1 Samuel 25:24
And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid.
Original Language Analysis
וַתִּפֹּל֙
And fell
H5307
וַתִּפֹּל֙
And fell
Strong's:
H5307
Word #:
1 of 16
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
2 of 16
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
רַגְלָ֔יו
at his feet
H7272
רַגְלָ֔יו
at his feet
Strong's:
H7272
Word #:
3 of 16
a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda
אֲדֹנִ֖י
Upon me my lord
H113
אֲדֹנִ֖י
Upon me my lord
Strong's:
H113
Word #:
7 of 16
sovereign, i.e., controller (human or divine)
וּֽתְדַבֶּר
I pray thee speak
H1696
וּֽתְדַבֶּר
I pray thee speak
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
9 of 16
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
נָ֤א
H4994
נָ֤א
Strong's:
H4994
Word #:
10 of 16
'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction
בְּאָזְנֶ֔יךָ
in thine audience
H241
בְּאָזְנֶ֔יךָ
in thine audience
Strong's:
H241
Word #:
12 of 16
broadness. i.e., (concrete) the ear (from its form in man)
וּשְׁמַ֕ע
and hear
H8085
וּשְׁמַ֕ע
and hear
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
13 of 16
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
אֵ֖ת
H853
אֵ֖ת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
14 of 16
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
Cross References
2 Kings 4:37Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.1 Samuel 25:28I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days.2 Samuel 14:9And the woman of Tekoah said unto the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my father's house: and the king and his throne be guiltless.Esther 8:3And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.
Historical Context
Taking another's guilt upon oneself was recognized intercession practice. Abigail's self-designation as 'handmaid' (amah) indicated humble status. Her request for audience indicated awareness that David might refuse to hear a woman's plea.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Abigail's assumption of guilt model Christ's intercessory work?
- What does 'upon me let this iniquity be' teach about standing between others and deserved consequences?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid.
Abigail assumes responsibility to protect her household. The Hebrew 'bi adoni bi' (upon me, my lord, upon me) emphatically takes guilt upon herself. Her plea—'let this iniquity be'—asks David to transfer Nabal's offense to her account. The repeated 'thine handmaid' (amah) three times establishes her submissive role. She requests permission to speak in David's 'audience' (Hebrew be'oznayikh—literally 'in your ears'), seeking personal hearing. This intercessory role—taking another's guilt and pleading for mercy—foreshadows Christ's greater intercession. Abigail positioned herself between deserved wrath and guilty party, absorbing the offense to enable reconciliation.