1 Samuel 25:37 - Printer Friendly

ESV: In the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.

NIV: Then in the morning, when Nabal was sober, his wife told him all these things, and his heart failed him and he became like a stone.

NASB: But in the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him so that he became like a stone.

CSB: In the morning when Nabal sobered up, his wife told him about these events. His heart died and he became a stone.

NLT: In the morning when Nabal was sober, his wife told him what had happened. As a result he had a stroke, and he lay paralyzed on his bed like a stone.

KJV: But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.

NKJV: So it was, in the morning, when the wine had gone from Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became like a stone.

First Samuel 25:32–38 shows the right way to respond to good advice. David listens to Abigail, the wife of a foolish husband who severely dishonored David. In return, David vowed to kill every male on the estate. Abigail quickly sent David a feast and gently rebuked him: he must not become king with innocent blood on his hands (1 Samuel 25:2–31). David praises her and God for stopping him. He takes his men and leaves. Abigail tells Nabal, who suffers a debilitating reaction and is struck dead by God ten days later. When David's men return, they will ask Abigail to marry the future king (1 Samuel 25:39–42).

David learns to give grace to people other than King Saul. Samuel dies, and Saul temporarily leaves David alone. David and his men protect the shepherds of the foolish Nabal. When Nabal refuses to reward David, David vows revenge on him and all his male servants. Nabal's wife, Abigail, rushes to David with food and a warning that David shouldn't carry the shame of killing Nabal and the servants when he becomes king. David listens, Nabal dies, and David marries Abigail. Soon the truce will end, and David will meet Saul one last time (1 Samuel 26).

David spared Saul's life, and the grateful king gives David some peace (1 Samuel 24). God has protected David numerous times from having to fight Saul. When a wealthy fool insults David, only the fool's wife, Abigail, keeps David from destroying the entire estate. Once again, God has kept David from needless bloodshed. Saul will later break the truce, but David still refuses to kill his enemy (1 Samuel 26). When David is ready to battle Saul, God prevents it (1 Samuel 29).

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.

Accessed 9/17/2025 6:40:26 PM