1 Samuel 25 39

1 Samuel 25:39 kjv

And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife.

1 Samuel 25:39 nkjv

So 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 His servant from evil! For the LORD has returned the wickedness of Nabal on his own head." And David sent and proposed to Abigail, to take her as his wife.

1 Samuel 25:39 niv

When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Praise be to the LORD, who has upheld my cause against Nabal for treating me with contempt. He has kept his servant from doing wrong and has brought Nabal's wrongdoing down on his own head." Then David sent word to Abigail, asking her to become his wife.

1 Samuel 25:39 esv

When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Blessed be the LORD who has avenged the insult I received at the hand of Nabal, and has kept back his servant from wrongdoing. The LORD has returned the evil of Nabal on his own head." Then David sent and spoke to Abigail, to take her as his wife.

1 Samuel 25:39 nlt

When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Praise the LORD, who has avenged the insult I received from Nabal and has kept me from doing it myself. Nabal has received the punishment for his sin." Then David sent messengers to Abigail to ask her to become his wife.

1 Samuel 25 verses

1 Samuel 25 39 Meaning

David's response to Nabal's death is a profound expression of praise and gratitude to the LORD. He praises God for two main reasons: first, for acting as his judge and vindicator against Nabal's severe insult and challenging disrespect; second, and critically, for providentially restraining him, David, from taking matters into his own hands and committing the great sin of shedding innocent blood, an act of private vengeance he was on the verge of performing. The verse culminates in David acknowledging God's righteous justice, declaring that Nabal's wickedness and foolishness were brought back upon his own head by divine hand, signifying just retribution.

1 Samuel 25 39 Context

This verse occurs immediately after the divine judgment on Nabal. The wider context of 1 Samuel chapter 25 details the pivotal interaction between David, the outlaw leader and anointed future king, and Nabal, a rich but ill-tempered man in Maon. David, providing protection for Nabal’s shepherds, requests provisions during sheep-shearing, a time of feasting. Nabal scornfully refuses and insults David and his men. Enraged, David vows to destroy Nabal and his entire household, setting out with 400 armed men. Abigail, Nabal's discerning wife, intervenes wisely with provisions and a humble, eloquent plea, appealing to David's character, reminding him of God's future plans for him, and implicitly restraining him from bloodguilt. David is moved, praises God for sending her, and calls off his intended attack, acknowledging that God prevented him from avenging himself. Just ten days later, the LORD Himself strikes Nabal dead. David’s reaction in this verse thus highlights a key moment in his moral development and God’s providential guidance towards his kingship, demonstrating a trust in divine justice rather than self-appointed vengeance.

1 Samuel 25 39 Word analysis

• When David heard: Signifies the direct trigger for his response. News of divine judgment.
• that Nabal was dead: Nabal’s demise was directly attributed to the LORD (1 Sam 25:38), confirming divine intervention rather than human action. This provides the context for David's praise.
• he said, 'Praise be to the LORD': Hebrew: Baruch YHWH (בָּר֣וּךְ יְהוָ֔ה). This is a common Hebrew doxology or blessing, acknowledging God's attributes, power, and righteous actions. It reflects immediate worship and reverence, not gleeful vindictiveness. It underscores that God is the source of all good, justice, and protection.
• who has upheld my cause: Hebrew: dan et-rivi (דָּן֙ אֶת־רִ֥יבִי). The root din (דִּין) means "to judge, contend, or arbitrate." Rivi (רִ֥יבִי) means "my dispute, my controversy, my legal case." This signifies that God acted as David's righteous Judge and Advocate, settling the dispute in David’s favor and vindicating him against the one who scorned him. God saw David's plight and declared him in the right, intervening directly.
• against Nabal for the insult he paid me: The specific injustice. Nabal's insult (Hebrew: herpah / חֶרְפָּה - reproach, disgrace) was a public and profound affront, challenging David's authority, honor, and livelihood, equating him to a runaway servant. David, as an anointed king-in-waiting, felt deeply wronged. God took this personal offense seriously.
• and has kept his servant from doing wrong: Hebrew: vechasakh et-avdo me-ra'ah (וְחָשַׂךְ֙ אֶת־עַבְדּ֜וֹ מֵרָעָ֗ה). Chasakh (חָשַׂךְ) means "to withhold, restrain, prevent." Ra'ah (רָעָה) means "evil, harm, wickedness." This is a crucial admission from David. He recognizes God's hand, through Abigail, prevented him from a major sin: bloodguilt and taking personal vengeance. This highlights God’s grace not just in external deliverance but in internal spiritual preservation.
• The LORD has brought Nabal's wickedness down on his own head: Hebrew: ra'at Nabal heshiv YHWH b'rosho (רָעַת֙ נָבָל֙ הֵשִׁ֨יב יְהוָ֥ה בְּרֹאשׁ֖וֹ). Ra'at (רָעַת) refers to Nabal's "wickedness," "evil," or "folly" (related to his name Nabal, meaning fool). Heshiv (הֵשִׁיב) means "caused to return, brought back." The phrase "on his own head" is a biblical idiom for experiencing the consequences of one's own actions or receiving just retribution for evil deeds. God’s justice is precise, ensuring that the foolish and wicked ultimately reap what they sow, as Nabal’s death by God’s hand proved.

• Praise be to the LORD... kept his servant from doing wrong: This phrase highlights God's protective and preventative grace. David's immediate thought is not simply about the cessation of a threat but also about his deliverance from sin, showcasing his spiritual maturity and dependence on divine leading for righteous living.
• upheld my cause... brought Nabal's wickedness down on his own head: These phrases together powerfully express the theme of divine justice. God Himself serves as the vindicator for the oppressed and brings righteous judgment upon the oppressor. It emphasizes that ultimate vengeance belongs to the LORD alone, demonstrating His sovereignty over human affairs and His commitment to justice.

1 Samuel 25 39 Bonus section

The Nabal narrative is a profound case study in biblical wisdom and folly. Nabal, despite his material wealth, embodied spiritual foolishness (his name literally meaning "fool" or "godless"). His inability to discern God's anointing on David, or to show basic hospitality, sealed his fate. In contrast, Abigail embodies practical wisdom and discernment, seeing beyond the immediate circumstance to God's broader plan for David. The entire episode serves as a training ground for David's kingship, illustrating God's meticulous care in refining His chosen leaders. David’s learning curve here — moving from hot-headed vengeance to humble acknowledgement of God's perfect justice — foreshadows his later repentance in the Bathsheba incident, revealing a man consistently grappling with temptation but also often recognizing divine truth. This narrative thus reinforces the theme that the battle truly belongs to the LORD, and He ensures that both justice is served and His people are preserved from sinful paths.

1 Samuel 25 39 Commentary

1 Samuel 25:39 serves as a profound theological statement on God's sovereignty, justice, and preserving grace. David's threefold praise highlights that God is the true dispenser of justice, vindicating the wronged without human intervention. Crucially, David's recognition that God "kept his servant from doing wrong" demonstrates the transforming power of divine prevention, teaching David the lesson of trusting God's timing and methods over impetuous self-reliance. Nabal's death, described as God bringing "wickedness down on his own head," reaffirms the principle of just recompense; folly and malice against God's anointed will not go unpunished. This incident strengthens David's faith, refining him as a leader who learns to wait for God to act rather than to yield to vengeful impulses. This wisdom would prove vital for his future kingship. It showcases how God trains His servants through practical experiences, shaping their character to align with His divine purposes.

• Example for Practical Usage: When faced with an offense, instead of immediately seeking personal revenge or harboring bitterness, one should consciously pause and consider David’s example, choosing to commit the situation to the LORD for His righteous vindication and to protect oneself from acting in sin.
• Example for Practical Usage: Acknowledging God’s grace not just for outward blessings but for internal restraint from wrong-doing is a deep form of spiritual gratitude, promoting humility and reliance on God’s sanctifying work.