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

19Then she said to her young men, “Go on ahead of me; behold, I am coming after you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal. 20And it happened as she was riding on her donkey and coming down by the hidden part of the mountain, that behold, David and his men were coming down toward her; so she met them. Now David had said, “It is certainly for nothing that I have guarded everything that this man has in the wilderness, so that nothing has gone missing of all that belonged to him! For he has returned me evil for good. 22May God do so to the enemies of David, and more so, if by morning I leave alive as much as one male of any who belong to him.” 23When Abigail saw David, she hurried and dismounted from her donkey, and fell on her face in front of David and bowed herself to the ground.

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 saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• It is certainlyאַךְ'ak · surelyH389
• for nothingשֶׁ֫קֶרsheqer · deceptionH8267
• that I have guardedשָׁמַרshâmar · to keep: guardH8104
• everythingכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• that thisזֶהzeh · thisH2088
• has in the wildernessמִדְבָּרmidbâr · wildernessH4057
• so that nothingלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• so that nothingמְא֫וּמָהme'ûmâh · anythingH3972
• has goneפָּקַדpâqad · to reckon: listH6485
• returnedשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 25:21

• 1 Samuel 25:13Then David said to his men, “Each of you strap on his sword.” So each man strapped on his sword. And David also strapped on his sword, and about four hundred men went up behind David, while two hundred stayed with the baggage.
• Job 30:8Worthless fellows, even those without a name, They were cast out from the land.
• Psalms 37:8Cease from anger and abandon wrath; Do not get upset; it leads only to evildoing.
• Ephesians 4:26Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
• 1 Thessalonians 5:15See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek what is good for one another and for all people.
• 1 Peter 2:21For you have been called for this purpose, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you would follow in His steps,
• 1 Peter 3:9not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you would inherit a blessing.
• Genesis 44:4They had just left the city, and were not far away, when Joseph said to his house steward, “Up, follow the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good?
• Psalms 35:12They repay me evil for good, To the bereavement of my soul.
• Psalms 38:20And those who repay evil for good, They become my enemies, because I follow what is good.
• Psalms 109:3They have also surrounded me with words of hatred, And have fought against me without cause.
• Proverbs 17:13One who returns evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house.
• Jeremiah 18:20Should good be repaid with evil? For they have dug a pit for me. Remember how I stood before You To speak good in their behalf, So as to turn Your wrath away from them.
• Romans 12:21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
• 1 Peter 2:20For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.
• 1 Peter 2:17Honor all people, love the brotherhood, 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