1 Samuel
1 Samuel 25:10–17
10But Nabal asked them, “Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants these days are breaking away from their masters. 11Why should I take my bread and water and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give them to these men whose origin I do not know?”
12So David’s men turned around and went back, and they relayed to him all these words.
13And David said to his men, “Strap on your swords!” So David and all his men strapped on their swords, and about four hundred men followed David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies.
14Meanwhile, one of Nabal’s young men informed Nabal’s wife Abigail, “Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master, but he screamed at them. 15Yet these men were very good to us. When we were in the field, we were not harassed, and nothing of ours went missing the whole time we lived among them. 16They were a wall around us, both day and night, the whole time we were herding our sheep near them. 17Now consider carefully what you must do, because disaster looms over our master and all his household. For he is such a scoundrel that nobody can speak to him!”
Word by word
Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.
1 Samuel 25:10
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| But Nabal | נָבָ֜ל | nā·ḇāl | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H5037 Nabal |
| asked | וַיֹּ֔אמֶר | way·yō·mer | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H559 utter, say |
| them | עַבְדֵ֤י | ‘aḇ·ḏê | Noun - masculine plural construct | H5650 slave, servant |
| Who | מִ֥י | mî | Interrogative | H4310 who? |
| is David | דָוִ֖ד | ḏā·wiḏ | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H1732 David |
| Who | וּמִ֣י | ū·mî | Conjunctive waw; Interrogative | H4310 who? |
| this son of | בֶן־ | ḇen- | Noun - masculine singular construct | H1121 son |
| Jesse | יִשָׁ֑י | yi·šāy | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H3448 Jishai |
| Many | רַבּ֣וּ | rab·bū | Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural | H7231 be or become, many, much |
| servants | עֲבָדִ֔ים | ‘ă·ḇā·ḏîm | Noun - masculine plural | H5650 slave, servant |
| these days | הַיּוֹם֙ | hay·yō·wm | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H3117 day |
| are breaking away | הַמִּתְפָּ֣רְצִ֔ים | ham·miṯ·pā·rə·ṣîm | Article; Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine plural | H6555 break through |
| from | מִפְּנֵ֥י | mip·pə·nê | Preposition-m; Noun - common plural construct | H6440 face, before |
| their masters | אֲדֹנָֽיו׃ | ’ă·ḏō·nāw | Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular | H113 lord |
1 Samuel 25:11
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Why should I take | וְלָקַחְתִּ֤י | wə·lā·qaḥ·tî | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | H3947 take |
| my bread | לַחְמִי֙ | laḥ·mî | Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular | H3899 bread, food |
| and | וְאֶת־ | wə·’eṯ- | Conjunctive waw; Direct object marker | H853 mark of the accusative |
| water | מֵימַ֔י | mê·may | Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common singular | H4325 water, juice, urine |
| and the meat | טִבְחָתִ֔י | ṭiḇ·ḥā·ṯî | Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singular | H2878 thing slaughtered, slaughtered meat, slaughter |
| I have slaughtered | טָבַ֖חְתִּי | ṭā·ḇaḥ·tî | Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | H2873 slaughter, butcher, slay |
| for my shearers | לְגֹֽזְזָ֑י | lə·ḡō·zə·zāy | Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct; first person common singular | H1494 shear |
| and give them | וְנָֽתַתִּי֙ | wə·nā·ṯat·tî | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | H5414 give, put, set |
| to these men | לַֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים | la·’ă·nā·šîm | Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural | H582 man, mankind |
| whose origin | אֵ֥י | ’ê | Interrogative | H335 where? |
| I do not | לֹ֣א | lō | Adverb - Negative particle | H3808 not |
| know | יָדַ֔עְתִּי | yā·ḏa‘·tî | Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | H3045 know |
1 Samuel 25:12
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| So David’s | דָוִ֖ד | ḏā·wiḏ | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H1732 David |
| men | נַעֲרֵֽי־ | na·‘ă·rê- | Noun - masculine plural construct | H5288 a shaking, scattering |
| turned around | וַיַּהַפְכ֥וּ | way·ya·hap̄·ḵū | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | H2015 turn, overturn |
| and went back | וַיָּשֻׁ֙בוּ֙ | way·yā·šu·ḇū | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | H7725 turn back, return |
| and they relayed | וַיַּגִּ֣דוּ | way·yag·gi·ḏū | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | H5046 be conspicuous |
| to him | ל֔וֹ | lōw | Preposition; third person masculine singular | |
| all | כְּכֹ֖ל | kə·ḵōl | Preposition-k; Noun - masculine singular construct | H3605 the whole, all |
| these | הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ | hā·’êl·leh | Article; Pronoun - common plural | H428 these |
| words | הַדְּבָרִ֥ים | had·də·ḇā·rîm | Article; Noun - masculine plural | H1697 speech, word |
1 Samuel 25:13
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| And David | דָּוִ֨ד | dā·wiḏ | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H1732 David |
| said | וַיֹּאמֶר֩ | way·yō·mer | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H559 utter, say |
| to his men | לַאֲנָשָׁ֜יו | la·’ă·nā·šāw | Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular | H582 man, mankind |
| Strap on | חִגְר֣וּ׀ | ḥiḡ·rū | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural | H2296 gird, gird on, gird oneself |
| your swords | חַרְבּ֗וֹ | ḥar·bōw | Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular | H2719 sword |
| So David | דָּוִ֖ד | dā·wiḏ | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H1732 David |
| and | גַּם־ | gam- | Conjunction | H1571 also, moreover, yea |
| all his men | אִ֣ישׁ | ’îš | Noun - masculine singular | H376 man |
| strapped on | וַֽיַּחְגְּרוּ֙ | way·yaḥ·gə·rū | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | H2296 gird, gird on, gird oneself |
| their swords | חַרְבּ֔וֹ | ḥar·bōw | Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular | H2719 sword |
| and about four | כְּאַרְבַּ֤ע | kə·’ar·ba‘ | Preposition-k; Number - feminine singular | H702 four |
| hundred | מֵאוֹת֙ | mê·’ō·wṯ | Number - feminine plural | H3967 hundred |
| men | אִ֔ישׁ | ’îš | Noun - masculine singular | H376 man |
| followed | וַֽיַּעֲל֣וּ׀ | way·ya·‘ă·lū | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | H5927 go up, ascend, climb |
| David | דָוִ֗ד | ḏā·wiḏ | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H1732 David |
| while two hundred | וּמָאתַ֖יִם | ū·mā·ṯa·yim | Conjunctive waw; Number - fd | H3967 hundred |
| stayed | יָשְׁב֥וּ | yā·šə·ḇū | Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural | H3427 sit, remain, dwell |
| with | עַל־ | ‘al- | Preposition | H5921 height |
| the supplies | הַכֵּלִֽים׃ | hak·kê·lîm | Article; Noun - masculine plural | H3627 article, utensil, vessel |
1 Samuel 25:14
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meanwhile | אֶחָ֛ד | ’e·ḥāḏ | Number - masculine singular | H259 one |
| one | אֶחָ֛ד | ’e·ḥāḏ | Number - masculine singular | H259 one |
| of Nabal’s | נַֽעַר־ | na·‘ar- | Noun - masculine singular | H5288 a shaking, scattering |
| young men | מֵהַנְּעָרִ֖ים | mê·han·nə·‘ā·rîm | Preposition-m, Article; Noun - masculine plural | H5288 a shaking, scattering |
| informed | הִגִּ֧יד | hig·gîḏ | Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular | H5046 be conspicuous |
| Nabal’s | נָבָ֔ל | nā·ḇāl | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H5037 Nabal |
| wife | אֵ֣שֶׁת | ’ê·šeṯ | Noun - feminine singular construct | H802 woman, wife, female |
| Abigail | וְלַאֲבִיגַ֙יִל֙ | wə·la·’ă·ḇî·ḡa·yil | Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Noun - proper - feminine singular | H26 Abigail, Abigal |
| Look | הִנֵּ֣ה | hin·nêh | Interjection | H2009 lo! behold! |
| David | דָּוִ֨ד | dā·wiḏ | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H1732 David |
| sent | שָׁלַח֩ | šā·laḥ | Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | H7971 send |
| messengers | מַלְאָכִ֧ים׀ | mal·’ā·ḵîm | Noun - masculine plural | H4397 messenger |
| from the wilderness | מֵֽהַמִּדְבָּ֛ר | mê·ham·miḏ·bār | Preposition-m, Article; Noun - masculine singular | H4057 mouth |
| to greet | לְבָרֵ֥ךְ | lə·ḇā·rêḵ | Preposition-l; Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | H1288 kneel, bless |
| our master | אֲדֹנֵ֖ינוּ | ’ă·ḏō·nê·nū | Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common plural | H113 lord |
| but he screamed | וַיָּ֥עַט | way·yā·‘aṭ | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H5860 scream, shriek |
| at them | בָּהֶֽם׃ | bā·hem | Preposition; third person masculine plural |
1 Samuel 25:15
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yet these men | וְהָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔ים | wə·hā·’ă·nā·šîm | Conjunctive waw, Article; Noun - masculine plural | H582 man, mankind |
| were very | מְאֹ֑ד | mə·’ōḏ | Adverb | H3966 muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly |
| good | טֹבִ֥ים | ṭō·ḇîm | Adjective - masculine plural | H2896 pleasant, agreeable, good |
| to us | לָ֖נוּ | lā·nū | Preposition; first person common plural | |
| When we were | בִּֽהְיוֹתֵ֖נוּ | bih·yō·w·ṯê·nū | Preposition-b; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; first person common plural | H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be |
| in the field | בַּשָּׂדֶֽה׃ | baś·śā·ḏeh | Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular | H7704 id. |
| we were not | וְלֹ֤א | wə·lō | Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle | H3808 not |
| harassed | הָכְלַ֙מְנוּ֙ | hā·ḵə·lam·nū | Verb - Hofal - Perfect - first person common plural | H3637 be humiliated |
| and nothing | וְלֹֽא־ | wə·lō- | Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle | H3808 not |
| of ours went missing | פָקַ֣דְנוּ | p̄ā·qaḏ·nū | Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural | H6485 attend to, visit, muster, appoint |
| the whole | כָּל־ | kāl- | Noun - masculine singular construct | H3605 the whole, all |
| time | יְמֵי֙ | yə·mê | Noun - masculine plural construct | H3117 day |
| we lived | הִתְהַלַּ֣כְנוּ | hiṯ·hal·laḵ·nū | Verb - Hitpael - Perfect - first person common plural | H1980 go, come, walk |
| among them | אִתָּ֔ם | ’it·tām | Preposition; third person masculine plural | H854 with |
1 Samuel 25:16
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| They were | הָי֣וּ | hā·yū | Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural | H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be |
| a wall | חוֹמָה֙ | ḥō·w·māh | Noun - feminine singular | H2346 wall |
| around us | עָלֵ֔ינוּ | ‘ā·lê·nū | Preposition; first person common plural | H5921 height |
| both | גַּם־ | gam- | Conjunction | H1571 also, moreover, yea |
| day | יוֹמָ֑ם | yō·w·mām | Adverb | H3119 daytime, by day |
| and | גַּם־ | gam- | Conjunction | H1571 also, moreover, yea |
| night | לַ֖יְלָה | lay·lāh | Noun - masculine singular | H3915 twist, night, adversity |
| the whole | כָּל־ | kāl- | Noun - masculine singular construct | H3605 the whole, all |
| time | יְמֵ֛י | yə·mê | Noun - masculine plural construct | H3117 day |
| we were | הֱיוֹתֵ֥נוּ | hĕ·yō·w·ṯê·nū | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; first person common plural | H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be |
| herding | רֹעִ֥ים | rō·‘îm | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural | H7462 pasture, tend, graze |
| our sheep | הַצֹּֽאן׃ | haṣ·ṣōn | Article; Noun - common singular | H6629 small cattle, sheep and goats, flock, flocks |
| near them | עִמָּ֖ם | ‘im·mām | Preposition; third person masculine plural | H5973 with |
1 Samuel 25:17
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Now | וְעַתָּ֗ה | wə·‘at·tāh | Conjunctive waw; Adverb | H6258 now |
| consider carefully | דְּעִ֤י | də·‘î | Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular | H3045 know |
| what | מַֽה־ | mah- | Interrogative | H4100 what? how? aught |
| you must do | תַּעֲשִׂ֔י | ta·‘ă·śî | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular | H6213 do, make |
| because | כִּֽי־ | kî- | Conjunction | H3588 burning, branding |
| disaster | הָרָעָ֛ה | hā·rā·‘āh | Article; Adjective - feminine singular | H7451 bad, evil |
| looms | כָלְתָ֧ה | ḵā·lə·ṯāh | Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular | H3615 be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, spent |
| over | אֶל־ | ’el- | Preposition | H413 motion to |
| our master | אֲדֹנֵ֖ינוּ | ’ă·ḏō·nê·nū | Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common plural | H113 lord |
| and | וְעַ֣ל | wə·‘al | Conjunctive waw; Preposition | H5921 height |
| all | כָּל־ | kāl- | Noun - masculine singular construct | H3605 the whole, all |
| his household | בֵּית֑וֹ | bê·ṯōw | Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular | H1004 house |
| For he | וְהוּא֙ | wə·hū | Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - third person masculine singular | H1931 he, she |
| a scoundrel | בְּלִיַּ֔עַל | bə·lî·ya·‘al | Noun - masculine singular | H1100 worthlessness |
| that nobody can speak | מִדַּבֵּ֖ר | mid·dab·bêr | Preposition-m; Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | H1696 speak |
| to him | אֵלָֽיו׃ | ’ê·lāw | Preposition; third person masculine singular | H413 motion to |
Cross-references
Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.
1 Samuel 25:10 Judges 9:28
1 Samuel 25:11 Judges 8:6 · Galatians 6:10
1 Samuel 25:13 1 Samuel 23:13
1 Samuel 25:15 1 Samuel 25:21 · 1 Samuel 25:7
1 Samuel 25:16 Job 1:10 · Exodus 14:22 · Zechariah 2:5
1 Samuel 25:17 1 Samuel 20:7 · Deuteronomy 13:13
Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.
Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.