And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,
Parallel translations
- WEB When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got off of her donkey, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground.
- BSB When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey, fell facedown, and bowed before him.
- NKJV Now when Abigail saw David, she dismounted quickly from the donkey, fell on her face before David, and bowed down to the ground.
- NASB When Abigail saw David, she hurried and dismounted from her donkey, and fell on her face in front of David and bowed herself to the ground.
- NLT When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed low before him.
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
Seeing David, Abigail quickly dismounts and bows low before him. Her humble approach begins her appeal for peace.
Overview
Abigail hurries off her donkey and prostrates herself before David in deep humility and respect. Her posture signals submission and earnest intercession on behalf of her household. This act of self-abasement, from a woman of standing toward a fugitive, models the humility that disarms wrath and prepares the way for reconciliation.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- 1 Sam 20:41And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.
- Judg 1:14And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou?
- Josh 15:18And it came to pass, as she came unto him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou?
- 1 Sam 24:8David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.
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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 25:23 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
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