Lectionary Calendar
Saturday, April 18th, 2026
the Second Week after Easter
Attention!
StudyLight.org has pledged to help build churches in Uganda. Help us with that pledge and support pastors in the heart of Africa.
Click here to join the effort!

Read the Bible

Myles Coverdale Bible

1 Samuel 25:25

Let not my lorde set his hert agaynst this Nabal the man of Belial, for he is a foole, acordinge as his name is called: his name is foole, and foolishnes is with him. As for me thy handmayde, I sawe not my lordes yonge men, whom thou dyddest sende.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Decision;   Diplomacy;   Fig;   Intercession;   Nabal;   Obsequiousness;   Prudence;   Tact;   Wife;   Thompson Chain Reference - Family;   Home;   Trouble;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Prudence;   Revenge;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Samuel;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Abigail;   Carmel;   Fool, folly;   Wife;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Fool, Foolishness, Folly;   God, Names of;   Name;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Prayer;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Abigail;   Belial;   Marriage;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Carmel;   Fool, Foolishness, and Folly;   Maid, Maiden;   Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ass;   David;   Gift, Giving;   Name, Names;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Fool (2);   Synzygus ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Abigail ;   Belial ;   Carmel ;   Handmaid, Handmaiden;   Nabal ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Abigail;   Belial;   Nabal;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Fellow;   Fool;   Names, Proper;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Abigail;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Omen;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
My lord should pay no attention to this worthless fool Nabal, for he lives up to his name: His name means ‘stupid,’ and stupidity is all he knows. I, your servant, didn’t see my lord’s young men whom you sent.
Hebrew Names Version
Please don't let my lord regard this worthless fellow, even Naval; for as his name is, so is he; Naval is his name, and folly is with him: but I your handmaid didn't see the young men of my lord, whom you did send.
King James Version
Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.
Lexham English Bible
Please do not let my lord set his heart against this worthless man, Nabal; for as his name, so is he. Nabal is his name, and stupidity is with him! But I, your female servant, did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent.
English Standard Version
Let not my lord regard this worthless fellow, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. But I your servant did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent.
New Century Version
My master, don't pay attention to this worthless man Nabal. He is like his name. His name means ‘fool,' and he is truly a fool. But I, your servant, didn't see the men you sent.
New English Translation
My lord should not pay attention to this wicked man Nabal. He simply lives up to his name! His name means ‘fool,' and he is indeed foolish! But I, your servant, did not see the servants my lord sent.
Amplified Bible
"Please do not let my lord pay attention to this worthless man, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal (fool) is his name and foolishness (stupidity) is with him; but I your maidservant did not see my lord's young men whom you sent.
New American Standard Bible
"Please do not let my lord pay attention to this worthless man, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and stupidity is with him; but I your slave did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Let not my lorde, I pray thee, regard this wicked man Nabal: for as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and follie is with him: but I thine handmayde sawe not the yong men of my lord whom thou sentest.
Legacy Standard Bible
Please do not let my lord pay attention to this vile man, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and wicked foolishness is with him; but I your maidservant did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent.
Contemporary English Version
Don't pay any attention to that good-for-nothing Nabal. His name means "fool," and it really fits him! I didn't see the men you sent,
Complete Jewish Bible
Please! My lord shouldn't pay any attention to this worthless fellow Naval, because he's just like his name — ‘Naval' means ‘boor,' and his boorishness stays with him. But I, your servant, did not see my lord's men, whom you sent.
Darby Translation
Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, Nabal; for as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and folly is with him; and I thy handmaid did not see the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.
Easy-to-Read Version
I didn't see the men you sent. Sir, don't pay any attention to that worthless man, Nabal. His name means ‘Foolish,' and that is what he is.
George Lamsa Translation
For as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and his folly is with him; but I, your handmaid, did not see the young men whom my lord sent.
Good News Translation
Please, don't pay any attention to Nabal, that good-for-nothing! He is exactly what his name means—a fool! I wasn't there when your servants arrived, sir.
Literal Translation
Please, do not let my lord set his heart toward this man of worthlessness, on Nabal. For as his name is , so is he. Nabal is his name, and foolishness is with him.And I, your handmaid, did not see the youngmen of my lord whom you sent.
American Standard Version
Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this worthless fellow, even Nabal; for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thy handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.
Bible in Basic English
Let my lord give no attention to Nabal, that good-for-nothing: for as his name is, so is he, a man without sense: but I, your servant, did not see the young men whom my lord sent.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Let not my lorde I pray thee regarde this wicked man Nabal: For as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, & folly is with him: But I thyne handmayd sawe not the young men of my lorde whom thou sendedst.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this base fellow, even Nabal; for as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and churlishness is with him; but I thy handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.
King James Version (1611)
Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, euen Nabal: for as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: But I thine handmaid saw not the yong men of my lord, whom thou didst send.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Let not my lord, I pray thee, take to heart this pestilent man, for according to his name, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thy handmaid saw not the servants of my lord whom thou didst send.
English Revised Version
Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: hut I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.
Berean Standard Bible
My lord should pay no attention to this worthless man Nabal, for he lives up to his name: His name means Fool, and folly accompanies him. I, your servant, did not see my lord's young men whom you sent.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Y preie, my lord the kyng, sette not his herte on this wickid man Nabal, for bi his name he is a fool, and foli is with hym; but, my lord, Y thin handmayde siy not thi children, whiche thou sentist.
Young's Literal Translation
`Let not, I pray thee, my lord set his heart to this man of worthlessness, on Nabal, for as his name [is] so [is] he; Nabal [is] his name, and folly [is] with him; and I, thine handmaid, did not see the young men of my lord whom thou didst send;
Update Bible Version
Don't let my lord, I pray you, regard this worthless fellow, even Nabal; for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I your slave didn't see the young men of my lord, whom you sent.
Webster's Bible Translation
Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, [even] Nabal; for as his name [is], so [is] he; Nabal [is] his name, and folly [is] with him: but I thy handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.
World English Bible
Please don't let my lord regard this worthless fellow, even Nabal; for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I your handmaid didn't see the young men of my lord, whom you did send.
New King James Version
Please, let not my lord regard this scoundrel Nabal. For as his name is, so is he: Nabal [fn] is his name, and folly is with him. But I, your maidservant, did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent.
New Living Translation
I know Nabal is a wicked and ill-tempered man; please don't pay any attention to him. He is a fool, just as his name suggests. But I never even saw the young men you sent.
New Life Bible
I beg you, do not let my lord think about this sinful man, Nabal. For he is like his name. Nabal is his name and he is foolish. But I your woman servant did not see my lord's young men whom you sent.
New Revised Standard
My lord, do not take seriously this ill-natured fellow, Nabal; for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him; but I, your servant, did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Let it not be, I pray thee, that my lord regard this abandoned man - Nabal; For, as his name is, so, is he. Nabal, is his name, and, baseness, is with him, - But, I, thy handmaid, saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Let not my lord the king, I pray thee, regard this naughty man, Nabal: for according to his name, he is a fool, and folly is with him: but I, thy handmaid, did not see thy servants, my lord, whom thou sentest.
Revised Standard Version
Let not my lord regard this ill-natured fellow, Nabal; for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him; but I your handmaid did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Please do not let my lord pay attention to this worthless man, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name and folly is with him; but I your maidservant did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent.

Contextual Overview

18 Then Abigail made haist, and toke two hundred loaues of bred, and two botels of wyne, and fyue shepe ready dighte, and fyue measures of firmentye, and an hundreth frayles of rasens, and two hundreth frayles of fygges, & layed them vpo asses, 19 and sayde to hir yonge men: Go ye youre waye before me, beholde, I wyl come after. And she tolde Nabal hir housbade nothinge therof. 20 And as she rode vpo the asse, and wente downe in the shadowe of ye hill, beholde, Dauid & his me met hir downe, so that she came vpon them. 21 But Dauid sayde: Wel, all that this man had in ye wyldernes, haue I kepte for naughte, so that there wanted nothinge of all that he had, and he rewardeth me euell for good. 22 God do this and yet more vnto the enemies of Dauid, yf vntyll tomorow in the mornynge I leaue this man (of all that he hath) so moch as one that maketh water agaynst ye wall. 23 Now whan Abigail sawe Dauid, she lighte downe from the asse in all the haist, and fell vpo hir face before Dauid, and worshiped him to the grounde, 24 and fell at his fete, and sayde: Oh my lorde, let this trespace be myne, and let thy handmayde speake before thine eares, and heare the wordes of thy handmayden: 25 Let not my lorde set his hert agaynst this Nabal the man of Belial, for he is a foole, acordinge as his name is called: his name is foole, and foolishnes is with him. As for me thy handmayde, I sawe not my lordes yonge men, whom thou dyddest sende. 26 But now my lorde, as truly as the LORDE lyueth, and as truly as thy soule lyueth, the LORDE hath kepte the backe, yt thou shuldest not come agaynst bloude, and he hath delyuered thine hande. Thine enemyes be now as Nabal, and so be they that wolde my lorde euell. 27 Here is ye blessynge, yt thy handmayde hath brought my lorde, take it, and geue it vnto the yonge men, that walke vnder my lorde.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

regard: Heb. lay it to his heart, 2 Samuel 13:33, Isaiah 42:25, Malachi 2:2

man of Belial: 1 Samuel 25:17, 1 Samuel 25:26

Nabal: that is, fool

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 9:27 - look not Deuteronomy 13:13 - the children Judges 19:22 - sons of Belial 1 Samuel 1:16 - a daughter 1 Samuel 30:22 - wicked 2 Samuel 19:19 - take it Psalms 14:1 - fool Psalms 85:8 - folly Proverbs 13:16 - a fool Proverbs 19:1 - perverse Proverbs 30:22 - a fool

Cross-References

Genesis 27:11
Neuertheles Iacob sayde vnto Rebecca his mother: Beholde, my brother Esau is tough, and I am smooth:
Genesis 27:16
But the kyddes skynnes put she aboute his handes, and where he was smooth aboute the neck:
Genesis 27:23
And he knew him not, for his handes were rough like as ye handes of his brother Esau. And he blessed him.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial,

[even] Nabal,.... He is a worthless man, it must be owned, a weak foolish man, rather to be despised than regarded by him; what either he says or does is unworthy of the notice of any, and much less of so great a person as David was:

for as his name [is], so [is] he; his natural disposition, genius, and conduct, agree with his name; when anyone knows his name, he may judge what is to be expected from him:

Nabal [is] his name: which signifies a fool:

and folly, in Hebrew, "Nebalah",

[is] with him; attends all, his words and actions. This character of her husband, though no doubt a just one, yet it would not have been right in her to have given it, whose folly she should rather have concealed, but that it was his well known character; and she observes it not to reproach him with it, but to excuse his sin, his rudeness and ingratitude and preserve his life; and suggests that what he had done was not to be imputed to malice in his heart, but to his stupidity and folly, and so not to be regarded, and was not a peculiar single action of his, but what he was daily more or less guilty of; his folly was with him wherever he went and appeared in everything he said or did, and therefore to be overlooked and despised:

but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send: as she had taken the blame upon herself, now she answers for herself, and pleads ignorance of his messengers, and their message; she had not so much as seen them with her eyes, and much less heard their message when reported; had she, she would have taken care, she intimates, that it should have been attended to; having so much interest in her husband, that she could have prevailed on him to have used them with civility, and granted their request.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile