1 Samuel 25:26
Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.
Original Language Analysis
וְעַתָּ֣ה
H6258
אֲדֹנִ֖י
Now therefore my lord
H113
אֲדֹנִ֖י
Now therefore my lord
Strong's:
H113
Word #:
2 of 22
sovereign, i.e., controller (human or divine)
וְחֵֽי
liveth
H2416
וְחֵֽי
liveth
Strong's:
H2416
Word #:
3 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
יְהוָה֙
as the LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
as the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
4 of 22
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וְחֵֽי
liveth
H2416
וְחֵֽי
liveth
Strong's:
H2416
Word #:
5 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
נַפְשְׁךָ֙
and as thy soul
H5315
נַפְשְׁךָ֙
and as thy soul
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
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
7 of 22
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
מְנָֽעֲךָ֤
hath withholden
H4513
מְנָֽעֲךָ֤
hath withholden
Strong's:
H4513
Word #:
8 of 22
to debar (negatively or positively) from benefit or injury
יְהוָה֙
as the LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
as the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
9 of 22
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
מִבּ֣וֹא
thee from coming
H935
מִבּ֣וֹא
thee from coming
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
10 of 22
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
בְדָמִ֔ים
to shed blood
H1818
בְדָמִ֔ים
to shed blood
Strong's:
H1818
Word #:
11 of 22
blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshe
וְהוֹשֵׁ֥עַ
and from avenging
H3467
וְהוֹשֵׁ֥עַ
and from avenging
Strong's:
H3467
Word #:
12 of 22
properly, to be open, wide or free, i.e., (by implication) to be safe; causatively, to free or succor
יָֽדְךָ֖
thyself with thine own hand
H3027
יָֽדְךָ֖
thyself with thine own hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
13 of 22
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
וְעַתָּ֗ה
H6258
יִֽהְי֤וּ
H1961
יִֽהְי֤וּ
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
16 of 22
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
וְהַֽמְבַקְשִׁ֥ים
and they that seek
H1245
וְהַֽמְבַקְשִׁ֥ים
and they that seek
Strong's:
H1245
Word #:
19 of 22
to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after
Cross References
2 Samuel 18:32And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.Genesis 20:6And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.Hebrews 10:30For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.Daniel 4:19Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.Psalms 44:3For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.
Historical Context
The oath formula invoking both Yahweh's life and David's life was among the strongest possible affirmations. Abigail's theological interpretation of their meeting as divine prevention revealed prophetic insight. Her curse on David's enemies proved remarkably prescient.
Questions for Reflection
- How did Abigail recognize divine providence in their meeting?
- What does 'avenging thyself with thine own hand' teach about the difference between personal vengeance and trusting God's justice?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.
Abigail's oath invokes both divine and human life. The double formula 'as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth' solemnly witnesses her declaration. Her assertion that 'the LORD hath withholden thee' interprets their meeting as divine intervention—God Himself prevented David's sin. The phrase 'avenging thyself with thine own hand' identifies David's intended action as self-help vengeance rather than divine justice. Her curse upon David's enemies—'let them be as Nabal'—subtly suggests divine judgment will handle Nabal without David's involvement. This prophetic insight proved accurate: God would indeed strike Nabal.