1 Kingdoms (1 Samuel) 25:39Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Douay-RheimsHebrew (Masoretic text)

And when David had heard that Nabal was dead, he said: Blessed be the Lord, who hath judged the cause of my reproach, at the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil, and the Lord hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his head. Then David sent and treated with Abigail, that he might take her to himself for a wife.
Douay-Rheims

וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע דָּוִד֮ כִּ֣י מֵ֣ת נָבָל֒ וַיֹּ֡אמֶר בָּר֣וּךְ יְהוָ֡ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר רָב֩ אֶת־רִ֨יב חֶרְפָּתִ֜י מִיַּ֣ד נָבָ֗ל וְאֶת־עַבְדּוֹ֙ חָשַׂ֣ךְ מֵֽרָעָ֔ה וְאֵת֙ רָעַ֣ת נָבָ֔ל הֵשִׁ֥יב יְהוָ֖ה בְּרֹאשׁ֑וֹ וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח דָּוִד֙ וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר בַּאֲבִיגַ֔יִל לְקַחְתָּ֥הּ ל֖וֹ לְאִשָּֽׁה׃
Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Salvianus of Marseille

5th centuryCommentator

The testimonies found within Scripture reveal that the Lord oversees and governs all of creation; it is essential to recognize that many of the happenings in our world are also under Divine scrutiny. When King David experienced dishonor and injustice from Nabal of Carmel and chose not to seek revenge immediately, it was the Lord Himself who took action on his behalf. Shortly thereafter, as his adversary was vanquished and perished by divine intervention, David proclaimed, ‘Blessed be the Lord, who repaid for the shame done to me by Nabal, and kept his servant from evil; the Lord turned Nabal's malice upon his own head.’

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.