1 Samuel 25:29

Authorized King James Version

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Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling.

Original Language Analysis

וַיָּ֤קָם is risen H6965
וַיָּ֤קָם is risen
Strong's: H6965
Word #: 1 of 22
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
אָדָם֙ Yet a man H120
אָדָם֙ Yet a man
Strong's: H120
Word #: 2 of 22
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
לִרְדָפְךָ֔ to pursue H7291
לִרְדָפְךָ֔ to pursue
Strong's: H7291
Word #: 3 of 22
to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively [of time] gone by)
וּלְבַקֵּ֖שׁ thee and to seek H1245
וּלְבַקֵּ֖שׁ thee and to seek
Strong's: H1245
Word #: 4 of 22
to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 5 of 22
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
נֶ֤פֶשׁ and the souls H5315
נֶ֤פֶשׁ and the souls
Strong's: H5315
Word #: 6 of 22
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
וְֽהָיְתָה֩ H1961
וְֽהָיְתָה֩
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 7 of 22
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
נֶ֤פֶשׁ and the souls H5315
נֶ֤פֶשׁ and the souls
Strong's: H5315
Word #: 8 of 22
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
אֲדֹנִ֜י of my lord H113
אֲדֹנִ֜י of my lord
Strong's: H113
Word #: 9 of 22
sovereign, i.e., controller (human or divine)
צְרוּרָ֣ה׀ shall be bound H6887
צְרוּרָ֣ה׀ shall be bound
Strong's: H6887
Word #: 10 of 22
to cramp, literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive
בִּצְר֣וֹר in the bundle H6872
בִּצְר֣וֹר in the bundle
Strong's: H6872
Word #: 11 of 22
a parcel (as packed up); also a kernel or particle (as if a package)
הַֽחַיִּ֗ים of life H2416
הַֽחַיִּ֗ים of life
Strong's: H2416
Word #: 12 of 22
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
אֵ֚ת H854
אֵ֚ת
Strong's: H854
Word #: 13 of 22
properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc
יְהוָ֣ה with the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֣ה with the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 14 of 22
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ thy God H430
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ thy God
Strong's: H430
Word #: 15 of 22
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
וְאֵ֨ת H853
וְאֵ֨ת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 16 of 22
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
נֶ֤פֶשׁ and the souls H5315
נֶ֤פֶשׁ and the souls
Strong's: H5315
Word #: 17 of 22
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
אֹֽיְבֶ֙יךָ֙ of thine enemies H341
אֹֽיְבֶ֙יךָ֙ of thine enemies
Strong's: H341
Word #: 18 of 22
hating; an adversary
יְקַלְּעֶ֔נָּה them shall he sling out H7049
יְקַלְּעֶ֔נָּה them shall he sling out
Strong's: H7049
Word #: 19 of 22
to sling; also to carve (as if a circular motion, or into light forms)
בְּת֖וֹךְ as out of the middle H8432
בְּת֖וֹךְ as out of the middle
Strong's: H8432
Word #: 20 of 22
a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center
כַּ֥ף H3709
כַּ֥ף
Strong's: H3709
Word #: 21 of 22
the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-
הַקָּֽלַע׃ of a sling H7050
הַקָּֽלַע׃ of a sling
Strong's: H7050
Word #: 22 of 22
a (door) screen (as if slung across), or the valve (of the door) itself

Analysis & Commentary

Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling.

Abigail's language ascends to poetic prophecy. The 'man risen to pursue thee' is Saul, though unnamed. The metaphor 'bundle of life' (Hebrew 'tseror hachayim') depicts David's soul tied securely with God—later used in Jewish burial liturgy. The contrasting image—enemies 'slung out'—may allude to David's defeat of Goliath with a sling. The Hebrew 'qela' (sling) creates vivid picture: as stones leave the sling with centrifugal force, so God will cast out David's enemies. Abigail's poetry combines comfort regarding Saul with warning about current intentions: David's soul is secure with God; why risk that security through sinful vengeance?

Historical Context

The 'bundle of life' metaphor appears only here in the Hebrew Bible but became significant in Jewish tradition. The sling imagery connected to David's most famous victory. Abigail's poetic language demonstrated sophisticated theological reflection.

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