1 Samuel 25:3
1 When Samuel died, all Israel gathered to mourn for him; and they buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David set out and went down to the Wilderness of Paran.
2 Now there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. He was a very wealthy man with a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing in Carmel.
His name was Nabal, and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband, a Calebite, was harsh and evil in his dealings.
4 While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep.
5 So David sent ten young men and instructed them, “Go up to Nabal at Carmel. Greet him in my name
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- His name was Nabal, and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband, a Calebite, was harsh and evil in his dealings.
- KJV
- Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.
- WEB
- Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail. This woman was intelligent and had a beautiful face; but the man was surly and evil in his doings. He was of the house of Caleb.
- ASV
- Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail; and the woman was of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.
- DARBY
- And the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail; and the woman was of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance; but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was a Calebite.
- BLB
- And the name of the man [was] Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. And [she was] a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance, and the man [was] harsh and evil in [his] deeds; and he [was] a Calebite.
- ÅB
- Mannens navn var Nabal, og hans hustru hette Abiga'il; hun var en forstandig og fager kvinne, men mannen var hård og ond i hele sin adferd. Han var av Kalebs slekt.
- OTB
- For mannens navn var Nabal, og hans kones navn var Abigail. Kvinnen var klok og vakker, men mannen var hard og uærlig i sine handlinger, og han var en kalebitt.
- B1930
- Mannens navn var Nabal, og hans hustru hette Abiga'il; hun var en forstandig og fager kvinne, men mannen var hård og ond i hele sin adferd. Han var av Kalebs ætt.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Proverbs 14:1
Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
Read in contextProverbs 31:10
A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
Read in contextIsaiah 32:5–7
No longer will a fool be called noble, nor a scoundrel be respected.
Read in contextPsalms 10:3
For the wicked man boasts in the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.
Read in contextProverbs 31:30–31
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Read in context1 Samuel 25:17
Now 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!”
Read in contextProverbs 31:26
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
Read in context1 Samuel 25:10–11
But Nabal asked them, “Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants these days are breaking away from their masters.
Read in context