Bible Strands
1 Samuel 25:7
Now I hear that it is time for shearing. When your shepherds were with us, we did not harass them, and nothing of theirs was missing the whole time they were in Carmel.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David’s messengers address Nabal of Carmel during the sheep-shearing festival, reporting the occasion and reminding Nabal of their past protection of his shepherds.
The words — The Hebrew שָמַעְתִּי (sha.ma'ti) means "I have heard," and עַתָּה (at.tah) translates as "now" or "at this time." These terms frame the messenger's report as a timely observation of current events.
The thread — The claim that Nabal's property was unharassed and intact mirrors the shepherds' later testimony in 1 Samuel 25:15 and sets up David's later conclusion in 1 Samuel 25:21 that his wilderness protection may have been in vain.
Why it lands — The verse establishes a factual record of past conduct before making a request, requiring the reader to weigh historical action against present obligation without relying on emotional pressure.
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 now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 25:21 Now David had just said, “In vain I have protected all that belonged to this man in the wilderness. Nothing that belongs to him has gone missing, yet he has paid me back evil for good.
- 1 Samuel 25:15 Yet these men were very good to us. When we were in the field, we were not harassed, and nothing of ours went missing the whole time we lived among them.
- 1 Samuel 22:2 And all who were distressed or indebted or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.
- Isaiah 11:6 The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat; the calf and young lion and fatling will be together, and a little child will lead them.
- Luke 3:14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” “Do not take money by force or false accusation,” he said. “Be content with your wages.”
- Philippians 2:15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world
- Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.