1 Samuel 25 35

1 Samuel 25:35 kjv

So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.

1 Samuel 25:35 nkjv

So David received from her hand what she had brought him, and said to her, "Go up in peace to your house. See, I have heeded your voice and respected your person."

1 Samuel 25:35 niv

Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him and said, "Go home in peace. I have heard your words and granted your request."

1 Samuel 25:35 esv

Then David received from her hand what she had brought him. And he said to her, "Go up in peace to your house. See, I have obeyed your voice, and I have granted your petition."

1 Samuel 25:35 nlt

Then David accepted her present and told her, "Return home in peace. I have heard what you said. We will not kill your husband."

1 Samuel 25 verses

1 Samuel 25 35 Meaning

This verse marks a pivotal turning point where David acknowledges Abigail's wisdom and accepts her appeal. He receives the provisions she brought, signifying a practical act of reconciliation and the quenching of his wrath. His instruction for her to "Go up in peace to your house" demonstrates a restoration of safety and well-being for her and, by extension, Nabal's household, a clear departure from his earlier murderous intent. David's direct affirmation, "I have listened to your voice, and I have granted your request," explicitly confirms his change of heart, attributing it to Abigail's discerning counsel and intercession. It reveals David's teachability and God's provident use of an ordinary person to prevent His anointed one from sinning.

1 Samuel 25 35 Context

First Samuel chapter 25 details the escalating conflict between David's men and Nabal, a wealthy but arrogant man in Maon. After providing protection to Nabal's shepherds, David sent messengers to request provisions during sheep-shearing, a customary time of generosity. Nabal insultingly rejected David's legitimate request, dismissing David and his men. Enraged by Nabal's insult and ingratitude, David gathered 400 armed men, vowing to annihilate Nabal and his entire household before morning. This moment marks a dangerous lapse in David's character, where his righteous anger threatened to morph into sinful vengeance.

Abigail, Nabal's intelligent and beautiful wife, quickly learned of her husband's folly and David's impending retaliation. Without her husband's knowledge, she gathered a generous gift of provisions and set out to intercept David. Upon meeting David, she humbly prostrated herself, accepting blame for Nabal's foolishness and, most importantly, presented a profound, biblically-grounded plea. She appealed to David's character as the Lord's anointed, reminding him of God's future plans for him as king and urging him not to incur the guilt of unnecessary bloodshed. She providentially points out that the Lord would fight his battles and establish him, removing the need for David to take matters into his own hands. Verse 35 is David's direct, humbled response, demonstrating that Abigail's intervention successfully averted a major sin on his part.

1 Samuel 25 35 Word analysis

• So David received (וַיִּקַּח דָּוִד - vayyiqqaḥ Dāwīḏ): "Received" here is laqaḥ, meaning to take, seize, or acquire. The context implies David willingly accepts rather than forcefully takes. This action signifies a shift from his intent to seize by violence to graciously accepting a gift, highlighting Abigail's successful de-escalation.
• from her hand (מִיָּדָהּ - mîyādāh): Emphasizes Abigail's direct personal involvement and effort. Her act of humility and bringing gifts was tangible proof of her wise intervention.
• what she had brought him (אֵת אֲשֶׁר הֵבִיאָה לוֹ - ʾēt ʾăšer hēvīʾāh lō): Refers to the significant offering of food and provisions. This act, both materially generous and symbolically a peace offering, succeeded in appeasing David's wrath.
• and said to her (וַיֹּאמֶר לָהּ - vayyōʾmer lāh): David's direct address shows respect and acknowledgement of her status and profound influence. His words carry authority and finality.
• Go up (עֲלִי - ʿălî): An imperative, "ascend" or "go up." It literally refers to returning to her home, likely geographically higher or simply implies returning to her elevated place or position in life with restored peace and dignity.
• in peace (לְשָׁלוֹם - ləšālôm): Shalom. Far more than absence of conflict, it conveys wholeness, well-being, prosperity, security, reconciliation, and completeness. David pronounces a genuine blessing of peace upon her, indicative of his renewed state of mind and the full resolution of his violent intent.
• to your house (לְבֵיתֵךְ - ləḇêteḵ): Guarantees her safe return, implicitly guaranteeing the safety of Nabal's entire household, the very object of David's earlier fury. Her wise intervention has secured peace for her home.
• See (רְאִי - rəʾî): An imperative, "behold" or "look." It draws Abigail's attention to the crucial statement that follows, emphasizing the significance and truthfulness of David's declaration. It's an affirmation of certainty.
• I have listened (שָׂמַעְתִּי - śāmaʿtî): From shamaʿ, meaning "to hear, obey, understand, heed." It signifies David did not just hear words but truly internalized and responded to Abigail's wise counsel, leading to a complete change of action and intention.
• to your voice (בְּקוֹלֵךְ - bəqôleḵ): Qol, referring to her spoken words, her plea, her arguments, and her wisdom. David acknowledges that her specific message (voice) had the power to turn him away from sin.
• and I have granted your request (וָאֶשָּׂא פָּנָיִךְ - wāʾeśśāʾ פָּנָיִךְ): Literally "and I have lifted up your face/countenance." This is a significant idiom in Hebrew, meaning to show favor, to accept someone's person or plea, to grant a petition. It conveys David's full and favorable reception of her petition, marking an end to his rage.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "So David received from her hand what she had brought him": This initial clause emphasizes David's acceptance and the material reconciliation. David, who set out to forcefully take lives and possessions, now receives a generous gift, showing a profound reversal initiated by Abigail.
• "and said to her, "Go up in peace to your house.": This phrase captures David's verbal affirmation of peace and safety. It's a declaration of well-being and a direct counter to his prior intent of total destruction. The use of "peace" (shalom) is profoundly meaningful, indicating complete security.
• "See, I have listened to your voice, and I have granted your request.": This declaration is the theological and moral crux of the verse. David explicitly acknowledges the power of Abigail's counsel and the fact that her words altered his course. It demonstrates David's teachability, his reliance on divine guidance (channeled through Abigail), and his choosing to act justly rather than impetuously. It attributes the averted catastrophe not to chance, but to the direct, effective influence of Abigail's wisdom and intercession.

1 Samuel 25 35 Bonus section

• This event serves as a crucial moral education for David. He learns a valuable lesson in patience and relying on the Lord to fight his battles, preventing him from shedding "blood without cause." This prepares him for future challenges, tempering his powerful resolve with discretion and wisdom.
• Abigail is portrayed as an exceptional example of discretion, wisdom, and courageous faith. Her theological insight and quick action effectively diverted David from what he later recognized as "a great offense" and "unnecessary bloodshed." She stands as a biblical model of an influential woman used by God.
• The phrase "lifted up your face" is a formal idiom signifying favorable reception of a petition, often associated with a judge or king granting a plea. David, not yet king, here acts in a manner befitting one who hears petitions and dispenses justice or mercy. This subtle linguistic detail reinforces his developing role as a just ruler.
• The entire encounter showcases divine providence working through human means. Abigail's preparedness, her courage to confront David, and her articulate theological arguments are all implicitly guided by God to preserve His anointed from stumbling and maintain the integrity of His redemptive plan through David.

1 Samuel 25 35 Commentary

1 Samuel 25:35 climaxes the narrative of David, Nabal, and Abigail, serving as a critical turning point that reveals David's character, God's providential care, and the power of wise counsel. David, prone to vengeful impulsiveness in this incident, is pulled back from a catastrophic sin by Abigail's inspired intervention. His receiving of her gifts signifies not merely a material transaction, but an acceptance of the peace and restraint she offered. The pronounced "Go up in peace to your house" is a complete reversal of his previous violent threat, showing that Abigail successfully appealed to his moral conscience and the fear of God.

Most importantly, David's explicit acknowledgment, "I have listened to your voice, and I have granted your request," demonstrates his teachability. He attributes his change of heart directly to her intercession, recognizing the divine hand that guided her words. This moment is crucial for David's formation as Israel's king; it shows he could be swayed by wisdom and submit to divine will, even when conveyed by a woman. This narrative beautifully illustrates how God uses humble instruments to guide and protect His chosen, preventing them from bloodshed and the spiritual consequences of personal vengeance. Abigail's courageous action saved David from sin and solidified his path as a man after God's own heart, dependent on the Lord's justice rather than his own.