May God punish David, and ever so severely, if I let one of Nabal’s men survive until morning.”
Parallel translations
- WEB God do so to the enemies of David, and more also, if I leave of all that belongs to him by the morning light so much as one who urinates on a wall.”
- 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.
- NKJV May God do so, and more also, to the enemies of David, if I leave one male of all who belong to him by morning light.”
- NASB May God do so to the enemies of David, and more so, if by morning I leave alive as much as one male of any who belong to him.”
- NLT May God strike me and kill me if even one man of his household is still alive tomorrow morning!”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
David vows in anger to kill every male of Nabal's household by morning. His rash oath would have made him guilty of bloodshed.
Overview
David swears a severe curse on himself if he leaves a single male of Nabal's house alive by dawn. This vengeful oath, sworn in fury, threatens to stain him with innocent blood and personal revenge. The intensity of David's vow magnifies the mercy of God in sending Abigail to keep him from a sin that would have shadowed his reign.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- 1 Sam 20:13But if my father intends to bring evil on you, then may the LORD punish me, and ever so severely, if I do not tell you and send you on your way in safety. May the LORD be with you, just as He has been with my father.
- 1 Kgs 14:10Because of all this, behold, I am bringing disaster on the house of Jeroboam: I will cut off from Jeroboam every male, both slave and free, in Israel; I will burn up the house of Jeroboam as one burns up dung until it is gone!
- 1 Sam 3:17“What was the message He gave you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide it from me. May God punish you, and ever so severely, if you hide from me anything He said to you.”
- 1 Kgs 21:21This is what the LORD says: ‘I will bring calamity on you and consume your descendants; I will cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, both slave and free.
- 2 Kgs 9:8The whole house of Ahab will perish, and I will cut off from Ahab every male, both slave and free, in Israel.
- 1 Kgs 16:11As soon as Zimri began to reign and was seated on the throne, he struck down the entire household of Baasha. He did not leave a single male, whether a kinsman or friend.
- 1 Sam 20:16So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the LORD hold David’s enemies accountable.”
- 1 Sam 14:44And Saul declared, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if you, Jonathan, do not surely die!”
- Ruth 1:17Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me, and ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The rise of the anointed king after Israel's failed first choice points to the true Anointed One (Messiah means 'anointed'), the shepherd-king after God's own heart from Bethlehem.
How 1 Samuel 25:22 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.