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1 Samuel 25:21

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Samuel 25:21 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath returned me evil for good.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath returned me evil for good.
1 Samuel 25:21 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Samuel 25

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
18Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched grain, and a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.
19And she said unto her young men, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.
20And it was so, as she rode on her ass, and came down by the covert of the mountain, that, behold, David and his men came down toward her; and she met them.
21Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath returned me evil for good.
22God do so unto the enemies of David, and more also, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light so much as one man-child.
23And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and alighted from her ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground.
24And she fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me be the iniquity; and let thy handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine ears, and hear thou the words of thy handmaid.
← 1 Samuel 25:201 Samuel 25:22 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Now David had said, etc.] When the messengers returned and told him how they had been used by Nabal; or he “said” f505, or was saying within himself, or to his men, what follows, just as Abigail met him: surely in vain have I kept all that this [fellow] hath in the wilderness; which shows that lie was in a violent passion, and had Nabal in the utmost contempt and indignation, in that he mentions not his name, only says “this”, this man or follow; leaving a blank to be filled up with the most ignominious name and character that could be thought of; and repents that he had taken so much care of his flocks when they were feeding by him in the wilderness: so that nothing was missed of all that…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“In vain - i. e., under false expectation. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“25:21 he has repaid me evil for good: Cp. 24:17.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Surely: Sa1 25:13; Job 30:8; Psa 37:8; Eph 4:26, Eph 4:31; Th1 5:15; Pe1 2:21-23, Pe1 3:9 he hath requited: Gen 44:4; Psa 35:12, Psa 38:20, Psa 109:3-5; Pro 17:13; Jer 18:20; Rom 12:21; Pe1 2:20, Pe1 3:17 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 25:22”
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Related study paths

Read 1 Samuel 25 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification