1 Samuel 25 · Verse 23

1 Samuel 25:23

And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,
1 Samuel 25:23, King James Version

1 Samuel 25:23 in other translations

BSBWhen Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey, fell facedown, and bowed before him.
WEBWhen Abigail saw David, she hurried and got off her donkey, and fell before David on her face and bowed herself to the ground.
ASVAnd when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and alighted from her ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground.
YLTAnd Abigail seeth David, and hasteth and cometh down from off the ass, and falleth before David on her face, and boweth herself to the earth,
DARBYAnd when Abigail saw David, she hasted and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,
BBEAnd when Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her ass, falling down on her face before him.
WebsterAnd when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground.

What does 1 Samuel 25:23 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
23. she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face--Dismounting in presence of a superior is the highest token of respect that can be given; and it is still an essential act of homage to the great. Accompanying this act of courtesy with the lowest form of prostration, she not only by her attitude, but her language, made the fullest amends for the disrespect shown by her husband, as well as paid the fullest tribute of respect to the character and claims of David.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel 25:18-31

By a present Abigail atoned for Nabal's denial of David's request. Her behaviour was very submissive. Yielding pacifies great offences. She puts herself in the place of a penitent, and of a petitioner. She could not excuse her husband's conduct. She depends not upon her own reasonings, but on God's grace, to soften David, and expects that grace would work powerfully. She says that it was below him to take vengeance…

Read the full comment on 1 Samuel 25:18-31 →

1 Samuel 25:23 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַתֵּ֤רֶאva.Te.re'and she sawH7200
אֲבִיגַ֙יִל֙'a.vi.Ga.yilAbigailH26
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
דָּוִ֔דda.VidDavidH1732
וַתְּמַהֵ֕רva.te.ma.Herand she made hasteH4116
וַתֵּ֖רֶדva.Te.redand she came downH3381
מֵעַ֣לme.'Alfrom onH5921
הַחֲמ֑וֹרha.cha.Morthe donkeyH2543
וַתִּפֹּ֞לva.ti.Poland she fellH5307
לְאַפֵּ֤יle.'a.Peito [the] face ofH639
דָוִד֙da.VidDavidH1732
עַל\־'al-onH5921
פָּנֶ֔יהָpa.Nei.haface herH6440
וַתִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּva.tish.Ta.chuand she bowed downH7812
אָֽרֶץ\׃'A.retz[the] groundH776

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Samuel 25:23

  • 1 Samuel 20:41

    And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.

  • Joshua 15:18

    And it came to pass, as she came unto him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou?

  • Judges 1:14

    And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou?

  • 1 Samuel 24:8

    David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
lighted.
Jos 15:18; Jud 1:14
fell.
20:41; 24:8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Samuel 25:22

    So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.

  • 1 Samuel 25:23

    And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,

  • 1 Samuel 25:24

    And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid.

Read all of 1 Samuel 25

1 Samuel 25:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y como Abigail vió á David, apeóse prestamente del asno, y postrándose delante de David sobre su rostro, inclinóse á tierra;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Abigaïl vit David, et elle se hâta et descendit de dessus son âne; et elle tomba sur sa face devant David et se prosterna contre terre.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und als Abigail David sah, da stieg sie eilends von dem Esel herab; und sie fiel vor David auf ihr Angesicht und beugte sich zur Erde nieder;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Cum autem vidisset Abigail David, festinavit, et descendit de asino, et procidit coram David super faciem suam, et adoravit super terram,