1 Samuel 25:41 kjv
And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.
1 Samuel 25:41 nkjv
Then she arose, bowed her face to the earth, and said, "Here is your maidservant, a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord."
1 Samuel 25:41 niv
She bowed down with her face to the ground and said, "I am your servant and am ready to serve you and wash the feet of my lord's servants."
1 Samuel 25:41 esv
And she rose and bowed with her face to the ground and said, "Behold, your handmaid is a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord."
1 Samuel 25:41 nlt
She bowed low to the ground and responded, "I, your servant, would be happy to marry David. I would even be willing to become a slave, washing the feet of his servants!"
1 Samuel 25 41 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 14:11 | For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. | Principle of humility leading to exaltation. |
| Php 2:5-8 | Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus...he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. | Christ's supreme example of humble servanthood. |
| Mt 20:26-28 | ...whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave. | Discipleship characterized by servanthood. |
| Jn 13:12-15 | If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. | Jesus setting an example of humble service for believers. |
| Gen 18:2-4 | ...he bowed himself to the ground and said, “My lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant." | Abraham's act of humble hospitality and service. |
| Ruth 2:10 | Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes..." | Ruth's humble posture before Boaz. |
| 1 Pet 5:5-6 | Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” | Command to clothe oneself in humility. |
| Jas 4:10 | Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. | Divine promise of exaltation for the humble. |
| Prov 15:33 | The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor. | Humility as a prerequisite for honor. |
| Isa 66:2 | ...this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word. | God's favor rests on the humble and contrite. |
| Eph 5:22-24 | Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. | Wifely submission within marriage, relating to Abigail's readiness. |
| Col 3:18 | Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. | Reinforces the call for marital submission. |
| Lk 17:7-10 | “So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” | Proper attitude of a servant. |
| Gen 24:18-19 | She said, “Drink, my lord.” And she quickly let down her jar upon her hand and gave him a drink... "I will draw water for your camels also until they have finished drinking.” | Rebekah's immediate and abundant hospitality, similar proactive service. |
| Lk 22:27 | For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines? But I am among you as the one who serves. | Jesus prioritizing the role of the servant. |
| 1 Sam 2:7 | The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts. | Divine power to humble and exalt, seen in Abigail's rise. |
| Prov 22:4 | The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life. | Benefits of humility and reverence. |
| Jn 13:5-8 | He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them... "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” | Deep significance of feet-washing as an act of humble purification and service. |
| Mk 9:35 | And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” | Call to servanthood for those seeking leadership. |
| Rom 12:3 | For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think. | Warning against pride, emphasizing humility. |
| 1 Cor 7:22-23 | For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord...You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. | Understanding servanthood in the context of being bought by Christ. |
| Heb 4:16 | Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. | Contrast of humble posture with confidence in approaching grace. |
1 Samuel 25 verses
1 Samuel 25 41 Meaning
Abigail's immediate response to David's summons for marriage reveals profound humility, self-abasing devotion, and an eager readiness to serve her future husband, David, and even his lowest servants. Her action signifies a complete acceptance of her new role and an immediate embodiment of dedicated servanthood, embodying the antithesis of her former husband Nabal's character.
1 Samuel 25 41 Context
Chapter 25 details the pivotal interactions between David, the wealthy but foolish Nabal, and Nabal's wise wife, Abigail. David, in exile, had provided protection for Nabal's shepherds, and in return, requested provisions during shearing time. Nabal insultingly refused David's request, enraging David who set out to destroy Nabal and his household. Abigail, upon hearing of her husband's folly and David's intent, quickly interceded with gifts and a masterful appeal that prevented David from shedding innocent blood. Nabal subsequently died from a divine strike. Upon learning of Nabal's death, David recognized God's hand and sent for Abigail to take her as his wife. Verse 41 captures Abigail's immediate and profound response to this proposal, demonstrating her complete submission and humble readiness to join David.
1 Samuel 25 41 Word analysis
- And she arose: Wat-ta'qom (וַתָּקָם). The prefix "wat-" (וַ) denotes a consecutive perfect, emphasizing the immediacy and decisiveness of her action. This signifies not hesitation or doubt, but swift and purposeful movement. It implies a readiness to act upon the word of David's messengers.
- and bowed herself: Wat-tishtahaw (וַתִּשְׁתַּחוּ). This is from the root shachah (שָׁחָה), meaning to bow down, prostrate, do obeisance, or worship. While sometimes denoting worship of God, in human contexts it signifies deep respect, homage, or submission, often physically by prostration. Its usage here signifies profound reverence for David's authority and status, given his messianic anointing and her new position as his intended wife.
- on her face to the ground: This phrase visually reinforces the depth of her humility and submission. It is the lowest possible posture of deference, indicating complete self-abasement and acceptance of her new position under David's authority. Culturally, this was the highest form of respect and submission shown to a superior.
- and said: Introduces her spoken response, which confirms her physical action.
- Behold: Hinnei (הִנֵּה). An interjection drawing attention, equivalent to "look!" or "indeed." It signals the importance and certainty of her statement.
- your handmaid: Ahmateka (אֲמָתֶךָ). From amah (אֲמָה), a female servant or slave. Abigail, a woman of means, willingly refers to herself as a lowly bondservant. This is not false modesty but an authentic expression of humble devotion, signifying her complete dedication to David and his household.
- is a servant: Shefakha (שִׁפְחָה). While amah implies legal possession, shifkhah (שִׁפְחָה) typically refers to a low-status female slave or concubine, or even a maidservant. The usage of both terms "handmaid" and "servant" amplifies her willingness to occupy the lowest possible status. It is a further reinforcement of her absolute dedication and humility, going beyond the formal term.
- to wash the feet: Feet washing was the most basic, often unclean, task for a servant or slave. It was an act of hospitality, but typically performed by the lowest-ranking servants, indicating humble service and physical readiness to undertake menial duties. Abigail's specific mention of this task highlights her extreme willingness to perform the most demeaning service.
- of the servants of my lord: This extends her readiness for humble service beyond David himself to even his retinue. This is a profound statement of self-abnegation. It signifies that she places herself below everyone in David's household, ready to serve them all. "My lord" (Adoni - אֲדֹנִי) is a deferential title, acknowledging David's authority and lordship.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "arose and bowed herself on her face to the ground": This phrase paints a vivid picture of immediate, unreserved, and ultimate physical submission and humility. It is a powerful non-verbal declaration of acceptance and deference.
- "Behold, your handmaid is a servant to wash the feet": This expresses her complete identification with the lowest form of service. The combination of "handmaid" and "servant" used for herself emphasizes her absolute humility.
- "of the servants of my lord": This climactic extension of her service demonstrates her extraordinary humility. She offers to serve not only David, her soon-to-be husband, but also the lowest members of his entourage, displaying a profound absence of self-importance or pride, a sharp contrast to Nabal.
1 Samuel 25 41 Bonus section
Abigail's dramatic shift in status from Nabal's wife to David's chosen bride, coupled with her immediate response of profound humility, provides a theological parallel. Just as she was "delivered" from the house of a foolish man and elevated by grace, believers are called from the "world" into the "household" of God's chosen King (Christ), often being called to adopt a posture of profound humility and service, not for what they receive, but for who they belong to. Her example serves as a vivid illustration of living out humility and serving in lowliness, traits often forgotten when one achieves elevated status. Her quick response also demonstrates wise discernment, recognizing David's divine calling and acting decisively to align herself with God's will.
1 Samuel 25 41 Commentary
Abigail's response in 1 Samuel 25:41 is a climactic expression of her character and her complete transformation of circumstances. Far from displaying pride in her elevation from a cursed marriage to a future king, she embodies profound humility. Her physical act of prostration and her verbal declaration to serve David's "servants" in the lowliest capacity (washing feet) is an eloquent demonstration of true, heartfelt submission and dedicated service. This is not an act of feigned modesty but a genuine acceptance of her new place, coupled with a Christ-like spirit of servanthood that finds honor in ministering to others. It signifies her readiness to assume the responsibilities and demands of her elevated position with an attitude of devoted loyalty, setting a model for faithful obedience and humble readiness. Her words prefigure the New Testament teaching that true greatness lies in service, distinguishing her greatly from Nabal whose self-exaltation led to his downfall.