1 samuel 25:31 - that this shall be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. When Yahweh has dealt well with my lord, then remember your servant.”

Generated Verse: 1 samuel 25:31

What does "1 samuel 25:31" mean?


This verse is part of Abigail's plea to David, trying to prevent him from attacking her household in revenge for her husband Nabal's rudeness and refusal to provide supplies to David's men. Let's break down the meaning of each part:

"that this shall be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my lord...": Abigail is saying, "I'm doing this so that in the future, you won't have any regrets." She wants to prevent David from making a decision that will weigh on his conscience later.

"...either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself.": This is the core of her argument. She's pointing out two potential negative outcomes for David:
Shedding blood without cause: If David attacks Nabal and his household, he will be killing innocent people who don't deserve it. Abigail acknowledges that Nabal behaved poorly but suggests that taking violent revenge isn't justified. It would be unnecessary bloodshed.
That my lord has avenged himself: David may feel justified in his anger and desire for revenge. Abigail is saying that if he does avenge himself, he will have acted out of anger and passion, rather than with wisdom and restraint. She is suggesting this is not the proper behavior for someone who is destined for kingship. God will take care of Nabal eventually.

"When Yahweh has dealt well with my lord...": Abigail expresses her faith that God will prosper David and elevate him. This is a subtle way of acknowledging David's destined role as king.

"...then remember your servant.": This is a plea for David to remember Abigail and her intervention when he is in a position of power. She's not asking for personal gain, but for him to remember her role in averting a potentially sinful act, and to think of her kindly. This serves as an encouragement to David to act in a just manner at all times, even when he has attained great power.

In summary: Abigail is acting as a peacemaker and a voice of reason. She's appealing to David's potential for moral leadership, urging him to avoid rash action and unnecessary bloodshed. She's reminding him that his future is bright and that he shouldn't stain his hands or his conscience with an act of vengeance that he might later regret. Finally, she is asking for his kindness and to be remembered when he ascends to greatness.

Her words demonstrate wisdom, humility, and foresight. She recognizes David's potential and appeals to his higher nature, ultimately preventing him from making a decision that could have had serious consequences for him and his future reign.