1 Samuel 25:41

Verse

She arose, then bowed facedown and said, “Here is your maidservant, ready to serve and to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.”

American Standard Version (1901)

And she arose, and bowed herself with her face to the earth, and said, Behold, thy handmaid is a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.

Bible in Basic English

And she got up, and going down on her face to the earth, said, See, I am ready to be a servant-girl, washing the feet of the servants of my lord.

Free Bible Version

She stood up, then bowed down low, and said, “I am David's maidservant. I am prepared to serve and to wash the feet of my master's servants.”

King James (Authorized) Version

And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.

Translation for Translators

Abigail bowed down with her face touching the ground. Then she told the messengers to tell David, “I am happy to become your wife. I will be your servant. And I am willing to wash the feet of your slaves.”

Unlocked Literal Bible

She arose, bowed herself with her face to the ground, and said, “See, your female servant is a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my master.”

Noah Webster Bible

And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thy handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.

World English Bible

She arose and bowed herself with her face to the earth, and said, “Behold, your servant is a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.”

Young's Literal Translation

And she riseth and boweth herself — face to the earth — and saith, 'Lo, thy handmaid [is] for a maid-servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.'

Context

David Marries Abigail

⁴⁰When his servants came to Abigail at Carmel, they said, “David has sent us to take you as his wife.”⁴¹She arose, then bowed facedown and said, “Here is your maidservant, ready to serve and to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.”

Summary

In this verse, we see Abigail quickly responding to David's proposal of marriage after the death of her husband Nabal. Her willingness to enter into this new relationship with David demonstrates her faith, wisdom, and humility. This union not only brings comfort and protection to Abigail but also aligns her with God's plan for David as the future king of Israel. Abigail's actions serve as a reminder of the importance of discernment, respect, and trust in God's timing and purposes.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth,.... As she did before David, Sa1 25:23; and did as she would have done had he been present, considering his messengers as representing him and therefore showed the same respect and reverence and did the same honour, as if he had been there in person: and said; expressed herself in such language as if David had been before her: behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord; which she said through her great humility, this being one of the meanest services she could be put to; intimating, that she was so far from being worthy to be the wife of such a man that she was only fit and it would be honour enough to her to perform the meanest services to those that waited upon him; or her sense is that it would be enough for her to be the wife of one of David's servants, and not his; it being the business of a wife, as Ben Gersom observes to wash the feet of her husband.