King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 25:28 Mean?

1 Samuel 25:28 in the King James Version says “I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my l...” — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 25 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days.”

1 Samuel 25:28 · KJV

PrayerForgiveness

Context

26

Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal. avenging: Heb. saving thyself

27

And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord. blessing: or, present follow: Heb. walk at the feet of, etc

28

I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days.

29

Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling. as out: Heb. in the midst of the bought of a sling

30

And it shall come to pass, when the LORD shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel;

Read 1 Samuel 25 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days.

Abigail's prophetic insight reaches its climax. Her request for forgiveness maintains humble posture while pivoting to David's future. The phrase 'sure house' (Hebrew 'bayit ne'eman') prophesies dynastic establishment—remarkable from a stranger encountering a fugitive. Her reasoning—'because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD'—identifies David's divine commission. The declaration 'evil hath not been found in thee all thy days' affirms David's integrity while implicitly warning against staining that record. Abigail saw David's destiny and urged him not to compromise it through vengeful violence. Her prophecy echoes Nathan's later dynastic promise (2 Samuel 7).

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The phrase 'sure house' (bayit ne'eman) became technical language for dynastic promise, later explicitly given to David by Nathan. Abigail's use of this language demonstrates prophetic insight beyond ordinary wisdom. Her assessment of David's character reflected widespread recognition of his integrity.

Reflection Questions

  1. How did Abigail's vision of David's future inform her appeal?
  2. What does her prophetic insight teach about recognizing God's purposes in unlikely circumstances?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 21 words
שָׂ֥א1 of 21

“I pray thee forgive”

H5375

to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative

נָ֖א2 of 21
H4994

'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction

לְפֶ֣שַׁע3 of 21

“the trespass”

H6588

a revolt (national, moral or religious)

אֲמָתֶ֑ךָ4 of 21

“of thine handmaid”

H519

a maid-servant or female slave

כִּ֣י5 of 21
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

יַעֲשֶׂה֩6 of 21

“make”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

יַעֲשֶׂה֩7 of 21

“make”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

יְהוָה֙8 of 21

“for the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֲדֹנִ֣י9 of 21

“because my lord”

H113

sovereign, i.e., controller (human or divine)

בַּ֣יִת10 of 21

“house”

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

נֶֽאֱמָ֗ן11 of 21

“a sure”

H539

properly, to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render (or be) firm or faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanen

כִּֽי12 of 21
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

מִלְחֲמ֤וֹת13 of 21

“the battles”

H4421

a battle (i.e., the engagement); generally, war (i.e., war-fare)

יְהוָה֙14 of 21

“for the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֲדֹנִ֣י15 of 21

“because my lord”

H113

sovereign, i.e., controller (human or divine)

נִלְחָ֔ם16 of 21

“fighteth”

H3898

to feed on; figuratively, to consume

וְרָעָ֛ה17 of 21

“and evil”

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

לֹֽא18 of 21
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

תִמָּצֵ֥א19 of 21

“hath not been found”

H4672

properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present

בְךָ֖20 of 21
H0
מִיָּמֶֽיךָ׃21 of 21

“in thee all thy days”

H3117

a 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

Study Guide

Historical Context

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.

Theological Significance

1 Samuel 25:28 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 1 Samuel 25:28 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Samuel 7:111 Samuel 18:171 Samuel 24:111 Chronicles 17:251 Chronicles 17:102 Samuel 7:16

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