1 Samuel 25:16

1 Samuel 25:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.
• New International Version (NIV)Night and day they were a wall around us the whole time we were herding our sheep near them.
• English Standard Version (ESV)They were a wall to us both by night and by day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.
• New King James Version (NKJV)They were a wall to us both by night and day, all the time we were with them keeping the sheep.

Context of 1 Samuel 25:16

14But one of Nabal’s young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, “Listen, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to bless (greet) our master, and he shouted at them [in contempt]. 15But David’s men were very good to us, and we were not harmed or treated badly, nor did we miss anything as long as we were with them, when we were in the fields. They were a wall [of protection] to us both night and day, all the time that we were with them tending the sheep. 17Now then, know this and consider what you should do, for evil is [already] planned against our master and against all his household; but he is such a worthless and wicked man that one cannot speak [reasonably] to him.” 18Then Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves of bread, two jugs of wine, five sheep already prepared [for roasting], five measures of roasted grain, a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and loaded them on donkeys.

1 Samuel 25:16 word by word

חוֹמָה֙ הָי֣וּ עָלֵ֔ינוּ גַּם־לַ֖יְלָה גַּם־יוֹמָ֑ם כָּל־יְמֵ֛י הֱיוֹתֵ֥נוּ עִמָּ֖ם רֹעִ֥ים הַצֹּֽאן׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• They were a wallחוֹמָהchômâh · wallH2346
• unto us both by nightלַ֫יְלָהlayil lêyl layelâh · nightH3915
• and dayיוֹמָםyômâm · by dayH3119
• all the whileיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• we were with them keepingרָעָהrâ‛âh · to pastureH7462
• the sheepצֹאןtsô'n tse'ôn · flockH6629

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 25:16

• Exodus 14:22The Israelites went into the middle of the sea on dry land, and the waters formed a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
• Job 1:10Have You not put a hedge [of protection] around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands [and conferred prosperity and happiness upon him], and his possessions have increased in the land.
• Jeremiah 15:20And I will make you to this people A fortified wall of bronze; They will fight against you, But they will not prevail over you, For I am with you [always] to save you And protect you,” says the Lord.
• Zechariah 2:5For I,’ declares the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire around her [protecting her from enemies], and I will be the glory in her midst.’ ”

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 25:16

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16A wall - To protect them from the attacks of the Bedouins, etc. They had been as safe with David‘s men around them as if they had been dwelling in a walled town.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-17Verses 12-17 God is kind to the evil and unthankful, and why may not we be so? David determined to destroy Nabal, and all that belonged to him. Is this thy voice, O David? Has he been so long in the school of affliction, where he should have learned patience, and yet is so passionate? He at other times was calm and considerate, but is put into such a heat by a few hard words, that he seeks to destroy a whole family. What are the best of men, when God…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-44This story about Nabal falls between two accounts in which Saul pursued David and David spared Saul’s life. Nabal was similar to Saul.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 14-1814-18. Then Abigail made haste--The prudence and address of Nabal's wife were the means of saving him and family from utter destruction. She acknowledged the demand of her formidable neighbors; but justly considering, that to atone for the insolence of her husband, a greater degree of liberality had become necessary, she collected a large amount of food, accompanying it with the most valued products of the country. bottles--goatskins, capable of holding a…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 25:16

• Decision
• Inhospitableness
• Nabal
• Servant
• Wife

In the dictionaries

• Abigail
• Conversant
• Covert
• David
• Die
• Miss
• Nabal
• Requite
• Sure
• Wall

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 25

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings