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Please do not let my lord pay any mind to this man of Belial, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name and folly is with him. But as for me, your servant, I did not see my lord’s young men, whom you sent. Bible see other translations

“Please do not let my lord.” Abigail addresses David in the third person out of respect.

“man of Belial.” This is a designation of sons of the Devil, although Abigail likely did not mean it that way; she would have meant it more as “worthless man,” or something like that.

[For more on sons of Belial, see commentary on 1 Samuel 2:12. For more on the unforgivable sin and children of the Devil, see commentary on Matthew 12:31.]

“Nabal.” The word “Nabal” means “fool,” but there are several different words for “fool” in Hebrew. The word “Nabal” refers to a committed, unrepentant fool.

“folly is with him.” This is a Hebrew idiom. Today we would say “He is a fool,” but in the Hebrew idiom, the phrase is “folly is with him” (cp. Job 12:13, 16).


Commentary for: 1 Samuel 25:25

 
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