Bible Strands
1 Samuel 25:26
Now, my lord, as surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, since the LORD has held you back from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hand, may your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be like Nabal.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Abigail addresses David after he vows to destroy Nabal’s household, urging him to halt his planned retaliation. She speaks at the moment David’s forces arrive at her estate to execute judgment.
The words — The verb מְנָעֲךָ (me.na.'a.Kha) literally means "he has restrained you," describing Yahweh’s direct intervention to prevent David from committing bloodshed. The oath formula חַי יְהוָה (chai Yahweh) ("as surely as the LORD lives") anchors her plea in divine authority.
The thread — The text states that God actively holds back violence, a pattern recorded in Genesis 20:6 where Yahweh keeps a king from sinning. It aligns with Romans 12:19’s instruction to leave vengeance to God’s wrath and echoes the enemy imprecation in 2 Samuel 18:32.
Why it lands — The passage requires readers to recognize that divine restraint precedes human obedience, demanding the surrender of personal retaliation. It places the responsibility of restraint on the reader rather than on the worthiness of the enemy.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Now therefore, my lord, as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the Lord hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 18:32 The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom all right?” And the Cushite replied, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up against you to harm you be like that young man.”
- Romans 12:19 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”
- Genesis 20:6 Then God said to Abimelech in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against Me. That is why I did not let you touch her.
- 1 Samuel 25:33 Blessed is your discernment, and blessed are you, because today you kept me from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand.
- Psalms 18:47 the God who avenges me and subdues nations beneath me,
- Daniel 4:19 For a time, Daniel, who was also known as Belteshazzar, was perplexed, and his thoughts alarmed him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.” “My lord,” replied Belteshazzar, “may the dream apply to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your enemies!
- Hebrews 10:30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge His people.”
- Psalms 44:3 For it was not by their sword that they took the land; their arm did not bring them victory. It was by Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your face, because You favored them.
- 1 Samuel 1:26 “Please, my lord,” said Hannah, “as surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD.
- 1 Samuel 22:3 From there David went to Mizpeh of Moab, where he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother stay with you until I learn what God will do for me.”