King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,
Complete Jewish Bible:
When Avigayil saw David, she hurried to dismount from her donkey, fell on her face in front of David and bowed down to the ground.
Berean Standard Bible:
When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey, fell facedown, and bowed before him.
American Standard Version:
And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and alighted from her ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And when Abigail{H26} saw{H7200} David{H1732}, she hasted{H4116}, and lighted off{H3381} the ass{H2543}, and fell{H5307} before{H639} David{H1732} on her face{H6440}, and bowed{H7812} herself to the ground{H776},
Cross-References (KJV):
1 Samuel 20:41
- [And] as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of [a place] toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.
Judges 1:14
- And it came to pass, when she came [to him], that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off [her] ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou?
Joshua 15:18
- And it came to pass, as she came [unto him], that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted off [her] ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou?
1 Samuel 24:8
- David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for 1 Samuel 25:23
1 Samuel 25:23 is a verse set within the broader narrative of David's life before he became king of Israel. The verse describes a pivotal encounter between Abigail, the wife of Nabal, and David, who is at this point a fugitive leader of a band of men. The historical context is the period of the judges, just before the establishment of the monarchy in Israel, with David anointed as the future king but not yet reigning.
In this verse, Abigail's actions are significant for several reasons. Upon seeing David, she quickly dismounts her donkey, falls before him, and bows to the ground. This gesture of humility and respect is laden with cultural implications. In the ancient Near Eastern context, falling at someone's feet was a sign of submission and an appeal for favor. Abigail's behavior acknowledges David's authority and his role as God's anointed, even though he is not yet king.
The themes present in this verse include wisdom, humility, and God's providence. Abigail's wise and tactful approach to David, which includes a plea for mercy and an acknowledgment of his future kingship, serves to avert a potential act of vengeance by David against her husband Nabal, who had insulted and rejected David's request for provisions. Her actions demonstrate her discernment and understanding of the political and spiritual dynamics at play. Additionally, this verse sets the stage for the unfolding of God's sovereign plan, as Abigail's intervention prevents David from shedding innocent blood, thereby preserving his integrity and future reign. Abigail's role in this narrative is a testament to the influence of women in the biblical narrative and their capacity to shape the course of history through their wisdom and courage.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H26
There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֲבִיגַיִל
Transliteration: ʼĂbîygayil
Pronunciation: ab-ee-gah'-yil
Description: or shorter אֲבִיגַל; from אָב and גִּיל; father (i.e. source) of joy; Abigail or Abigal, the name of two Israelitesses; Abigal. - Strong's Number: H7200
There are 1212 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָאָה
Transliteration: râʼâh
Pronunciation: raw-aw'
Description: a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative); advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions. - Strong's Number: H1732
There are 911 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דָּוִד
Transliteration: Dâvid
Pronunciation: daw-veed'
Description: rarely (fully); דָּוִיד; from the same as דּוֹד; loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse; David. - Strong's Number: H4116
There are 60 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָהַר
Transliteration: mâhar
Pronunciation: maw-har'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to be liquid or flow easily, i.e. (by implication); to hurry (in a good or a bad sense); often used (with another verb) adverbially, promptly; be carried headlong, fearful, (cause to make, in, make) haste(-n, -ily), (be) hasty, (fetch, make ready) [idiom] quickly, rash, [idiom] shortly, (be so) [idiom] soon, make speed, [idiom] speedily, [idiom] straightway, [idiom] suddenly, swift. - Strong's Number: H3381
There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָרַד
Transliteration: yârad
Pronunciation: yaw-rad'
Description: a primitive root; to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to bring down (in all the above applications); [idiom] abundantly, bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come(-ing) down, fall (down), get down, go(-ing) down(-ward), hang down, [idiom] indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to, let) run down, sink, subdue, take down. - Strong's Number: H2543
There are 93 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֲמוֹר
Transliteration: chămôwr
Pronunciation: kham-ore'
Description: or (shortened) חֲמֹר; from חָמַר; a male ass (from its dun red); (he) ass. - Strong's Number: H5307
There are 403 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָפַל
Transliteration: nâphal
Pronunciation: naw-fal'
Description: a primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative); be accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide (by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall (away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have (inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for פָּלַל), lay (along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be ([idiom] hast) lost, lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make to) rot, slay, smite out, [idiom] surely, throw down. - Strong's Number: H639
There are 306 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַף
Transliteration: ʼaph
Pronunciation: af
Description: from אָנַף; properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire; anger(-gry), [phrase] before, countenance, face, [phrase] forebearing, forehead, [phrase] (long-) suffering, nose, nostril, snout, [idiom] worthy, wrath. - Strong's Number: H6440
There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּנִים
Transliteration: pânîym
Pronunciation: paw-neem'
Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you. - Strong's Number: H7812
There are 166 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁחָה
Transliteration: shâchâh
Pronunciation: shaw-khaw'
Description: a primitive root; to depress, i.e. prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or God); bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship. - Strong's Number: H776
There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶרֶץ
Transliteration: ʼerets
Pronunciation: eh'-rets
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.