King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 25:33 Mean?

1 Samuel 25:33 in the King James Version says “And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging...” — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 25 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.”

1 Samuel 25:33 · KJV

Context

31

That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid. no grief: Heb. no staggering, or, stumbling

32

And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:

33

And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.

34

For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.

35

So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.

Read 1 Samuel 25 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.

David's double blessing extends from God to Abigail's wisdom. The Hebrew 'ta'amek' (your advice/discernment) receives blessing alongside her person. David explicitly acknowledges what Abigail prevented: bloodshed and self-avenging. The phrase 'mine own hand' echoes her words (v. 26), showing he understood and accepted her argument. David recognizes the magnitude of what almost happened—he was minutes from mass murder over insults. His blessing of Abigail's advice validates her bold intervention. This teachable response demonstrates the difference between Nabal (who could not be spoken to) and David (who received correction from a woman and blessed her for it).

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Blessing a woman's 'advice' was notable in patriarchal culture. David's public acknowledgment that Abigail prevented him from sin demonstrated humility uncommon in ancient kings. His acceptance of her counsel set precedent for their future relationship.

Reflection Questions

  1. How receptive are you to advice that contradicts your current intentions?
  2. What does David's blessing of Abigail's counsel teach about receiving wisdom from unexpected sources?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 13 words
וּבְרוּכָ֣ה1 of 13

“And blessed”

H1288

to kneel; by implication to bless god (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (god or the king, as

טַעְמֵ֖ךְ2 of 13

“be thy advice”

H2940

properly, a taste, i.e., (figuratively) perception; by implication, intelligence; transitively, a mandate

וּבְרוּכָ֣ה3 of 13

“And blessed”

H1288

to kneel; by implication to bless god (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (god or the king, as

אָ֑תְּ4 of 13
H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

אֲשֶׁ֨ר5 of 13
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

כְּלִתִ֜נִי6 of 13

“be thou which hast kept”

H3607

to restrict, by act (hold back or in) or word (prohibit)

הַיּ֤וֹם7 of 13

“me this day”

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

הַזֶּה֙8 of 13
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

מִבּ֣וֹא9 of 13

“from coming”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

בְדָמִ֔ים10 of 13

“to shed blood”

H1818

blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshe

וְהֹשֵׁ֥עַ11 of 13

“and from avenging”

H3467

properly, to be open, wide or free, i.e., (by implication) to be safe; causatively, to free or succor

יָדִ֖י12 of 13

“myself with mine own hand”

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

לִֽי׃13 of 13
H0

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 25:33 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 25:33 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 Samuel 25:26Proverbs 25:12Proverbs 28:23Psalms 141:5Proverbs 17:10Proverbs 27:21

Test Your Knowledge

1 Samuel 25 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapter1 Samuel Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

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