1 Samuel 25 36

1 Samuel 25:36 kjv

And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.

1 Samuel 25:36 nkjv

Now Abigail went to Nabal, and there he was, holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk; therefore she told him nothing, little or much, until morning light.

1 Samuel 25:36 niv

When Abigail went to Nabal, he was in the house holding a banquet like that of a king. He was in high spirits and very drunk. So she told him nothing at all until daybreak.

1 Samuel 25:36 esv

And Abigail came to Nabal, and behold, he was holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk. So she told him nothing at all until the morning light.

1 Samuel 25:36 nlt

When Abigail arrived home, she found that Nabal was throwing a big party and was celebrating like a king. He was very drunk, so she didn't tell him anything about her meeting with David until dawn the next day.

1 Samuel 25 verses

1 Samuel 25 36 Meaning

This verse describes Abigail's return to Nabal's home, where she found him reveling in an extravagant feast, similar to a king's celebration. Nabal was consumed by drunken merriment, completely unaware of the grave danger from which his wife had just saved him and his household. Recognizing his incapacitated state, Abigail wisely chose not to reveal David's lethal intent until the following morning, understanding that communication would be futile and potentially dangerous at that moment.

1 Samuel 25 36 Context

Chapter 25 of 1 Samuel narrates the pivotal interaction between David, Nabal, and Abigail. After providing protection to Nabal's shepherds, David sends messengers requesting provisions, a customary expectation. Nabal, a wealthy but wicked and foolish man, disdainfully refuses and insults David. Enraged, David vows to destroy Nabal and his entire household. Hearing this, Nabal's wife, Abigail, renowned for her intelligence and beauty, takes swift action. Without her husband's knowledge, she prepares a generous peace offering and meets David, humbly interceding for her household. Her wise words avert David's vengeance, prevent him from shedding innocent blood, and highlight God's hand in restraining him. This verse occurs upon Abigail's return home, where she discovers Nabal's deplorable state of self-indulgent feasting and drunkenness, providing the immediate reason for her delayed disclosure of the averted crisis and foreshadowing his ultimate demise. Historically, this account is set during David's fugitive period, while he is fleeing from King Saul, showcasing his character development and God's providence in his path to the throne.

1 Samuel 25 36 Word analysis

• And Abigail came to Nabal; - Abigail (אֲבִיגַיִל, 'Avigayil' - "my father is joy") had been in David's presence, engaged in a life-or-death negotiation for her household. Her return signifies her commitment to her role as a wife despite Nabal's character, and the success of her intercession.
• and, behold, - An interjection (הִנֵּה, hinnêh) used to draw immediate attention to the unexpected or significant scene unfolding before Abigail. It signals surprise and a striking visual.
• he held a feast in his house, - מִשְׁתֶּה (mishteh), referring to a drinking party or banquet. The "holding" of the feast (עֹשֶׂה, ośeh - doing/making) indicates an active and current revelry. This emphasizes Nabal's immediate preoccupation with pleasure and his insensitivity to the precariousness of his family's situation.
• like the feast of a king; - כְּמִשְׁתֵּה מֶלֶךְ (k'mishtēh meleḵ). This simile highlights the extravagant, perhaps ostentatious, nature of Nabal's celebration. It underscores his immense wealth, his pride, and his self-perception of grandeur, directly contrasting with David, the rightful future king, who was then a destitute wanderer. It also hints at a spiritual emptiness despite material abundance.
• and Nabal's heart was merry within him, - וְלֵב נָבָל טוֹב עָלָיו (v'lēv Nāvāl ṭōv 'ālāyv). טוֹב (ṭōv) means "good," so literally, his heart was "good upon him." This describes a state of carefree enjoyment and intoxication, often with an implication of moral laxity or lack of concern. This internal merriment starkly contrasts with the external danger that Abigail just mitigated.
• for he was very drunken: - וְהוּא שִׁכֹּר מְאֹד (v'hû' shikkôr m'ōd). שִׁכֹּר (shikkôr) means "intoxicated" or "drunk," and מְאֹד (m'ōd) means "very" or "exceedingly." This plainly states the depth of his intoxication, explaining why he was so oblivious and why Abigail delayed her communication. His complete lack of awareness underscores his character as נָבָל (Nabal), meaning "fool" or "senseless."
• wherefore she told him nothing, - וְלֹא הִגִּידָה לּוֹ דָּבָר (v'lō' higgîdāh lô dāḇār) - "and she told him no word/thing." Abigail's discerning decision reflects her wisdom, contrasting sharply with Nabal's foolishness. Her silence is a testament to her excellent judgment, understanding the futility and danger of speaking to one in such a compromised state.
• less or more, until the morning light. - לְמִזְעָר וְעַד הַבֹּקֶר (l'miz'ār v'ʿad habbōqer) - "from a little and until the morning." This phrase indicates that she withheld everything, no detail big or small, until daybreak. Her patient waiting for the right time demonstrates supreme prudence, ensuring that the critical information could be processed rationally by her husband, even if he would ultimately reject it.

Words-group analysis:

• "he held a feast... like the feast of a king": This phrase highlights Nabal's arrogance, self-indulgence, and superficiality. His life revolves around pleasure and ostentatious displays of wealth, in stark contrast to his moral poverty and disregard for God's anointed, David. The comparison to a king's feast is ironic, given that Nabal is soon to die, while David, in his humility, is destined to be king.
• "Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken": This emphasizes the primary reason for Abigail's delayed revelation: Nabal's state of utter incapacitation. His "merry heart" is not joy in God's blessings, but self-satisfied revelry fueled by intoxication, rendering him irrational and incapable of comprehending the gravity of the situation. It highlights the spiritual blindness that often accompanies excessive indulgence.
• "wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light": This phrase exemplifies Abigail's exceptional wisdom and discernment. She recognized that confronting a deeply intoxicated, self-absorbed fool with life-and-death information would be fruitless and could even provoke a worse reaction. Her patient waiting for sobriety is a practical demonstration of "a word fitly spoken" (Prov 25:11) and knowing "a time to keep silence" (Eccl 3:7). It saved her from potentially exposing herself to Nabal's wrath and preserved her strength for when a productive conversation might be possible.

1 Samuel 25 36 Bonus section

The narrative provides a dramatic contrast: David, God's anointed, living in hardship as a fugitive yet acting with restraint due to Abigail's wisdom, while Nabal, a man of great wealth, indulges in a lavish, prideful feast, oblivious to his imminent doom. Nabal's name, meaning "fool," is given its full expression here; he acts according to his name, being foolish both in his conduct and his complete ignorance of the peril he had invited. Abigail's wisdom also sets a precedent for wise female leadership and intercession in the Bible, saving not just lives but also protecting God's future king from the sin of uncontrolled rage. The immediate judgment upon Nabal a short time later (1 Sam 25:38) underscores the swift consequences of rejecting God's counsel and behaving foolishly.

1 Samuel 25 36 Commentary

1 Samuel 25:36 stands as a stark illustration of wisdom encountering folly and the discerning use of silence. Nabal's self-indulgent "king-like feast" is deeply ironic; while he revels in earthly pleasures and superficial power, his life is about to be cut short by God's judgment, hastened by his own arrogance and drunkenness. His "merry heart" represents a profound spiritual ignorance and blindness to reality. He is drunk not only with wine but also with pride and contempt. Abigail, the epitome of discernment, recognized the utter futility of communicating vital information to a man who had completely surrendered his reason to intoxication. Her decision to delay, to tell him "nothing, less or more, until the morning light," is a testament to her extraordinary wisdom, patience, and strategic thinking. It underscores the biblical principle of choosing the right time for speech, especially when dealing with the foolish or resistant. This episode beautifully contrasts Nabal's immediate, senseless pleasure with Abigail's long-term, life-saving prudence, ultimately leading to divine intervention that preserves David and demonstrates God's sovereignty over even the most chaotic human affairs.