, ensuring his character aligned with his destiny as king. Her "discretion" was truly an overflow of divine wisdom.
- A Test for David: This incident served as a crucial test of David's character before his kingship. Would he act impulsively, driven by insult and rage like Saul, or would he show the patience and reliance on God that befits a true leader? Abigail's intervention allowed him to pass this test.
1 Samuel 25 33 Commentary
This verse is a profound moment of spiritual reflection for David. He acknowledges Abigail's role as an agent of God's restraint, saving him from a double transgression: shedding innocent blood and usurping God's exclusive right to vengeance. David's willingness to receive correction, even from a woman, demonstrates his humble heart and spiritual sensitivity, traits that distinguished him from Saul. Abigail's prophetic counsel, appealing to David's future kingdom and his relationship with God, resonated deeply, reminding him that God would ultimately fight his battles and protect his inheritance. This prevented David from polluting his ascent to the throne with reckless violence, securing his conscience and maintaining his trust in God's providence. The passage highlights the immense value of wise and Spirit-led counsel in steering believers away from destructive paths.