1 Samuel 25:12
in 1 Samuel 25So David’s men turned around and went back, and they relayed to him all these words.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
So David’s young men turned on their way, and went back, and came and told him according to all these words.
KJV
So David’s young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings.
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This verse in 1 Samuel 25
Commentary
4 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Their protection creates a claim for some kind of tribute, in the shape of supplies of food and necessaries, which is usually given with great good will and gratitude; but when withheld, is enforced as a right. Nabal's refusal, therefore, was a violation of the established usages of the place.
This site's exposition
David’s men turned around and went back
on 1 Samuel 25:12-13
David's answer is immediate: every man straps on his sword. Henry and Keil and Delitzsch mark this as the first time David moves to shed blood on his own account. Between the sparings of Saul in chapters 24 and 26, the restraint here has to come from someone else.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
So David's young men turned their way,.... Their backs on him, without making any reply; and though they did not return railing for railing, they treated him with silent contempt; and though they did not offer to do any injury to his person, nor to take anything away by force, yet they were determined to report this usage to David, who they doubted not would avenge the affront put on him and them: and went again; to the wilderness from whence they came: and came and told him all these sayings; rude and reproachful ones, just as they were delivered.
Christ's servants, when they are thus abused, must leave it to him to plead his own cause and wait till he appear in it. The servant showed his lord what affronts he had received, but did not return them, Luke xiv.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
And Dovid too, girded his sword. From here [we learn] that we commence, in cases involving capital punishment, from the less significant first.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 6 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
11 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיַּהַפְכ֥וּ | vaiyahafkhu | and they turned round | H2015 → | 94 times |
| נַעֲרֵֽי־ | naarei- | [the] young men of | H5288 → | 239 times |
| דָוִ֖ד | david | David | H1732 → | 999 times |
| לְדַרְכָּ֑ם | ledarkam | to way their | H1870 → | 707 times |
| וַיָּשֻׁ֙בוּ֙ | vaiyashuvu | and they returned | H7725 → | 1056 times |
| וַיָּבֹ֔אוּ | vaiyavou | and they came | H935 → | 2568 times |
| וַיַּגִּ֣דוּ | vaiyagidu | and they told | H5046 → | 370 times |
| ל֔וֹ | lo | to <the> him | ||
| כְּכֹ֖ל | kekhol | according to all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| הַדְּבָרִ֥ים | hadevarim | the words | H1697 → | 1440 times |
| הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ | haeleh | <the> these | H428 → | 746 times |
וַיַּהַפְכ֥וּand they turned round
vaiyahafkhuH2015 →94 times
נַעֲרֵֽי־[the] young men of
naarei-H5288 →239 times
דָוִ֖דDavid
davidH1732 →999 times
לְדַרְכָּ֑םto way their
ledarkamH1870 →707 times
וַיָּשֻׁ֙בוּ֙and they returned
vaiyashuvuH7725 →1056 times
וַיָּבֹ֔אוּand they came
vaiyavouH935 →2568 times
וַיַּגִּ֣דוּand they told
vaiyagiduH5046 →370 times
ל֔וֹto <the> him
lo
כְּכֹ֖לaccording to all
kekholH3605 →5413 times
הַדְּבָרִ֥יםthe words
hadevarimH1697 →1440 times
הָאֵֽלֶּה׃<the> these
haelehH428 →746 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Hebrews 13:17Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for…
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13
But we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who preside over you in the Lord and give you instruction.
- 1 Timothy 5:17
Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
- Hebrews 13:7
Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
- 1 Peter 5:5
Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- Acts 20:28
Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13
Through
2 Samuel 24:13So Gad went and said to David, “Do you choose to endure three years of famine in your land, three months of fleeing the pursuit of your enemies, or three days of plague upon…
it leads to
- 1 Chronicles 21:12
between three years of famine, three months of being swept away before your enemies and overtaken by their swords, or three days of the sword of the LORD—days of plague upon the land, with…
- 2 Samuel 21:1
During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul…
- 1 Kings 17:1–7
Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was among the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As surely as the LORD lives—the God of Israel before whom I stand—there will be neither dew nor rain in…
- 1 Chronicles 21:12
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 1 Samuel
This page draws on Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Books of Samuel and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.