King James Version
1 Samuel 25:16 in the King James Version says “They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.” — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 25 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.
“They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.”
1 Samuel 25:16 · KJV
But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them. railed: Heb. flew upon them
But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields: hurt: Heb. shamed
They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.
Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him.
Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses. clusters: or, lumps
KJV Study — Public Domain
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
“unto us both by night”
H3915properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
“all the while”
H3117a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
“we were with them keeping”
H7462to tend a flock; i.e., pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a frie
“the sheep”
H6629a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)
This verse is found in the book of 1 Samuel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
1 Samuel 25:16 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Verses related to 1 Samuel 25:16 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge