1 Samuel 25 34

1 Samuel 25:34 kjv

For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.

1 Samuel 25:34 nkjv

For indeed, as the LORD God of Israel lives, who has kept me back from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, surely by morning light no males would have been left to Nabal!"

1 Samuel 25:34 niv

Otherwise, as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has kept me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, not one male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by daybreak."

1 Samuel 25:34 esv

For as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, truly by morning there had not been left to Nabal so much as one male."

1 Samuel 25:34 nlt

For I swear by the LORD, the God of Israel, who has kept me from hurting you, that if you had not hurried out to meet me, not one of Nabal's men would still be alive tomorrow morning."

1 Samuel 25 verses

1 Samuel 25 34 Meaning

1 Samuel 25:34 is David's powerful declaration to Abigail, stating that had she not acted quickly and directly intercepted him, he would have ensured that by the morning light, not a single male belonging to Nabal's household would have remained alive. This verse underscores the depth of David's wrath, the providential nature of Abigail's swift intervention, and its critical role in preventing David from committing an act of sin by shedding innocent blood and taking personal vengeance.

1 Samuel 25 34 Context

1 Samuel chapter 25 details David's strained life as an outlaw and his dramatic encounter with a wealthy yet contemptible man named Nabal. Having previously offered protection to Nabal's shepherds and flocks in the wilderness, David sent his men to request provisions from Nabal during his lavish sheep-shearing feast. Nabal, true to his name ("fool"), insultingly rebuffed David's request, mocking his origins. Enraged by this blatant disrespect and perceived betrayal, David impulsively swore an oath to destroy Nabal and every male in his household before morning. This verse is David's direct confirmation to Nabal's wife, Abigail, who, unbeknownst to her husband, wisely and urgently intervened with an abundant supply of food and a humble plea. Abigail's powerful and discerning words prevented David from carrying out his vengeful vow, averting bloodshed and preserving David's conscience, thereby setting the stage for God's own justice to later deal with Nabal.

1 Samuel 25 34 Word analysis

• For indeed (כִּי לוּלֵא – ki lulei):
  • ki (כִּי) is an emphatic particle meaning "surely," "indeed." lulei (לוּלֵא) is a strong counterfactual conditional meaning "if not," or "unless."
  • Significance: This powerful phrase emphasizes that what almost happened was extremely serious and was averted only by Abigail's actions, highlighting the magnitude of her intervention.
• had you not hurried (מִהַרְתְּ – mihart):
  • From the root מָהַר (mahar), "to hasten," "hurry." The feminine singular conjugation specifically refers to Abigail.
  • Significance: The urgency of Abigail's action was crucial; any delay would have meant the complete annihilation of Nabal's male lineage. This highlights providential timing.
• and come (וַתָּבֹאִי – vatavo'i):
  • From the root בּוֹא (bo), "to come." The vav prefix joins the action to "hurried."
  • Significance: Abigail didn't just plan, she acted decisively and put herself directly in David's path to intercept him.
• to meet me (לִקְרָאתִי – likratí):
  • liqrat (לִקְרַאת) means "to meet," "towards." The yod suffix indicates "me."
  • Significance: She courageously came face-to-face with David's wrath, embodying personal intercession and preventing his immediate charge.
• surely there would not have been left (כִּי אִם־נֹתַר – ki im-notar):
  • ki (כִּי) adds emphasis, and im-notar (אִם־נֹתַר) conveys a complete and absolute lack of any remnant, "nothing would have remained."
  • Significance: This reinforces the absolute and complete nature of the destruction David had intended for Nabal's household, signifying no survivors.
• to Nabal (לְנָבָל – l'navál):
  • l (לְ) means "to" or "for." Nabal (נָבָל) literally means "fool" or "senseless person."
  • Significance: This identifies the specific target of David's intended wrath and links the impending judgment to Nabal's inherent foolishness and insolence.
• by the morning light (עַד אוֹר הַבֹּקֶר – ad or haboker):
  • ad (עַד) means "until," "by." or (אוֹר) is "light," haboker (הַבֹּקֶר) is "the morning."
  • Significance: This sets a grim, immediate deadline. The destruction would have been finished before daybreak, emphasizing David's resolve and the short window for intervention.
• one male (אֹזֵן בַּקִּיר – ozen baqir):
  • Literal translation: "anyone who urinates against a wall." This is a powerful, derogatory idiom in ancient Hebrew for "every single male," indicating the complete extermination of all males in a household, signifying utter annihilation and shameful eradication.
  • Significance: This raw, visceral idiom vividly conveys the totality of the intended massacre, extending to the absolute last male, leaving nothing and no one of the lineage remaining.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "For indeed, had you not hurried and come to meet me...": This opening clause establishes a powerful hypothetical situation, conveying the immense pressure and the critical nature of Abigail's response. It reveals David's deeply entrenched murderous intent which was only, by the narrowest margin, thwarted by a divinely orchestrated intervention.
• "...surely there would not have been left to Nabal by the morning light one male.": This completes the conditional statement, illustrating the horrifying consequence that was narrowly averted. The specific timing ("by the morning light") and the definitive, stark idiom ("one male") underscore the comprehensive and utterly destructive nature of David's wrath, a path from which he was providentially rescued.

1 Samuel 25 34 Bonus section

• The Power of Proactive Peacemaking: Abigail's actions exemplify how proactive intervention can prevent escalating conflict. She acted before the disaster, identifying the danger and courageously placing herself in its path.
• David's Self-Awareness and Repentance: David's explicit acknowledgment of his murderous intent to Abigail, rather than dismissing it, demonstrates a vital moment of self-awareness and repentance. This capacity for admitting his faults was a hallmark of David's character, setting him apart.
• God's Hand in Human Events: While Abigail acted freely and wisely, David's words imply a recognition that her timely arrival was not mere coincidence, but an act of God's providence to keep him from sin, affirming that God actively directs events to fulfill His purposes and protect His chosen.
• The Irony of Nabal's Name and Fate: Nabal ("fool") refused wisdom and insulted God's anointed, bringing a death sentence upon himself. Yet, David was restrained from carrying out this sentence, only for God to strike Nabal down directly (1 Sam 25:38-39), confirming that divine justice would prevail without David sullying his hands.

1 Samuel 25 34 Commentary

1 Samuel 25:34 is a pivotal statement in the narrative of David's early kingship, encapsulating a near-catastrophic moment of spiritual failure that was divinely intercepted. David, otherwise righteous, was poised to engage in retaliatory blood vengeance, taking justice into his own hands instead of trusting God. Abigail, embodying true wisdom from above, courageously and swiftly positioned herself as God's instrument to restrain David's vengeful passion. Her action averted not only Nabal's complete annihilation but, more importantly, preserved David from bloodguilt, a significant sin that could have tarnished his path to kingship. This verse starkly contrasts human impulse for immediate retribution with God's ultimate prerogative for justice, emphasizing that seeking personal vengeance usurps God's role and is fraught with spiritual danger. It powerfully illustrates how wise counsel, timely intervention, and humility can redirect intense anger and align one's actions with God's will.