1 Samuel 25:9 kjv
And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.
1 Samuel 25:9 nkjv
So when David's young men came, they spoke to Nabal according to all these words in the name of David, and waited.
1 Samuel 25:9 niv
When David's men arrived, they gave Nabal this message in David's name. Then they waited.
1 Samuel 25:9 esv
When David's young men came, they said all this to Nabal in the name of David, and then they waited.
1 Samuel 25:9 nlt
David's young men gave this message to Nabal in David's name, and they waited for a reply.
1 Samuel 25 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 25:5-8 | David sent ten young men and told them, "Go up to Nabal at Carmel and greet him in my name..." | David's initial instructions to his messengers, detailing the respectful approach. |
| Deut 23:4-5 | because they did not meet you with food and water on your way when you came out of Egypt... | Principle of denying provisions to God's people as an act of hostility. |
| Luke 10:7 | And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. | Servants deserving their keep, relating to David's 'payment' for protection. |
| Matt 10:40 | "Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives Him who sent me." | Receiving or rejecting messengers is receiving or rejecting the sender. |
| Prov 26:12 | Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. | Nabal's arrogance and self-perceived wisdom leading to his folly. |
| Prov 21:13 | Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor will himself call and not be answered. | Nabal's refusal to heed a reasonable request from a disadvantaged leader. |
| Matt 25:40 | "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." | Treating God's servants, even in humble circumstances, as treating God. |
| Psa 105:14-15 | He allowed no one to oppress them; for their sake he rebuked kings: "Touch not my anointed ones..." | God protecting His anointed, foreshadowing consequences for harming David. |
| 1 Sam 24:7 | He said to his men, "The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed..." | David's own respect for God's anointed, contrasting Nabal's lack of respect. |
| Num 22:15 | Balak again sent princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first. | Example of a second, persistent sending of messengers, showing importance. |
| Prov 13:17 | A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing. | Messengers faithfully delivering the message as commanded. |
| Gen 14:18-20 | And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High... | Offering provisions to one who has achieved victory or rendered service. |
| Deut 15:7-8 | If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns... you shall open your hand... | Obligation to help those in need within the community. |
| Prov 18:24 | A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. | Contrast between loyal companionship and a selfish individual like Nabal. |
| Gen 2:7 | the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life... | Reference to "breath," related to the idea of ceasing or the spirit departing. |
| Phil 2:6-7 | Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped... | Humility of sending and speaking, as opposed to demanding with force. |
| Eph 6:19-20 | that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel... | The importance of clear, faithful verbal communication by messengers. |
| 2 Sam 16:20 | Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give your counsel. What shall we do?" | Request for advice/provision, which if denied, causes conflict. |
| 1 Kgs 18:41 | And Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain." | Request for provisions tied to prophetic fulfillment or significant events. |
| Isa 53:3 | He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief... | Foreshadows rejection of God's anointed one, Christ. |
| Ps 23:5 | You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies... | God providing amidst opposition, contrast to Nabal's refusal. |
| Ps 14:1 | The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds... | Nabal as a 'fool' not acknowledging God or His anointed. |
1 Samuel 25 verses
1 Samuel 25 9 Meaning
First Samuel 25:9 describes David’s young men, who had been sent as messengers, delivering his polite request for provisions to Nabal. The verse highlights that they spoke all these words – David's respectful, reasoned message acknowledging his care for Nabal's flocks and appealing to his generosity – in the name of David, thus invoking his authority and honorable standing, and then they ceased speaking, awaiting Nabal's response. This action concludes David's formal communication, setting the stage for Nabal's pivotal reaction.
1 Samuel 25 9 Context
This verse occurs during David's period as a fugitive, fleeing from King Saul, when he was dwelling in the wilderness of Paran (1 Sam 25:1). David, with his band of about 600 men, had been protecting Nabal's numerous flocks and shepherds in Carmel, ensuring their safety from marauders and wild animals, essentially acting as unpaid guards. As it was shearing time, a season of feasting and generosity, David sent ten young men to Nabal, a very wealthy but churlish and ill-mannered man, to respectfully request provisions for his men. David's request was based on the goodwill he had extended and the common practice of reciprocal generosity in ancient Near Eastern society, especially from a wealthy landowner to those who had provided a service. The context emphasizes David's dignified approach, appealing to social customs rather than taking by force, and his implicit expectation of a favorable response due to the significant protection he had afforded Nabal's property.
1 Samuel 25 9 Word analysis
- So: (Hebrew: וַיָּבֹ֤אוּ / vayavo'u) Connects to the previous instruction given by David. It indicates the immediate execution of David's command by his messengers.
- the young men: (Hebrew: הַנְּעָרִים / hanne'arim) Refers to David's servants. The term 'na'ar' can mean a youth, servant, or attendant. In this context, they are clearly representatives, chosen by David, indicating they are his trustworthy agents.
- came: (Hebrew: וַיָּבֹ֤אוּ / vayavo'u) Signifies their physical arrival at Nabal's location, Carmel. It emphasizes the direct confrontation and immediate action after being sent.
- and spoke: (Hebrew: וַיְדַבְּר֨וּ / vaydabberu) Denotes clear verbal communication. This was not a written message but a spoken address, typical for significant communications in this era.
- to Nabal: (Hebrew: אֶל־נָבָל֙ / el Nabal) Direct recipient of the message. Nabal's name itself (meaning "fool" or "senseless") is a crucial literary detail, hinting at his character before he even responds.
- all these words: (Hebrew: אֶת־כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֛לֶּה / et kol-haddevarim ha'elleh) Refers to the detailed, polite message outlined in 1 Samuel 25:6-8, including the greetings, the affirmation of peaceful intentions, the reminder of David's protection, and the humble request for generosity. It underscores the completeness and accuracy of the message delivered.
- in the name of David: (Hebrew: בְּשֵׁם֙ דָּוִ֔ד / beshem David) This is crucial. "In the name of" signifies authority, representation, and the invoking of David's reputation and status. It meant the message was not just from random individuals but from a powerful, albeit currently displaced, leader. This phrase emphasizes David's legitimacy and the implied honor Nabal should extend.
- and ceased: (Hebrew: וַיָּנ֙וּחוּ֙ / vayyanuhu) From the root "nuach" (to rest, settle, cease). It implies they delivered the full message and then stopped, silently waiting for a response. It reflects their expectation for a reply and the formality of the interaction. It also signals the end of their task as messengers of the message and now transitioning to recipients of a reply.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "So the young men came and spoke": Highlights the promptness and obedience of David's messengers in carrying out their commission. They diligently brought the communication to its intended recipient.
- "to Nabal all these words": Emphasizes the directness of the delivery and the comprehensive nature of David's message. It implies no part was omitted, underscoring Nabal's clear reception of David's polite, yet pointed, appeal.
- "in the name of David": This phrase elevates the interaction beyond a simple request between common individuals. It positions David as a figure of authority and respect, making Nabal's subsequent disrespectful response even more significant and contemptible. It also carries the weight of David’s identity as God’s anointed (though Nabal might not fully recognize this), adding spiritual dimension to the perceived insult.
- "and ceased": This brief but powerful phrase conveys the formality of the encounter. It marks the transition from message delivery to the crucial moment of waiting for a reply, which will determine the course of action for David. The messengers stand in expectation, having fulfilled their part.
1 Samuel 25 9 Bonus section
This verse subtly introduces the cultural norm of treating messengers as extensions of their senders, meaning an insult to the messengers or rejection of their message is an insult to the sender. This concept is crucial for understanding ancient diplomatic and social interactions. Furthermore, David’s instruction for his young men to use his name subtly elevates the nature of the request, aligning it more with the formality expected when dealing with someone of his rising status, even as a fugitive. Nabal's subsequent contempt will not merely be against hungry men, but against an anointed leader operating within recognized social customs.
1 Samuel 25 9 Commentary
First Samuel 25:9 succinctly narrates the precise and respectful delivery of David's message to Nabal. David's choice of "young men" (servants) reflects proper protocol for such a delegation, not sending himself but his trusted representatives. The phrase "all these words" confirms the full and accurate communication of David's reasonable request, framed not as a demand, but as an appeal for reciprocity given the protection rendered. The crucial phrase "in the name of David" imparts David's authority and legitimate claim to respect and provision. For Nabal to disregard this message was to show contempt not merely for David as a person, but for his standing, reputation, and potentially for the very concept of generosity owed to one who provides a service. The simple conclusion "and ceased" underscores the messengers' completion of their duty, leaving Nabal to respond. This moment is a critical turning point, as Nabal's impending foolish response directly triggers David's fury and almost leads to devastating consequences, showcasing the stark contrast between Nabal's "foolishness" and David's "anointed" status. This exchange sets up the test of David's self-control and reliance on God.