1 Samuel 25:21

1 Samuel 25:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good.
• New International Version (NIV)David had just said, “It’s been useless—all my watching over this fellow’s property in the wilderness so that nothing of his was missing. He has paid me back evil for good.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now David had said, "Surely in vain have I guarded all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belonged to him, and he has returned me evil for good.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now David had said, “Surely in vain I have protected all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belongs to him. And he has repaid me evil for good.

Context of 1 Samuel 25:21

19and said to her young men, “Go ahead of me. I will be right behind you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal. 20As Abigail came riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, she saw David and his men coming down toward her, and she met them. Now David had just said, “In vain I have protected all that belonged to this man in the wilderness. Nothing that belongs to him has gone missing, yet he has paid me back evil for good. 22May God punish David, and ever so severely, if I let one male belonging to Nabal survive until morning.” 23When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey, fell facedown, and bowed before him.

1 Samuel 25:21 word by word

וְדָוִ֣ד אָמַ֗ר אַךְ֩ לַשֶּׁ֨קֶר שָׁמַ֜רְתִּי אֶֽת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֤ר לָזֶה֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר וְלֹא־נִפְקַ֥ד מִכָּל־אֲשֶׁר־ל֖וֹ מְא֑וּמָה וַיָּֽשֶׁב־לִ֥י רָעָ֖ה תַּ֥חַת טוֹבָֽה׃Read the interlinear

• Now Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• had justאַךְ'ak · surelyH389
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• In vainשֶׁ֫קֶרsheqer · deceptionH8267
• I have protectedשָׁמַרshâmar · to keep: guardH8104
• ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
• allכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• thatאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• belonged to this manזֶהzeh · thisH2088
• in the wildernessמִדְבָּרmidbâr · wildernessH4057
• Nothingלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• ·מְא֫וּמָהme'ûmâh · anythingH3972
• has gone missingפָּקַדpâqad · to reckon: missingH6485
• yet he has paid me backשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
• evilרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: evilH7451
• forתַּחַתtachath · underneath: insteadH8478
• goodטוֹבָהţôb · welfareH2896

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 25:21

• 1 Samuel 25:13And David said to his men, “Strap on your swords!” So David and all his men strapped on their swords, and about four hundred men followed David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies.
• Job 30:8A senseless and nameless brood, they were driven off the land.
• Psalms 37:8Refrain from anger and abandon wrath; do not fret—it can only bring harm.
• Ephesians 4:26“Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger,
• 1 Thessalonians 5:15Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.
• 1 Peter 2:21For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:
• 1 Peter 3:9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
• Genesis 44:4They had not gone far from the city when Joseph told his steward, “Pursue the men at once, and when you overtake them, ask, ‘Why have you repaid good with evil?
• Psalms 35:12They repay me evil for good, to the bereavement of my soul.
• Psalms 38:20Those who repay my good with evil attack me for pursuing the good.
• Psalms 109:3They surround me with hateful words and attack me without cause.
• Proverbs 17:13If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
• Jeremiah 18:20Should good be repaid with evil? Yet they have dug a pit for me. Remember how I stood before You to speak good on their behalf, to turn Your wrath from them.
• Romans 12:21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
• 1 Peter 2:20How is it to your credit if you are beaten for doing wrong and you endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
• 1 Peter 2:17Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 25:21

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21In vain - i. e., under false expectation.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-31Verses 18-31 By a present Abigail atoned for Nabal's denial of David's request. Her behaviour was very submissive. Yielding pacifies great offences. She puts herself in the place of a penitent, and of a petitioner. She could not excuse her husband's conduct. She depends not upon her own reasonings, but on God's grace, to soften David, and expects that grace would work powerfully. She says that it was below him to take vengeance on so weak and despicable…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21he has paid me back evil for good: See also 1 Samuel 24:17.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 25:21

• Decision
• Evil for Good
• Fig
• Ingratitude
• Nabal
• Prudence
• Tact
• Wife

In the dictionaries

• David
• Abigail
• Conversant
• Covert
• 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