King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 25:8 Mean?

1 Samuel 25:8 in the King James Version says “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... — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 25 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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.

1 Samuel 25:8 · KJV


Context

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.

9

And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased. ceased: Heb. rested

10

And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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.

David invites verification and requests generosity. His appeal to 'ask thy young men' demonstrates confidence in his claim—Nabal's own servants would confirm the protection provided. The phrase 'good day' (yom tov) refers to the festive shearing celebration, a culturally appropriate time for generosity. David's humble request—'whatsoever cometh to thine hand'—asks for whatever Nabal considers appropriate, not demanding specific amounts. His self-designation as 'thy son' employs relationship language seeking patronage. The request is remarkable for its restraint: David, anointed king, asks a wealthy subject for table scraps, modeling humility that would later characterize his greater Son.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Festive occasions were expected times for generosity to those less fortunate. David's appeal to Nabal's servants for verification shows confidence in his truthful claims. The designation 'thy son' sought patron-client relationship common in ancient Near Eastern society.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does David's humble request model appropriate ways of seeking help?
  2. What does 'whatsoever cometh to thine hand' teach about non-demanding requests?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 23 words
שְׁאַ֨ל1 of 23

Ask

H7592

to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand

אֶת2 of 23
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הַנְּעָרִ֥ים3 of 23

thee Wherefore let the young men

H5288

(concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latit

וְיַגִּ֣ידוּ4 of 23

and they will shew

H5046

properly, to front, i.e., stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to

לָ֗ךְ5 of 23
H0
תִּמְצָ֤א6 of 23

I pray thee whatsoever cometh

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

הַנְּעָרִ֥ים7 of 23

thee Wherefore let the young men

H5288

(concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latit

חֵן֙8 of 23

favour

H2580

graciousness, i.e., subjective (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty)

בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ9 of 23

in thine eyes

H5869

an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)

כִּֽי10 of 23
H3588

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

עַל11 of 23
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

י֥וֹם12 of 23

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

ט֖וֹב13 of 23

in a 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

בָּ֑נוּ14 of 23

for we come

H935

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

תְּנָה15 of 23

give

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

נָּ֗א16 of 23
H4994

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

אֵת֩17 of 23
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

אֲשֶׁ֨ר18 of 23
H834

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

תִּמְצָ֤א19 of 23

I pray thee whatsoever cometh

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

יָֽדְךָ֙20 of 23

to thine 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

לַֽעֲבָדֶ֔יךָ21 of 23

unto thy servants

H5650

a servant

וּלְבִנְךָ֖22 of 23

and to thy son

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

לְדָוִֽד׃23 of 23

David

H1732

david, the youngest son of jesse


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 25:8 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 25:8 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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