1 Samuel 25:34
New International Version
Otherwise, as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has kept me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, not one male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by daybreak.”

New Living Translation
For I swear by the LORD, the God of Israel, who has kept me from hurting you, that if you had not hurried out to meet me, not one of Nabal’s men would still be alive tomorrow morning.”

English Standard Version
For as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, truly by morning there had not been left to Nabal so much as one male.”

Berean Standard Bible
Otherwise, as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, then surely no male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by morning light.”

King James Bible
For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.

New King James Version
For indeed, as the LORD God of Israel lives, who has kept me back from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, surely by morning light no males would have been left to Nabal!”

New American Standard Bible
Nevertheless, as the LORD God of Israel lives, who has restrained me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, there certainly would not have been left to Nabal until the morning light as much as one male.”

NASB 1995
“Nevertheless, as the LORD God of Israel lives, who has restrained me from harming you, unless you had come quickly to meet me, surely there would not have been left to Nabal until the morning light as much as one male.”

NASB 1977
“Nevertheless, as the LORD God of Israel lives, who has restrained me from harming you, unless you had come quickly to meet me, surely there would not have been left to Nabal until the morning light as much as one male.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Nevertheless, as Yahweh, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from harming you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, surely there would not have been left to Nabal until the morning light as much as one male.”

Amplified Bible
Nevertheless, as the LORD the God of Israel lives, who has prevented me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, most certainly by the morning light there would not have been left to Nabal so much as one male.”

Christian Standard Bible
Otherwise, as surely as the LORD God of Israel lives, who prevented me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, Nabal wouldn’t have had any males left by morning light.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Otherwise, as surely as the LORD God of Israel lives, who prevented me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, Nabal wouldn’t have had any men left by morning light.”

American Standard Version
For in very deed, as Jehovah, the God of Israel, liveth, who hath withholden me from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light so much as one man-child.

Contemporary English Version
If you hadn't come to meet me so quickly, every man and boy in Nabal's family and in his servants' families would have been killed by morning. I swear by the living LORD God of Israel who protected you that this is the truth.

English Revised Version
For in very deed, as the LORD, the God of Israel, liveth, which hath withholden me from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light so much as one man child.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But I solemnly swear-as the LORD God of Israel, who has kept me from harming you, lives-if you hadn't come to meet me quickly, Nabal certainly wouldn't have had one of his men left at dawn."

Good News Translation
The LORD has kept me from harming you. But I swear by the living God of Israel that if you had not hurried to meet me, all of Nabal's men would have been dead by morning!"

International Standard Version
For as surely as the LORD God of Israel lives, the one who restrained me from harming you—indeed, had you not quickly come to meet me, by dawn there wouldn't be a single male left to Nabal."

Majority Standard Bible
Otherwise, as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, then surely no male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by morning light.”

NET Bible
Otherwise, as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives--he who has prevented me from harming you--if you had not come so quickly to meet me, by morning's light not even one male belonging to Nabal would have remained alive!"

New Heart English Bible
For indeed, as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has withheld me from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, surely there wouldn't have been left to Nabal by the morning light so much as one who urinates on a wall."

Webster's Bible Translation
For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel liveth, who hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left to Nabal by the morning light any male person.

World English Bible
For indeed, as Yahweh the God of Israel lives, who has withheld me from harming you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, surely there wouldn’t have been left to Nabal by the morning light so much as one who urinates on a wall.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And yet, YHWH lives, God of Israel, who has kept me back from doing evil with you, for unless you had hurried, and come to meet me, surely there had not been left to Nabal until the morning light, of those sitting on the wall.”

Young's Literal Translation
And yet, Jehovah liveth, God of Israel, who hath kept me back from doing evil with thee, for unless thou hadst hasted, and dost come to meet me, surely there had not been left to Nabal till the light of the morning, of those sitting on the wall.'

Smith's Literal Translation
But yet Jehovah the God of Israel lives who withheld me from doing thee evil, for unless thou hastenedst and came to meet me, for if there was left to Nabal by the light of the morning him pissing against the wall.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Otherwise as the Lord liveth the God of Israel, who hath withholden me from doing thee any evil: if thou hadst not quickly come to meet me, there had not been left to Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But instead, as the Lord God of Israel lives, he has prevented me from doing evil to you. But if you had not come quickly to meet me, there would not have been left to Nabal by the morning light, anything that urinates against a wall.”

New American Bible
Otherwise, as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has kept me from harming you, if you had not come so promptly to meet me, by dawn Nabal would not have had so much as one male left alive.”

New Revised Standard Version
For as surely as the LORD the God of Israel lives, who has restrained me from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, truly by morning there would not have been left to Nabal so much as one male.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For indeed, as the LORD God of Israel lives, who has restrained me from hurting you, if you had not made haste and come to meet me, surely there would not have been left to Nabal by the morning any mature male.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
However living is LORD JEHOVAH, God of Israel, who restrained me that I would not do harm to you. If you had not hurried and come to meet me, surely I would not have left to Nabal until the light of dawn that which forms a wall”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For in very deed, as the LORD, the God of Israel, liveth, who hath withholden me from hurting thee, except thou hadst made haste and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light so much as one male.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But surely as the Lord God of Israel lives, who hindered me this day from doing thee harm, if thou hadst not hasted and come to meet me, then I said, There shall surely not be left to Nabal till the morning one male.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Abigail Intercedes for Nabal
33Blessed is your discernment, and blessed are you, because today you kept me from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand. 34Otherwise, as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, then surely no male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by morning light.” 35Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him, and he said to her, “Go home in peace. See, I have heeded your voice and granted your request.”…

Cross References
Genesis 20:6
Then God said to Abimelech in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against Me. That is why I did not let you touch her.

Genesis 39:9
No one in this house is greater than I am. He has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. So how could I do such a great evil and sin against God?”

Exodus 14:13-14
But Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s salvation, which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. / The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Exodus 23:7
Stay far away from a false accusation. Do not kill the innocent or the just, for I will not acquit the guilty.

Deuteronomy 32:35
Vengeance is Mine; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.”

2 Samuel 22:48
the God who avenges me and brings down nations beneath me,

2 Kings 19:34
I will defend this city and save it for My own sake and for the sake of My servant David.’”

Psalm 7:16
His trouble recoils on himself, and his violence falls on his own head.

Psalm 18:47
the God who avenges me and subdues nations beneath me,

Psalm 94:1
O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth.

Proverbs 20:22
Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.

Isaiah 37:35
‘I will defend this city and save it for My own sake and for the sake of My servant David.’”

Romans 12:19
Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.

2 Corinthians 1:10
He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. In Him we have placed our hope that He will yet again deliver us,


Treasury of Scripture

For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel lives, which has kept me back from hurting you, except you had hurried and come to meet me, surely there had not been left to Nabal by the morning light any that urinates against the wall.

kept me back

1 Samuel 25:26
Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.

hasted

1 Samuel 25:18
Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.

1 Samuel 11:11
And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.

Joshua 10:6,9
And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us…

there had

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.

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Deed Except Hadst Haste Hasted Hurried Hurting Israel Kept Light Male Meet Morning Nabal Surely Urinates Wall Withheld Withholden Wouldn't
1 Samuel 25
1. Samuel dies
2. David in Paran sends to Nabal
10. Provoked by Nabal's rudeness, he minds to destroy him
14. Abigail understanding thereof
18. takes a present
23. and by her wisdom
32. pacifies David
36. Nabal hearing thereof, dies
39. David takes Abigail and Ahinoam to be his wives
44. Michal is given to Phalti














Otherwise
This word serves as a pivotal transition, indicating a conditional statement. In the Hebrew text, the word used is "כִּי" (ki), which often introduces a reason or explanation. Here, it sets the stage for understanding the gravity of the situation and the divine intervention that prevented bloodshed. It underscores the importance of Abigail's timely intervention and the potential consequences had she not acted.

as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives
This phrase is a solemn oath, invoking the living God as a witness to the truth of the statement. The Hebrew name for God here is "Yahweh," the covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal existence and faithfulness. This oath reflects David's deep reverence for God and his acknowledgment of God's sovereignty over the events of his life. It also highlights the cultural and religious practice of swearing by God's name to affirm the truthfulness of one's words.

who has restrained me from harming you
The Hebrew root for "restrained" is "עָצַר" (atsar), meaning to hold back or prevent. This indicates divine intervention, suggesting that God actively prevented David from committing an act of vengeance. It reflects the biblical theme of God's providence and His ability to guide human actions according to His will. This restraint is a testament to God's mercy and His desire for justice rather than retribution.

if you had not come quickly to meet me
The urgency in Abigail's actions is emphasized here. The phrase "come quickly" highlights her wisdom and discernment in acting promptly to avert disaster. In the cultural context, swift action was often necessary to prevent escalating conflicts. Abigail's initiative is portrayed as a model of peacemaking and courage, qualities that are highly valued in biblical narratives.

surely not one male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by morning light
This phrase underscores the severity of the impending judgment that David intended to carry out. The expression "not one male" is a translation of the Hebrew idiom "אִישׁ לֹא יִשָּׁאֵר" (ish lo yishar), which literally means "not a man would remain." It reflects the customary practice of total destruction in warfare, often seen as a form of divine judgment. The mention of "morning light" signifies the completeness and inevitability of the intended action, had it not been for divine intervention through Abigail's wise and timely actions. This serves as a reminder of the potential consequences of unchecked anger and the importance of seeking God's guidance in all decisions.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Otherwise,
וְאוּלָ֗ם (wə·’ū·lām)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 199: However, on the contrary

as surely as the LORD,
יְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

the God
אֱלֹהֵ֣י (’ĕ·lō·hê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

of Israel,
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

lives,
חַי־ (ḥay-)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

who
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

has restrained me
מְנָעַ֔נִי (mə·nā·‘a·nî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 4513: To debar, from benefit, injury

from harming
מֵהָרַ֖ע (mê·hā·ra‘)
Preposition-m | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7489: To spoil, to make, good for, nothing, bad

you,
אֹתָ֑ךְ (’ō·ṯāḵ)
Direct object marker | second person feminine singular
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

if you had not
כִּ֣י ׀ (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

come
וַתָּבֹאת֙ (wat·tā·ḇōṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person feminine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

quickly
מִהַ֗רְתְּ (mi·hart)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person feminine singular
Strong's 4116: To be liquid, flow easily, to hurry, promptly

to meet me,
לִקְרָאתִ֔י (liq·rā·ṯî)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7122: To encounter, befall

then surely
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

no
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

male
מַשְׁתִּ֥ין (maš·tîn)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 8366: To make water, urinate

belonging to Nabal
לְנָבָ֛ל (lə·nā·ḇāl)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5037: Nabal -- a man of Carmel

would have been left alive
נוֹתַ֧ר (nō·w·ṯar)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3498: To jut over, exceed, to excel, to remain, be left, to leave, cause to abound, preserve

by
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

morning
הַבֹּ֖קֶר (hab·bō·qer)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1242: Dawn, morning

light.”
א֥וֹר (’ō·wr)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 216: Illumination, luminary


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OT History: 1 Samuel 25:34 For in very deed as Yahweh (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 25:33
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