King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 25:3 Mean?

1 Samuel 25:3 in the King James Version says “Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a...” — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 25 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.”

1 Samuel 25:3 · King James Version

Context

1

And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.

2

And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. possessions: or, business

3

Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.

4

And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep.

5

And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name: greet: Heb. ask him in my name of peace

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Commentaries3 scholars

KJV Study CommentaryPublic Domain
Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.

The contrasts in this verse are striking. Nabal's name means 'fool' in Hebrew—either a birth name proving prophetic or a narrative epithet. Abigail receives double commendation: 'good understanding' (Hebrew 'tovat sekel') indicates wisdom and discernment, while 'beautiful countenance' (yephat to'ar) describes physical attractiveness. The Hebrew 'qasheh vera' ma'alilim' (harsh/hard and evil in his doings) characterizes Nabal's disposition. His descent from Caleb connects him to Israel's faithful spy, making his behavior more blameworthy—noble lineage did not guarantee noble character. The mismatch between husband and wife creates narrative tension and foreshadows Abigail's crucial role.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Names in Hebrew often carried prophetic significance. Whether Nabal was actually named 'fool' at birth or this represents authorial characterization, the name perfectly describes his conduct. The Calebite clan settled in this region of Judah after the conquest.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do wisdom and foolishness coexist in households and communities?
  2. What does the contrast between Nabal and Abigail teach about the relationship between heritage and character?

Compare 3 commentaries from different scholars and time periods for a richer understanding.

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 17 words
וְשֵׁ֥ם1 of 17

“Now the name”

H8034

an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character

וְהָאִ֥ישׁ2 of 17

“but the man”

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

נָבָ֔ל3 of 17

“was Nabal”

H5037

nabal, an israelite

וְשֵׁ֥ם4 of 17

“Now the name”

H8034

an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character

וְהָֽאִשָּׁ֤ה5 of 17

“and she was a woman”

H802

a woman

אֲבִגָ֑יִל6 of 17

“Abigail”

H26

abigail or abigal, the name of two israelitesses

וְהָֽאִשָּׁ֤ה7 of 17

“and she was a woman”

H802

a woman

טֽוֹבַת8 of 17

“of good”

H2896

good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good

שֶׂ֙כֶל֙9 of 17

“understanding”

H7922

intelligence; by implication, success

וִ֣יפַת10 of 17

“and of a beautiful”

H3303

beautiful (literally or figuratively)

תֹּ֔אַר11 of 17

“countenance”

H8389

outline, i.e., figure or appearance

וְהָאִ֥ישׁ12 of 17

“but the man”

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

קָשֶׁ֛ה13 of 17

“was churlish”

H7186

severe (in various applications)

וְרַ֥ע14 of 17

“and evil”

H7451

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

מַֽעֲלָלִ֖ים15 of 17

“in his doings”

H4611

an act (good or bad)

וְה֥וּא16 of 17
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

כָלִבִּֽוֹ׃17 of 17

“and he was of the house of Caleb”

H3614

a calebite or descendant of caleb

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 25:3 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 25:3 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Proverbs 14:1Isaiah 32:5-7Proverbs 31:10Psalms 10:3Proverbs 31:30-31Proverbs 31:26

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