King James Version
What Does 1 Samuel 25:6 Mean?
“And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast.”
Context
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
6
And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast.
7
And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel. hurt: Heb. shamed
8
Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David.
Topics in This Verse
Commentary
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers(6) **And thus shall ye say.**—On such a festive occasion near a town or village, an Arab sheik of the neighbouring desert would hardly fail to put in a word, either in person or by message; and his message, both in form and substance, would be only the transcript of that of David.—Robinson, *Palestine, *p. 201.
**To him that liveth in prosperity.**—Considerable diversity of opinion exists as to the meaning of the Hebrew original here, *lechai. *The Vulg. alters the text slightly, and renders “to my brother.” The LXX. have an impossible translation—“*eis horas,” *for times, or for seasons. It is better, however, to take it as a popular expression of congratulation, not found, as Lange well puts it, in the *literary *language. So Luther, “glück auf,” “may it turn out well,” “may you be prosperous.” The famous Hebrew commentator Raschi, and also the Babylonian Talmud, apparently understand it in this sense.
Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.
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 25:6 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 25:6
Cross-references from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge