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Monday, July 21st, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Read the Bible

The NET Bible®

1 Samuel 25:4

When David heard in the desert that Nabal was shearing his sheep,

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Decision;   Nabal;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Armies of Israel, the;   Travellers;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Nabal;   Samuel;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Abigail;   Carmel;   Wife;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Prayer;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Cattle;   Paran;   Sheep;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Nabal;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Carmel;   Economic Life;   Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - David;   Gift, Giving;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Invitation;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Carmel ;   Nabal ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Abigail;   Nabal;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Carmel;   Nabal;   Sheep;   Shepherd;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Na'bal;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Sheep;   Sheep-Shearing;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep,
Hebrew Names Version
David heard in the wilderness that Naval was shearing his sheep.
King James Version
And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep.
Lexham English Bible
David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.
English Standard Version
David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.
New Century Version
While David was in the desert, he heard that Nabal was cutting the wool from his sheep.
Amplified Bible
David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.
New American Standard Bible
that David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And Dauid heard in the wildernesse, that Nabal did shere his sheepe.
Legacy Standard Bible
that David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.
Contemporary English Version
One day, Nabal was in Carmel, having his servants cut the wool from his sheep. David was in the desert when he heard about it.
Complete Jewish Bible
David, there in the desert, heard that Naval was shearing his sheep.
Darby Translation
And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.
Easy-to-Read Version
David was in the desert when he heard that Nabal was cutting the wool from his sheep.
George Lamsa Translation
And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.
Good News Translation
and David, who was in the wilderness, heard about it,
Literal Translation
And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his flock.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Now whan Dauid herde in the wyldernes yt Nabal clypped his shepe,
American Standard Version
And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.
Bible in Basic English
And David had word in the waste land that Nabal was cutting the wool of his sheep.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Dauid hearde in the wildernesse, that Nabal did sheare his sheepe.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.
King James Version (1611)
And Dauid heard in the wildernesse, that Nabal did sheare his sheepe.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And David heard in the wilderness, that Nabal the Carmelite was shearing his sheep.
English Revised Version
And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep.
Berean Standard Bible
While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor whanne Dauid hadde herde in deseert, that Nabal clippide his floc,
Young's Literal Translation
And David heareth in the wilderness that Nabal is shearing his flock,
Update Bible Version
And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.
Webster's Bible Translation
And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.
World English Bible
David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.
New King James Version
When David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep,
New Living Translation
When David heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep,
New Life Bible
David heard in the desert that Nabal was cutting the wool from his sheep.
New Revised Standard
David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
So then David heard in the wilderness, - that Nabal was shearing his sheep.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when David heard in the wilderness, that Nabal was shearing his sheep,
Revised Standard Version
David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.
THE MESSAGE
David, out in the backcountry, heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep and sent ten of his young men off with these instructions: "Go to Carmel and approach Nabal. Greet him in my name, ‘Peace! Life and peace to you. Peace to your household, peace to everyone here! I heard that it's sheep-shearing time. Here's the point: When your shepherds were camped near us we didn't take advantage of them. They didn't lose a thing all the time they were with us in Carmel. Ask your young men—they'll tell you. What I'm asking is that you be generous with my men—share the feast! Give whatever your heart tells you to your servants and to me, David your son.'"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
that David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.

Contextual Overview

2 There was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. This man was very wealthy; he owned three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. At that time he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. 3 The man's name was Nabal, and his wife's name was Abigail. She was both wise and beautiful, but the man was harsh and his deeds were evil. He was a Calebite. 4 When David heard in the desert that Nabal was shearing his sheep, 5 he sent ten servants, saying to them, "Go up to Carmel to see Nabal and give him greetings in my name. 6 Then you will say to my brother, "Peace to you and your house! Peace to all that is yours! 7 Now I hear that they are shearing sheep for you. When your shepherds were with us, we neither insulted them nor harmed them the whole time they were in Carmel. 8 Ask your own servants; they can tell you! May my servants find favor in your sight, for we have come at the time of a holiday. Please provide us—your servants and your son David—with whatever you can spare." 9 So David's servants went and spoke all these words to Nabal in David's name. Then they paused. 10 But Nabal responded to David's servants, "Who is David, and who is this son of Jesse? This is a time when many servants are breaking away from their masters! 11 Should I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have slaughtered for my shearers and give them to these men? I don't even know where they came from!"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

did shear: Genesis 38:13, 2 Samuel 13:23

Reciprocal: Genesis 38:12 - in process of time

Cross-References

Isaiah 60:6
Camel caravans will cover your roads, young camels from Midian and Ephah. All the merchants of Sheba will come, bringing gold and incense and singing praises to the Lord .

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And David heard in the wilderness,.... In the wilderness of Paran, where he was, and a wilderness it was to him, being in want of food, as the following relation shows:

that Nabal did shear his sheep; when there was generally good living, and so a proper person, and a proper time, for David to apply for the relief of his wants.


 
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