1 Samuel 25:10

KJV

And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who [is] David? and who [is] the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.

KJV (with Strong's)

And Nabal {H5037} answered {H6030} David's {H1732} servants {H5650}, and said {H559}, Who is David {H1732}? and who is the son {H1121} of Jesse {H3448}? there be many {H7231} servants {H5650} now a days {H3117} that break away {H6555} every man {H376} from {H6440} his master {H113}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Naval answered David's servants, "Who is David? Who is the son of Yishai? There are many servants nowadays running away from their masters.

Berean Standard Bible

But Nabal asked them, “Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants these days are breaking away from their masters.

American Standard Version

And Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there are many servants now-a-days that break away every man from his master.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Samuel 25:10 captures the pivotal moment of Nabal's arrogant and contemptuous rejection of David's humble request for provisions. This verse not only reveals Nabal's foolish and disrespectful character but also serves as a critical catalyst, igniting David's wrath and setting the stage for the dramatic intervention of Nabal's wise wife, Abigail, thereby testing David's leadership and self-control while highlighting the profound consequences of pride and misjudgment.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within a larger narrative arc detailing David's life as a fugitive from King Saul, operating in the wilderness with his loyal band of 600 men. Immediately preceding this, David had established a protective relationship with the shepherds and flocks of wealthy landowners, including Nabal, providing a shield against marauders. The sheep-shearing festival, a time of communal feasting and generosity, provided the occasion for David to send ten young men to Nabal, respectfully requesting a share of the bounty in return for the protection rendered. Nabal's defiant and insulting response in 1 Samuel 25:10 directly precipitates David's furious reaction and his decision to march on Nabal's household, which is then providentially averted by Abigail's swift and wise intervention, demonstrating the stark contrast between Nabal's folly and Abigail's discernment.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** During this tumultuous period in Israel's history, the central monarchy under Saul was unstable, leading to a breakdown of law and order in many peripheral regions. Powerful individuals like Nabal, who was "very rich" and possessed "three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats" (/1_samuel/25-2 "1 Samuel 25:2 - Nabal's Wealth"), often held significant local influence and were expected to provide hospitality and patronage. David, though anointed as future king (/1_samuel/16-13 "1 Samuel 16:13 - David's Anointing"), was currently an outlaw, living off the land and the goodwill of others. His request was not a demand but a customary appeal for reciprocal generosity, a common practice in the ancient Near East where protection services were often compensated with provisions. Nabal's dismissive response, therefore, was not merely a refusal but a profound cultural insult, denying David's legitimacy and the value of his protection.
* **Key Themes:** Nabal's words in this verse powerfully introduce and reinforce several key themes within the broader narrative of 1 Samuel and the Deuteronomistic History. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **arrogance versus humility**, as Nabal's pride blinds him to David's true identity and divine favor, contrasting sharply with Abigail's humble and discerning spirit. Secondly, it highlights the theme of **folly versus wisdom**, with Nabal (whose name literally means "fool") embodying senselessness and self-destruction, while Abigail exemplifies prudent and proactive wisdom, ultimately saving her household. Thirdly, the incident serves as a crucial **test of David's leadership and dependence on God**, pushing him to the brink of vengeful violence and demonstrating his need for divine restraint and guidance, a recurring motif as David navigates the challenges of his anointing and flight from Saul. Finally, Nabal's cynical remark about "servants breaking away" reflects the **instability and moral decay** prevalent in Israel under Saul's declining reign, where legitimate authority was questioned and societal norms were strained, further emphasizing the need for a righteous king like David.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Nabal (Hebrew, _Nabal_):** This proper noun is highly significant, as it literally means "fool," "senseless," or "wicked." The narrator introduces him in 1 Samuel 25:3 as "churlish and evil in his doings" (/1_samuel/25-3 "1 Samuel 25:3 - Nabal's Character"), and his actions in verse 10 perfectly embody his name. His words are not merely rude but are profoundly foolish, demonstrating a complete lack of discernment regarding David's identity and the potential consequences of insulting an anointed leader.
* **"Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse?" (Hebrew, מִי דָוִד וּמִי בֶן־יִשַׁי, _mi Dawid u-mi ben-Yishai_):** This is a rhetorical question designed to belittle and dismiss. By referring to David as merely "the son of Jesse," Nabal attempts to reduce him to an unknown, common individual without status or authority, despite David's established reputation as a warrior, musician, and even Saul's son-in-law. This phrase is a deliberate and contemptuous slight against David's lineage, current position, and growing influence, underscoring Nabal's profound disrespect and ignorance.
* **"break away" (Hebrew, פָּרַץ, _parats_):** The verb _parats_ here means to "break forth," "burst out," or "make a breach." In this context, it carries the connotation of rebellion, desertion, or unauthorized separation from a master. Nabal uses this term to categorize David and his men as mere runaway slaves or bandits, lumping them in with common criminals. This not only denies David's legitimate status and divine calling but also attempts to justify Nabal's refusal to provide provisions by painting David as a dangerous, lawless individual.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Nabal answered David's servants, and said":** This opening clause establishes the direct confrontation. Nabal's response is not merely a private thought but a public declaration to David's representatives, making his insult a direct affront to David's honor and authority. The act of "answering" implies a considered, though ultimately foolish, decision.
* **"Who [is] David? and who [is] the son of Jesse?":** This rhetorical question, as analyzed above, is the core of Nabal's contempt. It is a double insult: first, questioning David's very identity and right to respect, and second, dismissing his lineage, which was a critical component of social standing in ancient Israel. Nabal's refusal to acknowledge David's fame or anointing reveals his spiritual blindness and arrogance.
* **"there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master":** This final clause is Nabal's cynical justification for his refusal. He attempts to frame David as just another rebellious servant, a common problem in an unstable society. This statement reveals Nabal's jaded worldview and his inability to discern David's unique character and divine purpose. It also serves as an excuse to avoid the expected cultural obligation of generosity, demonstrating his stinginess and lack of wisdom.

#### Literary Devices
The verse is rich in **Characterization**, primarily through Nabal's direct speech, which immediately reveals him as arrogant, contemptuous, and foolish, living up to the meaning of his name. The phrase "Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse?" is a prime example of a **Rhetorical Question**, not seeking information but designed to belittle and dismiss David's identity and authority. There is also profound **Irony** at play: Nabal, the "fool," dismisses the future king of Israel as a mere runaway servant, demonstrating his utter lack of discernment and setting the stage for his own demise. Furthermore, Nabal's cynical remark about "many servants now a days that break away" serves as a form of **Foreshadowing**, albeit unintended, as his own household will soon "break away" from his foolish leadership through Abigail's intervention, and ultimately, his life will be "broken away" by divine judgment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse highlights the profound theological tension between human arrogance and divine sovereignty. Nabal's contemptuous dismissal of David is not merely a personal insult but an unwitting defiance of God's chosen one. His inability to discern God's hand on David, despite David's growing reputation and anointing, serves as a stark warning against spiritual blindness and the dangers of pride. The narrative implicitly contrasts Nabal's folly with the wisdom that comes from recognizing God's work, even in unconventional circumstances. God's ultimate vindication of David and judgment upon Nabal underscores the principle that "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble" (/james/4-6 "James 4:6 - God Opposes the Proud").

* [Proverbs 16:18](/proverbs/16-18 "Proverbs 16:18 - Pride Goes Before Destruction")
* [Psalm 75:6-7](/psalms/75-6-7 "Psalm 75:6-7 - God Exalts and Humbles")
* [Daniel 4:34-37](/daniel/4-34-37 "Daniel 4:34-37 - Nebuchadnezzar's Humiliation and Restoration")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Nabal's story serves as a powerful cautionary tale for believers across all generations. His fatal flaw was not merely his wealth or his churlishness, but his profound lack of discernment and his arrogant refusal to honor those whom God was elevating. In a world that often values self-sufficiency and dismisses those who appear to lack conventional status, Nabal's example reminds us of the spiritual danger of pride and the critical importance of humility. We are called to cultivate a discerning heart, one that seeks to recognize God's hand at work in unexpected places and in unexpected people, rather than relying on superficial judgments or worldly metrics of success. Furthermore, Nabal's provocation of David highlights the human tendency towards anger and vengeance when deeply offended. The subsequent narrative, where David is restrained by Abigail's wisdom and God's intervention, teaches us the vital lesson of seeking divine guidance and exercising self-control, even when our sense of justice is deeply offended, trusting that God will ultimately right all wrongs.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be prone to Nabal's pride or lack of discernment?**
* **How does this story challenge my assumptions about who God might be using or elevating today?**
* **When faced with insult or injustice, what is my default reaction, and how can I better emulate David's ultimate restraint (through God's intervention) rather than his initial rage?**
* **How can I cultivate a heart that is quicker to recognize and honor God's work in others, regardless of their outward appearance or status?**

### FAQ
**Why was Nabal's response so offensive to David?**

Answer: Nabal's response was deeply offensive for several reasons. Firstly, it was a profound cultural insult. David and his men had provided genuine protection for Nabal's flocks and shepherds in the wilderness, a valuable service in a time of instability. Custom dictated that such protection be reciprocated with provisions, especially during a festive occasion like sheep-shearing. Nabal's outright refusal and his contemptuous rhetorical questions ("Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse?") not only denied the value of David's service but also publicly demeaned David's identity and legitimacy. By calling David a "runaway servant," Nabal attempted to strip him of any honor and justify his own stinginess, which was a grave affront to David's honor as a leader and a man.

**What does Nabal's name mean, and how does it relate to his actions?**

Answer: Nabal's name (נָבָל, _Nabal_) literally means "fool" or "senseless." This is a classic example of a "telling name" in biblical narrative, where a character's name directly reflects their personality or destiny. His actions in 1 Samuel 25:10 and the subsequent events perfectly embody this meaning. His refusal to acknowledge David, his insulting words, and his general churlishness demonstrate a profound lack of wisdom, foresight, and spiritual discernment. He fails to recognize David's divine anointing and growing power, leading to his own swift and divinely orchestrated demise, proving him to be truly foolish in the biblical sense (cf. [Psalm 14:1](/psalms/14-1 "Psalm 14:1 - The Fool Says There Is No God")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Nabal's contemptuous question, "Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse?" (/1_samuel/25-10 "1 Samuel 25:10 - Nabal's Contempt"), finds a profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the rejection of Jesus, the true Son of David. Just as Nabal failed to recognize the anointed king in David, so too did many in Israel fail to recognize their Messiah, dismissing Him as merely the "carpenter's son" (/matthew/13-55 "Matthew 13:55 - Jesus, the Carpenter's Son") or questioning His authority with "By what authority do you do these things, and who gave you this authority?" (/mark/11-28 "Mark 11:28 - Questioning Jesus' Authority"). Nabal's cynical remark about "many servants now a days that break away every man from his master" ironically prefigures the world's misunderstanding and rejection of Jesus, who came not as a runaway but as the obedient Son sent by His Father (/john/8-42 "John 8:42 - Jesus Sent by the Father"), yet was "despised and rejected by mankind" (/isaiah/53-3 "Isaiah 53:3 - Jesus, Despised and Rejected"). In stark contrast to Nabal's pride and stinginess, Jesus, though "rich, yet for your sakes he became poor" (/2_corinthians/8-9 "2 Corinthians 8:9 - Christ's Poverty for Our Sake"), offering the ultimate provision of salvation freely. Ultimately, while Nabal's folly led to his destruction, the world's rejection of Christ led to His crucifixion, which paradoxically became the means of our redemption and the pathway to His glorious exaltation as King of kings and Lord of lords (/philippians/2-8-11 "Philippians 2:8-11 - Christ's Humiliation and Exaltation").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Judges 9:28

And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who [is] Abimelech, and who [is] Shechem, that we should serve him? [is] not [he] the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him?

1 Kings 12:16

¶ So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither [have we] inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.

1 Samuel 22:2

And every one [that was] in distress, and every one that [was] in debt, and every one [that was] discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

2 Samuel 20:1

¶ And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name [was] Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.

Psalms 123:3

Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.

Psalms 123:4

Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, [and] with the contempt of the proud.

1 Samuel 20:30

Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious [woman], do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness?