1 Samuel 25:37

KJV

But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became [as] a stone.

KJV (with Strong's)

But it came to pass in the morning {H1242}, when the wine {H3196} was gone out {H3318} of Nabal {H5037}, and his wife {H802} had told {H5046} him these things {H1697}, that his heart {H3820} died {H4191} within {H7130} him, and he became as a stone {H68}.

Complete Jewish Bible

In the morning, when he was sober and his wife told him what had happened, he had a stroke and became as motionless as a stone.

Berean Standard Bible

In the morning when Nabal was sober, his wife told him about these events, and his heart failed within him and he became like a stone.

American Standard Version

And it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, that his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
This verse vividly portrays the immediate and profound consequence of Nabal's foolishness and his wife Abigail's courageous intervention. After a night of drunken revelry, Nabal, now sober, is confronted with the stark reality of how close he and his entire household came to utter destruction at the hands of David and his men, and how Abigail's wisdom and swift action averted catastrophe. The shock of this revelation causes a sudden, devastating physical and emotional collapse, leaving him in a state of profound incapacitation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as the dramatic climax of the narrative concerning Nabal, Abigail, and David in [1 Samuel 25](/1_samuel/25 "1 Samuel 25 - David, Nabal, and Abigail"). The chapter opens with the death of Samuel, setting the stage for David's continued exile and reliance on divine provision. David, while protecting Nabal's shepherds, sends a respectful request for provisions during the sheep-shearing feast, a time of generosity. Nabal, however, responds with contempt and insults David's authority and character ([1 Samuel 25:10-11](/1_samuel/25-10 "1 Samuel 25:10-11 - Nabal's Insult to David")). Enraged, David vows to destroy Nabal and every male in his household ([1 Samuel 25:22](/1_samuel/25-22 "1 Samuel 25:22 - David's Oath of Destruction")). Unbeknownst to Nabal, his wise wife Abigail intervenes, gathering provisions and humbly appealing to David, taking responsibility for her husband's folly and pacifying David's wrath ([1 Samuel 25:23-31](/1_samuel/25-23 "1 Samuel 25:23-31 - Abigail's Wise Intercession")). David, acknowledging the Lord's hand in sending her, praises her wisdom and turns from his destructive path ([1 Samuel 25:32-35](/1_samuel/25-32 "1 Samuel 25:32-35 - David Blesses Abigail")). Abigail returns to find Nabal feasting and drunk, so she wisely waits until morning, when he is sober, to deliver the shocking news, leading directly to the events of [1 Samuel 25:37](/1_samuel/25-37 "1 Samuel 25:37 - Nabal's Collapse").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Sheep-shearing was a significant annual event, akin to a harvest festival, marked by feasting and often generosity. Nabal's refusal to provide for David and his men, despite benefiting from their protection, was not merely stinginess but a grave insult, a breach of customary hospitality, and a direct challenge to David's growing influence. In ancient Near Eastern culture, an insult of this magnitude could warrant severe retribution, often extending to the entire household to restore honor. David's vow to destroy Nabal's "house" was a recognized form of collective punishment. Abigail's actions, while seemingly audacious for a woman in a patriarchal society, demonstrate remarkable courage, discernment, and an understanding of the cultural dynamics of honor and shame, as well as the potential for divine intervention. Her proactive steps to avert bloodshed highlight the precariousness of life and the importance of wise leadership in a volatile environment where personal vengeance was common.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully illustrates several key themes within [1 Samuel](/1_samuel/1 "The Book of 1 Samuel") and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the **consequences of folly and pride**, showing how Nabal's arrogant and ungrateful disposition brought him to the brink of utter ruin and ultimately led to his demise. Secondly, it highlights the **power of truth and revelation**; only when the "wine was gone out of Nabal" could the full, devastating truth of his near-annihilation and Abigail's heroic intervention truly impact him. This speaks to the necessity of spiritual sobriety to perceive reality. Thirdly, it demonstrates **divine justice and providence**, as Nabal's fate, though averted by Abigail's human intervention, ultimately serves as an example of God's judgment against the wicked and proud, as explicitly stated in [1 Samuel 25:38](/1_samuel/25-38 "1 Samuel 25:38 - The Lord Strikes Nabal"). Finally, the entire narrative, culminating in this verse, provides a stark **contrast of character** between Nabal's insensitive foolishness and Abigail's perceptive wisdom, which saved her household and elevated her status.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Wine was gone out (Hebrew: יָצָא, _yatsa'_):** This phrase literally means "went out" or "departed." In this context, it signifies Nabal's return to sobriety, implying that the effects of the wine had completely dissipated. This physical state of clarity is crucial, as it allowed the truth of his near-destruction and Abigail's intervention to fully register, unclouded by intoxication. The timing emphasizes that the shock was a consequence of clear understanding, not drunken stupor.
* **Heart died (Hebrew: לֵב, _lev_):** The Hebrew word _lev_ refers not merely to the physical organ but to the inner being, the seat of intellect, will, emotions, and moral character. The idiom "his heart died within him" signifies a profound and sudden collapse of his spirit, vital functions, and perhaps even his will to live. It suggests an overwhelming emotional and psychological shock, a complete internal devastation that manifested physically.
* **As a stone (Hebrew: אֶבֶן, _'even_):** This simile vividly describes Nabal's physical state. Becoming "as a stone" paints a picture of complete rigidity, unresponsiveness, and lifelessness. It suggests a catatonic state, a coma, or a severe physiological event like a stroke or heart attack induced by extreme stress or terror. The comparison emphasizes his utter incapacitation and the loss of all vitality, rendering him immobile and unresponsive.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But it came to pass in the morning":** This temporal marker is significant. Abigail deliberately waited until the morning, knowing that Nabal would be sober and thus capable of fully comprehending the gravity of the situation. This highlights her strategic wisdom and discernment, contrasting sharply with Nabal's drunken obliviousness.
* **"when the wine was gone out of Nabal":** This clause confirms Nabal's sobriety. The truth could only have its full, devastating impact once his mind was clear, demonstrating that the consequences of his actions were not merely a drunken delusion but a stark reality he had to face with full awareness.
* **"and his wife had told him these things":** This is the direct cause of Nabal's collapse. Abigail's revelation, detailing David's murderous intent and her own successful intercession, was the overwhelming truth that shattered Nabal's self-assured world. The "these things" encompass the full scope of his near-annihilation and his wife's courageous and life-saving actions.
* **"that his heart died within him":** This describes Nabal's immediate internal reaction. It signifies a profound, perhaps psychosomatic, collapse. The shock, terror, and possibly shame of realizing his immense folly and the near-fatal consequences, combined with the knowledge that his wife had to save him, utterly crushed his spirit and vital functions.
* **"and he became [as] a stone":** This describes the outward physical manifestation of his internal collapse. He became rigid, unresponsive, and seemingly lifeless. This could indicate a severe physical event like a stroke or a heart attack, or a state of profound shock and catatonia, which ultimately led to his death about ten days later.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful **literary devices** to convey Nabal's dramatic collapse. The most prominent is the **simile** "he became [as] a stone," which directly compares Nabal's physical state to an inanimate object, emphasizing his complete rigidity, unresponsiveness, and the loss of all vitality. This vivid imagery effectively communicates his utter incapacitation. The phrase "his heart died within him" functions as a striking **idiom** or **metaphor**, conveying a profound internal collapse—a psychological and emotional death—that precedes his physical demise. It's a hyperbole that captures the overwhelming nature of his shock and despair. The narrative also utilizes **dramatic irony** throughout the chapter, especially leading up to this verse, as Nabal feasted and reveled, completely oblivious to the mortal danger his household faced, while the audience was fully aware of David's wrath and Abigail's desperate mission. This irony heightens the impact of Nabal's eventual realization. Furthermore, Nabal's sudden collapse **foreshadows** his eventual death, which occurs ten days later, indicating that this event was the beginning of his end.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The dramatic demise of Nabal, initiated by the shock described in [1 Samuel 25:37](/1_samuel/25-37 "1 Samuel 25:37 - Nabal's Collapse") and completed by divine intervention ([1 Samuel 25:38](/1_samuel/25-38 "1 Samuel 25:38 - The Lord Strikes Nabal")), serves as a powerful testament to the biblical principle of divine justice against pride, foolishness, and contempt for God's anointed. Nabal's character embodies the "fool" frequently warned against in wisdom literature—one who despises wisdom and instruction, and whose arrogance leads to destruction. His collapse is not merely a physiological event but a divinely orchestrated consequence of his hardened heart and rebellious spirit. God's sovereignty is evident in His use of Abigail to avert David's wrath, yet ultimately ensuring that justice is meted out, demonstrating that even when human agents intervene, God's ultimate plan for righteousness prevails.

* [Proverbs 16:18](/proverbs/16-18 "Proverbs 16:18 - Pride Before Destruction")
* [Proverbs 18:7](/proverbs/18-7 "Proverbs 18:7 - A Fool's Mouth is His Destruction")
* [Romans 12:19](/romans/12-19 "Romans 12:19 - Vengeance Belongs to the Lord")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Nabal's tragic end in [1 Samuel 25:37](/1_samuel/25-37 "1 Samuel 25:37 - Nabal's Collapse") offers a sobering reflection on the destructive power of pride, self-indulgence, and a refusal to acknowledge truth or wise counsel. His story serves as a stark reminder that our actions, particularly those rooted in arrogance and contempt, carry significant consequences, sometimes delayed but ultimately unavoidable. The "wine" in our lives—whether literal intoxication, self-deception, or worldly distractions—can blind us to reality, to the dangers we face, and to the wisdom that could save us. We are called to cultivate humility, to be open to correction, and to listen to the discerning voices, like Abigail's, that God places in our lives, even when they challenge our comfort or expose our flaws. Moreover, Nabal's fate underscores that while human intervention can mitigate immediate crises, ultimate justice rests with God, who sees and judges the heart. We are challenged to live with spiritual sobriety, recognizing our dependence on God and honoring those He has appointed, rather than succumbing to the foolishness that leads to ruin.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be spiritually "drunk" or oblivious to important truths, similar to Nabal?**
* **How does Nabal's story challenge my own tendencies towards pride, arrogance, or a refusal to listen to wise counsel?**
* **What "Abigails" has God placed in my life, and how well do I heed their discerning advice, even when it's uncomfortable?**
* **How does the swiftness of Nabal's collapse encourage me to address sin and folly in my own life without delay?**

### FAQ

**Was Nabal's death a direct act of God, or a natural consequence of his shock?**

Answer: While the immediate cause in [1 Samuel 25:37](/1_samuel/25-37 "1 Samuel 25:37 - Nabal's Collapse") is Nabal's profound shock and collapse, the very next verse clarifies that his death ten days later was indeed a direct act of divine judgment. [1 Samuel 25:38](/1_samuel/25-38 "1 Samuel 25:38 - The Lord Strikes Nabal") explicitly states, "And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died." This indicates that while the shock may have initiated a physiological decline (like a stroke or heart attack), the ultimate cause was God's righteous judgment against Nabal's wickedness, pride, and contempt for David, whom God had anointed. It demonstrates that God's justice prevails, even when human vengeance (like David's initial intent) is averted.

**What does "his heart died within him, and he became as a stone" mean medically or psychologically?**

Answer: This phrase is an idiomatic expression for a profound and overwhelming shock that results in severe physical and mental incapacitation. While the Bible does not offer a medical diagnosis, the description suggests a sudden, catastrophic physiological event likely triggered by extreme stress, fear, or despair. Medically, this could align with symptoms of a severe stroke, a massive heart attack, or even a catatonic state, where the person becomes rigid, unresponsive, and seemingly lifeless. Psychologically, it conveys a complete collapse of the will, spirit, and cognitive function. The "death" of the heart refers to the inner being—the seat of intellect and emotion—being utterly crushed, leading to the external manifestation of becoming "as a stone," rigid and unresponsive. It emphasizes the devastating impact of the truth on Nabal's entire being.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of Nabal's judgment, initiated by his collapse in [1 Samuel 25:37](/1_samuel/25-37 "1 Samuel 25:37 - Nabal's Collapse"), points to the ultimate divine justice against sin and the profound difference between human folly and divine wisdom, all fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Nabal's pride and foolishness led to his destruction, mirroring humanity's fallen state, which, left to its own devices, faces the righteous wrath of God. Just as Abigail stood as an intercessor, averting David's immediate wrath and bearing the burden of Nabal's folly, so Christ stands as our perfect intercessor. Unlike Abigail, who could only delay judgment, Jesus fully absorbed it. He, the true [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), willingly became "as a stone"—the [cornerstone](/ephesians/2-20 "Ephesians 2:20 - Christ the Cornerstone") rejected by men, but chosen by God—and endured the ultimate "heart died within him" on the cross, experiencing the full weight of God's wrath against sin ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin")). Through His sacrificial death, He did not merely avert our destruction but fully atoned for it, offering eternal life to all who, unlike Nabal, humble themselves and acknowledge the truth of their sin and His saving grace ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God's Love in Christ's Death")). Nabal's story, therefore, underscores the terrifying reality of God's justice and magnifies the immeasurable grace and wisdom found in Christ, who is our only hope for deliverance from the ultimate "stone-like" state of spiritual death.

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

Job 15:21

A dreadful sound [is] in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him.

Job 15:22

He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, and he is waited for of the sword.

Deuteronomy 28:28

The LORD shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart:

1 Samuel 25:22

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.

Proverbs 23:29

¶ Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?

Proverbs 23:35

They have stricken me, [shalt thou say, and] I was not sick; they have beaten me, [and] I felt [it] not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

1 Samuel 25:34

For in very deed, [as] the LORD God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.