1 Samuel

1 Samuel 25:39–44

³⁹On hearing that Nabal was dead, David said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has upheld my cause against the reproach of Nabal and has restrained His servant from evil. For the LORD has brought the wickedness of Nabal down upon his own head.”

Then David sent word to Abigail, asking her to become his wife. ⁴⁰When his servants came to Abigail at Carmel, they said, “David has sent us to take you as his wife.”

⁴¹She arose, bowed facedown, and said, “Here is your servant, ready to serve and to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.”

⁴²So Abigail hurried and got on a donkey, and attended by five of her maidens, she followed David’s messengers and became his wife.

⁴³David had also married Ahinoam of Jezreel. So she and Abigail were both his wives. ⁴⁴But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Palti^f son of Laish, who was from Gallim.

Footnotes

f 25:44 Palti is a variant of Paltiel; see 2 Samuel 3:15|2SA 3:15.

Read all of 1 Samuel 25

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 25:39

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
On hearing	וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע	way·yiš·ma‘	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H8085 hear
that	כִּ֣י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
Nabal	נָבָל֒	nā·ḇāl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H5037 Nabal
was dead	מֵ֣ת	mêṯ	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H4191 die
David	דָּוִד֮	dā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
said	וַיֹּ֡אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
Blessed	בָּר֣וּךְ	bā·rūḵ	Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular	H1288 kneel, bless
the LORD	יְהוָ֡ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
who	אֲשֶׁ֣ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
has upheld	רָב֩	rāḇ	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H7378 strive, contend
my cause	רִ֨יב	rîḇ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H7379 strife, dispute
against	מִיַּ֣ד	mî·yaḏ	Preposition-m; Noun - feminine singular construct	H3027 hand
the reproach	חֶרְפָּתִ֜י	ḥer·pā·ṯî	Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singular	H2781 reproach
of Nabal	נָבָ֗ל	nā·ḇāl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H5037 Nabal
and	וְאֶת־	wə·’eṯ-	Conjunctive waw; Direct object marker	H853 mark of the accusative
has restrained	חָשַׂ֣ךְ	ḥā·śaḵ	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H2820 withhold, refrain
His servant	עַבְדּוֹ֙	‘aḇ·dōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H5650 slave, servant
from evil	מֵֽרָעָ֔ה	mê·rā·‘āh	Preposition-m; Adjective - feminine singular	H7451 bad, evil
For	וְאֵת֙	wə·’êṯ	Conjunctive waw; Direct object marker	H853 mark of the accusative
the LORD	יְהוָ֖ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
has brought	הֵשִׁ֥יב	hê·šîḇ	Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H7725 turn back, return
the wickedness	רָעַ֣ת	rā·‘aṯ	Noun - feminine singular construct	H7451 bad, evil
of Nabal	נָבָ֔ל	nā·ḇāl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H5037 Nabal
down upon his own head	בְּרֹאשׁ֑וֹ	bə·rō·šōw	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H7218 head
Then David	דָּוִד֙	dā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
sent	וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח	way·yiš·laḥ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7971 send
word	וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר	way·ḏab·bêr	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1696 speak
to Abigail	בַּאֲבִיגַ֔יִל	ba·’ă·ḇî·ḡa·yil	Preposition-b; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H26 Abigail, Abigal
asking	לְקַחְתָּ֥הּ	lə·qaḥ·tāh	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; third person feminine singular	H3947 take
her	ל֖וֹ	lōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular
his wife	לְאִשָּֽׁה׃	lə·’iš·šāh	Preposition-l; Noun - feminine singular	H802 woman, wife, female

1 Samuel 25:40

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When	דָוִ֛ד	ḏā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
servants	עַבְדֵ֥י	‘aḇ·ḏê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H5650 slave, servant
came	וַיָּבֹ֜אוּ	way·yā·ḇō·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H935 come in, come, go in, go
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
Abigail	אֲבִיגַ֖יִל	’ă·ḇî·ḡa·yil	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H26 Abigail, Abigal
at Carmel	הַכַּרְמֶ֑לָה	hak·kar·me·lāh	Article; Noun - proper - feminine singular; third person feminine singular	H3760 Carmel
they said	וַיְדַבְּר֤וּ	way·ḏab·bə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H1696 speak
David	דָּוִד֙	dā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
has sent us	שְׁלָחָ֣נוּ	šə·lā·ḥā·nū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular; first person common plural	H7971 send
to take you	לְקַחְתֵּ֥ךְ	lə·qaḥ·têḵ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; second person feminine singular	H3947 take
as his	ל֖וֹ	lōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular
wife	לְאִשָּֽׁה׃	lə·’iš·šāh	Preposition-l; Noun - feminine singular	H802 woman, wife, female

1 Samuel 25:41

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
She arose	וַתָּ֕קָם	wat·tā·qām	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H6965 arise, stand up, stand
bowed	וַתִּשְׁתַּ֥חוּ	wat·tiš·ta·ḥū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H7812 bow down
facedown	אַפַּ֖יִם	’ap·pa·yim	Noun - md	H639 nostril, nose, face, anger
and said	וַתֹּ֗אמֶר	wat·tō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H559 utter, say
Here is	הִנֵּ֤ה	hin·nêh	Interjection	H2009 lo! behold!
your servant	אֲמָֽתְךָ֙	’ă·mā·ṯə·ḵā	Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H519 maid, handmaid
ready to serve	לְשִׁפְחָ֔ה	lə·šip̄·ḥāh	Preposition-l; Noun - feminine singular	H8198 maid, maid-servant
and to wash	לִרְחֹ֕ץ	lir·ḥōṣ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H7364 wash, wash off, away, bathe
the feet	רַגְלֵ֖י	raḡ·lê	Noun - feminine dual construct	H7272 foot
of my lord’s	אֲדֹנִֽי׃	’ă·ḏō·nî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H113 lord
servants	עַבְדֵ֥י	‘aḇ·ḏê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H5650 slave, servant

1 Samuel 25:42

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So Abigail	אֲבִיגַ֗יִל	’ă·ḇî·ḡa·yil	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H26 Abigail, Abigal
hurried	וַתְּמַהֵ֞ר	wat·tə·ma·hêr	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H4116 hasten
and got on	וַתִּרְכַּב֙	wat·tir·kaḇ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H7392 mount and ride, ride
a donkey	הַחֲמ֔וֹר	ha·ḥă·mō·wr	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H2543 heap
and attended	הַהֹלְכ֖וֹת	ha·hō·lə·ḵō·wṯ	Article; Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine plural	H1980 go, come, walk
five	וְחָמֵשׁ֙	wə·ḥā·mêš	Conjunctive waw; Number - feminine singular	H2568 five
of her maidens	נַעֲרֹתֶ֔יהָ	na·‘ă·rō·ṯe·hā	Noun - feminine plural construct; third person feminine singular	H5291 girl, damsel
she followed	וַתֵּ֗לֶךְ	wat·tê·leḵ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
David’s	דָוִ֔ד	ḏā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
messengers	מַלְאֲכֵ֣י	mal·’ă·ḵê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H4397 messenger
and became	וַתְּהִי־	wat·tə·hî-	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
his	ל֖וֹ	lōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular
wife	לְאִשָּֽׁה׃	lə·’iš·šāh	Preposition-l; Noun - feminine singular	H802 woman, wife, female

1 Samuel 25:43

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
David	דָּוִ֖ד	dā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
had also	וְאֶת־	wə·’eṯ-	Conjunctive waw; Direct object marker	H853 mark of the accusative
married	לָקַ֥ח	lā·qaḥ	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H3947 take
Ahinoam	אֲחִינֹ֛עַם	’ă·ḥî·nō·‘am	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H293 Achinoam
of Jezreel	מִֽיִּזְרְעֶ֑אל	mî·yiz·rə·‘el	Preposition-m; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H3157 Jizreel
So	שְׁתֵּיהֶ֥ן	šə·tê·hen	Number - feminine dual construct; third person feminine plural	H8147 two
his	ל֖וֹ	lōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular
wives	לְנָשִֽׁים׃ס	lə·nā·šîm	Preposition-l; Noun - feminine plural	H802 woman, wife, female

1 Samuel 25:44

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But Saul	וְשָׁא֗וּל	wə·šā·’ūl	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H7586 Shaul
had given	נָתַ֛ן	nā·ṯan	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H5414 give, put, set
his daughter	בִּתּ֖וֹ	bit·tōw	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H1323 daughter
Michal	מִיכַ֥ל	mî·ḵal	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H4324 Mikal
David’s	דָּוִ֑ד	dā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
wife	אֵ֣שֶׁת	’ê·šeṯ	Noun - feminine singular construct	H802 woman, wife, female
to Palti	לְפַלְטִ֥י	lə·p̄al·ṭî	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H6406 Palti
son	בֶן־	ḇen-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1121 son
of Laish	לַ֖יִשׁ	la·yiš	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3919 Laish
who	אֲשֶׁ֥ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
from Gallim	מִגַּלִּֽים׃	mig·gal·lîm	Preposition-m; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H1554 Gallim