1 Samuel 25:22

KJV

So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that [pertain] to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.

KJV (with Strong's)

So {H3541} and more {H3254} also do {H6213} God {H430} unto the enemies {H341} of David {H1732}, if I leave {H7604} of all that pertain to him by {H5704} the morning {H1242} light {H216} any that pisseth {H8366} against the wall {H7023}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then he swore, "May God do the same and more to David's enemies if I leave alive even one male of everything he owns."

Berean Standard Bible

May God punish David, and ever so severely, if I let one of Nabal’s men survive until morning.”

American Standard Version

God do so unto the enemies of David, and more also, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light so much as one man-child.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
This verse captures David's furious and vengeful oath, sworn in response to Nabal's contemptuous refusal to provide provisions for David and his men. Incensed by Nabal's insult and ingratitude, David invokes a severe divine curse upon himself and his lineage if he fails to utterly annihilate every male belonging to Nabal's household by morning light. It starkly reveals David's human capacity for intense wrath and his readiness to act impulsively when provoked, setting the stage for Abigail's crucial intervention that prevents him from committing a grave sin.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is the climax of David's enraged response to Nabal's insolence. Immediately preceding it, David, having protected Nabal's shepherds and flocks in the wilderness, sends ten young men to request provisions during the sheep-shearing festival, a time of generosity and feasting. Nabal, a wealthy but ill-tempered man, responds with scorn, dismissing David as a mere runaway servant and refusing his request (1 Samuel 25:10-11). David's fury escalates rapidly; he immediately arms 400 of his men and sets out to destroy Nabal and his entire household (1 Samuel 25:12-13). Verse 22 is David's solemn, divinely-invoked oath, expressing his absolute intent for total annihilation. The narrative then shifts dramatically to Abigail, Nabal's discerning wife, who, upon hearing of her husband's folly and David's impending wrath, quickly gathers provisions and rides out to intercept David, ultimately averting a bloody catastrophe through her wise and humble intercession (1 Samuel 25:23-31).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events unfold in the wilderness of Paran, a harsh and sparsely populated region south of Judah, where David and his 600 men lived as outlaws, fleeing King Saul. In this environment, protection from marauders was vital for shepherds, and the unwritten code of the wilderness often involved reciprocal arrangements: protection in exchange for provisions. Sheep-shearing was a significant annual event, akin to a harvest festival, marked by feasting and generosity, making Nabal's refusal particularly egregious. David's oath reflects the cultural practice of invoking God's name to solemnize a vow or curse, a common feature in ancient Near Eastern treaties and personal declarations. The severity of the threat—the complete eradication of a male line—was a recognized form of ancient retribution, designed to eliminate any future challenge or claim to property or status.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within the book of 1 Samuel and the broader biblical narrative. It highlights the theme of **human fallibility**, even in divinely chosen leaders like David, demonstrating his capacity for uncontrolled anger and rash judgment, contrasting sharply with his earlier restraint towards Saul (e.g., [1 Samuel 24:4-7](/1_samuel/24-4 "1 Samuel 24:4-7 - David Spares Saul")). It underscores the **danger of unchecked anger and vengeance**, showing how quickly a righteous man can be driven to sin when provoked. Furthermore, it sets the stage for the theme of **divine providence and intervention**, as God, through Abigail, restrains David from incurring bloodguilt, thereby preserving His anointed's integrity and preventing a tragic stain on his character. Finally, it subtly foreshadows the **consequences of foolishness and disrespect**, as Nabal's arrogance ultimately leads to his own divine judgment, independent of David's wrath (see [1 Samuel 25:38](/1_samuel/25-38 "1 Samuel 25:38 - The Lord Strikes Nabal")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **"So and more also do God unto the enemies of David" (Hebrew, _koh yaseh elohim l'oyvei David v'koh yosif'_):** This is a powerful and common oath formula in the Old Testament, used to solemnize a vow or curse. The phrase "so and more also" (or "thus and more may God do") intensifies the oath, indicating that the speaker is invoking the most severe divine judgment upon themselves or their "enemies" (in this case, those who would prevent the oath's fulfillment, or by implication, David's own "enemies" if he fails to carry out the threat) if the stated condition is not met. It signifies an absolute, binding commitment, leveraging the fear of divine retribution.
* **"any that pisseth against the wall" (Hebrew, _mashtin b'kir'_):** This is a blunt, vivid, and highly emphatic Hebrew idiom used to refer to "every single male." It is a crude but clear expression signifying total annihilation of the male line, leaving no male descendant alive. Its use here underscores the absolute and merciless nature of David's intended destruction, ensuring that Nabal's name and lineage would be utterly cut off. This idiom appears in other contexts denoting complete destruction, such as [1 Kings 14:10](/1_kings/14-10 "1 Kings 14:10 - Jeroboam's House to be Cut Off") and [2 Kings 9:8](/2_kings/9-8 "2 Kings 9:8 - Jehu's Oath Against Ahab's House").

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"So and more also do God unto the enemies of David,"**: This opening clause functions as a solemn, self-imprecatory oath, invoking God as the witness and enforcer of David's vow. By saying "unto the enemies of David," David effectively places himself under a curse if he fails to execute his plan, implying that failure would make him an "enemy of God" or that God would treat him as He treats His enemies. It underscores the gravity with which David views his intent and his expectation of divine backing for his vengeance.
* **"if I leave of all that [pertain] to him by the morning light"**: This sets the condition and the timeline for David's oath. The phrase "all that pertain to him" refers comprehensively to every male in Nabal's household, including servants, sons, and Nabal himself. The deadline "by the morning light" emphasizes the immediacy and ferocity of David's rage, indicating his intent to act swiftly and decisively before dawn breaks.
* **"any that pisseth against the wall."**: This final, graphic clause specifies the target of David's intended annihilation: every single male. As an idiom for "every male," it leaves no ambiguity as to the totality of the destruction David intends. It signifies the complete eradication of Nabal's lineage, ensuring no male descendant or servant would survive to carry on his name or inherit his property.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices to convey David's intense rage and his destructive intent. **Oath/Curse Formula** is prominent, as David invokes God's name to solemnize his vow, a common biblical convention that highlights the gravity and binding nature of his declaration. The phrase "So and more also do God unto the enemies of David" is a classic example. **Idiom** is central to the verse's impact, specifically the crude but forceful expression "any that pisseth against the wall," which serves as a vivid and unambiguous **euphemism** for "every male." This idiom functions as a form of **hyperbole**, exaggerating the extent of the intended destruction to emphasize David's extreme anger and his desire for total annihilation. The raw, unvarnished language also contributes to the **characterization** of David, revealing his human capacity for swift and violent retribution, a stark contrast to his usual portrayal as a man "after God's own heart."

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Samuel 25:22 serves as a critical theological moment, illustrating the tension between human wrath and divine justice, and the necessity of restraint even for God's anointed. David's rash oath, though born of understandable provocation, highlights the dangerous precipice of sin that even a man of faith can approach when consumed by anger. It underscores the biblical principle that vengeance belongs to God, not to individuals, and that human attempts at retribution often lead to greater sin and unintended consequences. The subsequent narrative, where Abigail intervenes, beautifully demonstrates God's providential care in restraining His servants from sin and His preference for mercy and wisdom over impulsive violence. This incident reinforces the theme that true leadership, even in a warrior, requires self-control and reliance on God's timing and methods of justice.

* [Deuteronomy 32:35](/deuteronomy/32-35 "Deuteronomy 32:35 - Vengeance is Mine, and Recompense")
* [Romans 12:19](/romans/12-19 "Romans 12:19 - Do Not Avenge Yourselves")
* [Proverbs 16:32](/proverbs/16-32 "Proverbs 16:32 - Better is the Patient than the Mighty")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
David's near-fatal error in 1 Samuel 25:22 offers a profound lesson on the destructive power of unchecked anger and the vital importance of self-control. Even a man chosen by God, a king in the making, was susceptible to the raw, visceral urge for immediate retribution. This passage forces us to confront our own capacity for rage when we feel disrespected, cheated, or unjustly treated. It reminds us that while anger itself is not always sinful, the actions it incites can be. David's willingness to commit mass murder over an insult reveals how quickly our emotions can lead us astray from God's character and commands. The subsequent narrative, where God uses Abigail to prevent David's sin, is a powerful testament to God's grace and His active involvement in restraining His people and guiding them towards righteousness, even when they falter. It calls us to cultivate patience, humility, and trust in God's ultimate justice, rather than yielding to the impulse for personal vengeance.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **When have I felt a similar surge of anger or desire for vengeance in response to an insult or perceived injustice?**
* **What are my typical responses when I feel disrespected or unappreciated?**
* **How does David's near-sin here challenge my perception of biblical heroes and my own spiritual walk?**
* **In what ways can I invite God's intervention or the wisdom of others to prevent me from acting rashly in anger?**
* **How does the principle of "vengeance is mine, says the Lord" apply to my daily interactions and grievances?**

### FAQ

**What does "any that pisseth against the wall" mean in this context?**

Answer: The phrase "any that pisseth against the wall" is a strong and somewhat crude Hebrew idiom that means "every single male" or "every last male." It is a vivid and emphatic way of referring to all males in a household or lineage. In this context, David's use of the idiom signifies his absolute and merciless intent to completely annihilate Nabal and every male associated with him, leaving no male survivor to carry on his name or inherit his property. It underscores the totality of the destruction David envisioned in his rage. This idiom is also found in other Old Testament passages, such as [1 Kings 14:10](/1_kings/14-10 "1 Kings 14:10 - Jeroboam's House to be Cut Off") and [2 Kings 9:8](/2_kings/9-8 "2 Kings 9:8 - Jehu's Oath Against Ahab's House"), always denoting a complete cutting off of the male line.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While David's oath in 1 Samuel 25:22 reveals his human capacity for vengeful anger, it ultimately points us to the perfect self-control and redemptive justice found in Jesus Christ. David, though God's anointed, was prone to the very human sin of seeking personal vengeance, ready to shed innocent blood. In stark contrast, Jesus, the true Son of David and the ultimate King, never succumbed to such impulses. When reviled, He did not revile in return; when suffering, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly ([1 Peter 2:23](/1_peter/2-23 "1 Peter 2:23 - Christ's Example of Suffering")). Instead of annihilating His enemies, Christ offered Himself as the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), bearing the wrath we deserved. His intervention on the cross prevented not just a single act of bloodshed, but the eternal judgment due to all humanity. Where David was restrained by Abigail's wisdom, Christ's perfect obedience and self-sacrifice perfectly fulfilled God's justice and demonstrated divine love, offering reconciliation rather than retribution ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God Demonstrates His Love")). Thus, David's near-sin highlights our desperate need for a Savior who perfectly embodies righteousness and offers true peace, rather than perpetuating cycles of violence ([Ephesians 2:14](/ephesians/2-14 "Ephesians 2:14 - Christ Our Peace")).

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

1 Samuel 20:13

The LORD do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father [to do] thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and the LORD be with thee, as he hath been with my father.

1 Kings 14:10

Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, [and] him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone.

1 Samuel 3:17

And he said, What [is] the thing that [the LORD] hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide [it] not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide [any] thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.

1 Kings 21:21

Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel,

2 Kings 9:8

For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel:

1 Samuel 20:16

So Jonathan made [a covenant] with the house of David, [saying], Let the LORD even require [it] at the hand of David's enemies.

1 Samuel 14:44

And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.