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 servants, “Go on ahead of me. I will come after you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal. 20Riding on her donkey, she went down under cover of the mountain. David and his men were coming down to meet her, and she encountered them. Now David had been thinking, “In vain I guarded everything that belonged to this man in the desert. I didn’t take anything from him. But he has repaid my good with evil. 22God will severely punish David, if I leave alive until morning even one male from all those who belong to him!” 23When Abigail saw David, she got down quickly from the donkey, threw herself down before David, and bowed 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Now Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• had saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Surely in vainשֶׁ֫קֶרsheqer · deceptionH8267
• have I keptשָׁמַרshâmar · to keep: guardH8104
• all that thisזֶהzeh · thisH2088
• hath in the wildernessמִדְבָּרmidbâr · wildernessH4057
• so that nothingמְא֫וּמָהme'ûmâh · anythingH3972
• was missedפָּקַדpâqad · to reckon: missingH6485
• unto him: and he hath requitedשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
• me evilרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: evilH7451
• for goodטוֹבָהţôb · welfareH2896

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 25:21

• 1 Samuel 25:13Then David instructed his men, “Each of you strap on your sword!” So each one strapped on his sword, and David also strapped on his sword. About four hundred men followed David up, while two hundred stayed behind with the equipment.
• Job 30:8Sons of senseless and nameless people, they were driven out of the land with whips.
• Psalms 37:8Do not be angry and frustrated! Do not fret! That only leads to trouble!
• Ephesians 4:26Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on the cause of your anger.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:15See that no one pays back evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.
• 1 Peter 2:21For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in his steps.
• 1 Peter 3:9Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing.
• Genesis 44:4They had not gone very far from the city when Joseph said to the servant who was over his household, “Pursue the men at once! When you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid good with evil?
• Psalms 35:12They repay me evil for the good I have done; I am overwhelmed with sorrow.
• Psalms 38:20They repay me evil for the good I have done; though I have tried to do good to them, they hurl accusations at me.
• Psalms 109:3They surround me and say hateful things; they attack me for no reason.
• Proverbs 17:13As for the one who repays evil for good, evil will not leave his house.
• Jeremiah 18:20Should good be paid back with evil? Yet they are virtually digging a pit to kill me. Just remember how I stood before you pleading on their behalf to keep you from venting your anger on them.
• Romans 12:21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
• 1 Peter 2:20For what credit is it if you sin and are mistreated and endure it? But if you do good and suffer and so endure, this finds favor with God.
• 1 Peter 2:17Honor all people, love the family 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