Bible Strands
1 Samuel 25:39
On hearing that Nabal was dead, David said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has upheld my cause against the reproach of Nabal and has restrained His servant from evil. For the LORD has brought the wickedness of Nabal down upon his own head.” Then David sent word to Abigail, asking her to become his wife.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David speaks upon learning of Nabal’s death, immediately before dispatching messengers to Carmel to request Abigail’s hand in marriage.
The words — The Hebrew וַ/יִּשְמַ֣ע (va/i.yish.Ma') translates literally as "and he heard," while בָּר֣וּךְ (ba.Rukh) means "blessed."
The thread — The text explicitly notes God’s vindication of David and judgment on Nabal, echoing the divine restraint and case-taking described in 1 Samuel 25:26, 1 Samuel 25:34, and Proverbs 22:23.
Why it lands — The passage records David’s acknowledgment of God’s restraint and justice before he acts, requiring the reader to observe that moral restraint and divine timing frame human decisions.
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
And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the Lord, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the Lord hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife.
Cross-references
- 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.
- 1 Samuel 25:34 Otherwise, as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, then surely no male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by morning light.”
- Proverbs 22:23 for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who rob them.
- 1 Samuel 24:15 May the LORD be our judge and decide between you and me. May He take notice and plead my case and deliver me from your hand.”
- 1 Samuel 25:32 Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you to meet me this day!
- 1 Kings 2:44 The king also said, “You know in your heart all the evil that you did to my father David. Therefore the LORD will bring your evil back upon your head.
- Psalms 7:16 His trouble recoils on himself, and his violence falls on his own head.
- Judges 5:2 “When the princes take the lead in Israel, when the people volunteer, bless the LORD.
- 2 Samuel 3:28 Afterward, David heard about this and said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner.
- 2 Samuel 22:47 The LORD lives, and blessed be my Rock! And may God, the Rock of my salvation, be exalted—