Menu

1 Samuel 30:5 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוּשְׁתֵּ֥י נְשֵֽׁי־ דָוִ֖ד נִשְׁבּ֑וּ אֲחִינֹ֙עַם֙ הַיִּזְרְעֵלִ֔ית וַאֲבִיגַ֕יִל אֵ֖שֶׁת נָבָ֥ל הַֽכַּרְמְלִֽי׃

BSADavid’sDâvid [a pair] twoshᵉnayim wivesʼishshâh AhinoamʼĂchîynôʻam [the Jezreelitess, from Jezreel] and AbigailʼĂbîygayil [previously married to] the widowʼishshâh of NabalNâbâl [a foolish man, spurner of David] of CarmelKarmᵉlîy [a mountainous region, the Carmelite] had been taken captiveshâbâh [captured, made prisoners]

Word
Listen & take away1 Samuel 30
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 5 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (Ha.kar.me.Li) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
1 Samuel 30:5quick helps
In a sentenceDavid's two wives were taken captive during a raid.
Who is speakingThe narrator recounts events from David's life.
Where we areThis verse occurs in a narrative about David's distress and the loss of his family.
The hard wordנִשְׁבּ֑וּ
Take awayDavid's family is in peril, highlighting the dangers he faced.
3 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbדָּוִד The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — 1 Samuel 30:5

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — David's Distressgenerated

4So David and the troops with him lifted up their voices and wept until they had no strength left to weep.
5David’s two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel, had been taken captive.
6And David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of every man grieved for his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.
7Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought it to him,

1 Samuel 30:5 describes a troubling moment for David when his two wives were taken captive. This event occurs after a raid, leading to great distress for David and his men, as seen in the surrounding verses. It underscores the challenges David faced as a leader and the emotional toll of warfare. The narrative sets the stage for David's response to this crisis, reflecting on his reliance on God.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
11 Samuel 1:2He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
21 Samuel 25:42–43So Abigail hurried and got on a donkey, and attended by five of her maidens, she followed David’s messengers and became his wife.
31 Samuel 27:3David and his men settled in Gath with Achish. Each man had his family with him, and David had his two wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, the widow of Nabal.
42 Samuel 2:2So David went there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel.
52 Samuel 3:2–3And sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel;

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word נִשְׁבּ֑וּ, nish.Bugenerated

The verb נִשְׁבּ֑וּ (nish.Bu) is a Niphal form of the root שָׁבָה (shabah), meaning 'to take captive.' It indicates that the subject, in this case, David's wives, were taken by force, highlighting the severity of their situation.

The parsing as a perfect third person common plural shows that this action has been completed in the past, emphasizing the finality of their capture. This word conveys the distressing reality of captivity, often associated with conflict and loss.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb נִשְׁבּ֑וּ governs the entire sentence, indicating the action of taking captive. The subject of the verb is a compound noun phrase: וּשְׁתֵּ֥י נְשֵֽׁי־ דָוִ֖ד, which specifies that it is David's two wives who are affected.

The structure emphasizes the subject first, drawing attention to David's personal loss before detailing their identities. This order highlights the emotional weight of the situation.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates the verb נִשְׁבּ֑וּ with ᾐξμαλωτεύθησαν, meaning 'they were taken captive.' This choice reflects a direct rendering of the Hebrew meaning, maintaining the sense of forceful capture.

The Greek term used suggests a similar understanding of captivity, aligning closely with the Hebrew context of loss and distress.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

1 Samuel 30:5 tells us that David's two wives, Ahinoam and Abigail, were taken captive during a raid. This event caused great distress for David, as he faced the loss of his family and the challenges of leadership.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

Who were David's wives mentioned in this verse?

David's wives mentioned are Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal.

What does it mean that they were taken captive?

Being taken captive means they were forcibly removed from their home, likely during a conflict or raid.

How did David react to the news of their capture?

David was greatly distressed, as indicated in the surrounding verses, reflecting the emotional toll of the situation.

What is the significance of this event in David's life?

This event highlights the dangers David faced as a leader and the personal losses he endured during his time of conflict.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What emotions do you think David felt when he learned about his wives being taken captive?
  2. How can we relate to David's distress in our own lives when facing loss or crisis?
  3. In what ways can we support others who are experiencing difficult times, similar to what David faced?
  4. What lessons can we learn from David's response to adversity in this passage?

The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it

Bede comments on this verse, noting that David's wives symbolize the active and contemplative lives of the holy Church.

BedeCommentary on Samuel c. 673–735
Indeed, even the two wives of David were taken captive, etc. It has already been said above that David's wives signify both the active and contemplative lives of the holy Church, which rejoice to serve the true King in the present.
Early Church Fathers on 1 Samuel 30 →

Commentators on this verse — 3 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 1 Samuel 30:5 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And David's two wives were taken captives,.... Which is observed as one cause of his particular distress, and another follows in 1 Samuel 30:6: Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal

Read John Gill on 1 Samuel 30 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. No JFB commentary on these verses.

Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Samuel 30 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

1 Samuel 30:5 And David’ s two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. Ver. 5. And David’ s two wives were taken captives.] This was a very great aggravation of his grief; for good wives are rare commodities, their price is above that of rubies. What huge sums offered Darius to Alexander for the ransom of his dear wife!

Read John Trapp on 1 Samuel 30 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

David’s two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel, had been taken captive.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

David’s two wives were taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

David’s two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel, had been taken captive.

NETBNew English Translation2006

David’s two wives had been taken captive – Ahinoam the Jezreelite and Abigail the Carmelite, Nabal’s widow.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And David’s two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And David’s two wives were taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And David’s two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Dauids two wiues were taken prisoners also, Ahinoam the Izreelite, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jizreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And the two wives of David have been taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail wife of Nabal the Carmelite;

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And the two wives of David have been taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail wife of Nabal the Carmelite;

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And the two wives of David were also taken captive, Achino'am the Yizre'elitess, and Abigayil the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

David's two wives were taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelite woman, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

For the two wives also of David were taken captives, Achinoam the Jezrahelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal of Carmel.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

David's two wives had also been taken as prisoners—Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, Nabal's widow, from Carmel.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And David's two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the wife of Nabal of Carmel, had been made prisoners.

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

וּandclauseverbנִשְׁבּ֑וּthey.had.been.taken.captivenoun phrase · subjectnoun phraseשְׁתֵּ֥יthe.twonoun phraseנְשֵֽׁיthe.wivesדָוִ֖דof.Davidnoun phrasenoun phraseאֲחִינֹ֨עַם֙Ahinoamnoun phraseהַthe.Jezreeliteיִּזְרְעֵלִ֔ית[woman]וַandnoun phraseאֲבִיגַ֕יִלAbigailnoun phraseאֵ֖שֶׁתthe.wifenoun phraseנָבָ֥לof.Nabalnoun phraseהַֽtheכַּרְמְלִֽיCarmelite

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of this verse, with all words matching in the Hebrew text. This consistency indicates a strong preservation of the narrative across these ancient manuscripts.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וּשְׁתֵּ֥י נְשֵֽׁי־ דָוִ֖ד נִשְׁבּ֑וּ אֲחִינֹ֙עַם֙ הַיִּזְרְעֵלִ֔ית וַאֲבִיגַ֕יִל אֵ֖שֶׁת נָבָ֥ל הַֽכַּרְמְלִֽי׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וּשְׁתֵּ֥יᾐξμαλωτεύθησανנְשֵֽׁי־ἀμφότεραιדָוִ֖דγυναῖκεςנִשְׁבּ֑וּδαυιδאֲחִינֹ֙עַם֙αξινοομהַיִּזְרְעֵלִ֔יתιεζραηλῖτιςוַאֲבִיגַ֕יִלαβιγαιαאֵ֖שֶׁתγυνὴנָבָ֥לναβαλהַֽכַּרְמְלִֽי׃καρμηλίου

10 of the 10 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

1 Samuel 30:5שְׁנַ֫יִםand [the] tand [the] twoשְׁנַ֫יִםאִשָּׁה[the] wives[the] wives ofאִשָּׁהדָּוִדDavidDavidדָּוִדשָׁבָהthey had bethey had been tשָׁבָהאֲחִינֹ֫עַםAhinoamAhinoamאֲחִינֹ֫עַםיִזְרְעֵאלִיthe Jezreelthe Jezreelite יִזְרְעֵאלִיאֲבִיגַ֫יִלand Abigailand Abigailאֲבִיגַ֫יִלאִשָּׁה[the] wife [the] wife ofאִשָּׁהנָבָלNabalNabalנָבָלכַּרְמְלִיthe Carmelithe Carmeliteכַּרְמְלִיאִישׁmanmanאִישׁאֱנוֹשׁhumanhumanאֱנוֹשׁאָחbrother: mbrother: male-sאָחיִזְרְעֶאל(Valley of(Valley of) Jezיִזְרְעֶאלאָבfatherfatherאָבכַּרְמֶל(Mount) Ca(Mount) Carmelכַּרְמֶלשֵׁנִיsecondsecondשֵׁנִידּוֹדbelovedbelovedדּוֹדנָבָלfoolishfoolishנָבָלאֲבִיגַ֫יִלAbigailAbigailאֲבִיגַ֫יִלטַףchildchildטַףנָכְרִיforeignforeignנָכְרִיאֲחִינֹ֫עַםAhinoamAhinoamאֲחִינֹ֫עַםכַּרְמְלִיCarmeliteCarmeliteכַּרְמְלִיעָשָׂרtentenעָשָׂראַ֫יִלramramאַ֫יִלמִזְמוֹרmelodymelodyמִזְמוֹרנָצַחto conductto conductנָצַח
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in 1 Samuel 30:5

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

and [the] two [the] wives of David they had been taken captive Ahinoam the Jezreelite [woman] and Abigail [the] wife of Nabal the Carmelite
וּשְׁתֵּ֥יu.she.Tei and [the] two H8147 Conjunction · noun common feminine dual construct
769× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for the number two appears in Genesis and Exodus, describing pairs and dualities. It can also mean double or twice. In the Bible, it is often used to describe things that come in twos, like two witnesses or two tablets.
Tyndale gloss
two
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שְׁנַ֫יִם (shnayim) means 'two' and serves as both a cardinal and ordinal number. It can denote 'both,' 'double,' or 'twice,' and is used in various combinations with other numbers. The word is derived as a dual form of שָׁנָה (shanah), which relates to the concept of pairs.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם 768 n.m. et f. du. two

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8147 שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם two

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8147 shnayim shen-ah'-yim

dual of 8145; feminine shttayim {shet-tah'-yim}; two; also

(as ordinal) twofold:--both, couple, double, second, twain, +

twelfth, + twelve, + twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.

see HEBREW for 08145

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁנַ֫יִם (she.na.yim) — two.

1) two

1a) two (the cardinal number)

1a1) two, both, double, twice

1b) second (the ordinal number)

1c) in combination with other numbers

1d) both (a dual number)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Adj — Conjunction · noun common feminine dual construct
HC/Ncfdc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

too.

See NUMBER.

and [the] two [the] wives of David they had been taken captive Ahinoam the Jezreelite [woman] and Abigail [the] wife of Nabal the Carmelite
נְשֵֽׁי־ne.shei- [the] wives of H802 Noun common · masculine plural construct
781× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for woman, used to describe a female person, wife, or animal, appears in many biblical passages, including Genesis and Exodus, and is often translated as woman, wife, or female.
Tyndale gloss
woman
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אִשָּׁה (ishshah) means 'woman,' 'wife,' or 'female.' It can refer to a woman in general, a wife in relation to a man, or the female of animals. The term also has distributive and reciprocal uses, indicating 'each woman' from her neighbor. The word is derived from the masculine forms אִישׁ (ish) and אִישָׁה (ishah), indicating a broad range of meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִשָּׁה 773 n.f. woman, wife, female

woman

Wife (woman belonging to a man, usually cstr. or sf.)

Female of animals

With distrib. & recipr. sense, each woman from her neighbor; each one

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H802 אִשָּׁה woman, wife, female . woman

. Wife (woman belonging to a man, usually cstr. or sf.)

. Female of animals

. With distrib. & recipr. sense, each woman from her neighbor; each one

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

802 'ishshah ish-shaw'

feminine of 376 or 582; irregular plural, nashiym

{naw-sheem'}; a woman (used in the same wide sense as

582):--(adulter)ess, each, every, female, X many, + none,

one, + together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.

see HEBREW for 0376

see HEBREW for 0582

see HEBREW for 0582

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִשָּׁה (ish.shah) — woman.

: woman

1) woman, wife, female

1a) woman (opposite of man)

1b) wife (woman married to a man)

1c) female (of animals)

1d) each, every (pronoun)

אִשָּׁה (ish.shah) — woman: wife.

: wife/widow

1) woman, wife, female

1a) woman (opposite of man)

1b) wife (woman married to a man)

1c) female (of animals)

1d) each, every (pronoun)

אִשָּׁה (ish.shah) — woman: another.

: another

1) woman, wife, female

1a) woman (opposite of man)

1b) wife (woman married to a man)

1c) female (of animals)

1d) each, every (pronoun)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fp — Noun common · masculine plural construct
HNcmpc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and [the] two [the] wives of David they had been taken captive Ahinoam the Jezreelite [woman] and Abigail [the] wife of Nabal the Carmelite
דָוִ֖דda.Vid David H1732 Noun proper masculine
1,075× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
David was the youngest son of Jesse and a king of Judah, first mentioned in Ruth 4:17, and an ancestor of Jesus.
Amplified meaning
a pair
Tyndale gloss
David
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּוִד (David) refers to the second king of Israel, known as the youngest son of Jesse. The name means 'beloved' and is associated with a significant lineage, including many siblings and notable descendants like Solomon. The entries highlight his familial connections and historical context, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דָּוִד, דָּוִיד 1066 n.pr.m. David

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1732 דָּוִד, דָּוִיד David

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1732 David daw-veed'

rarely (fully); Daviyd {daw-veed'}; from the same as 1730;

loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse:--David.

see HEBREW for 01730

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּוִד (da.vid) — David.

A king of the tribe of Judah living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at Rut.4.17;

son of: Jesse (H3448) and Nahash (H5176I);

brother of: Eliab (H0446I), Abinadab (H0041I), Shimeah (H8093), Zeruiah (H6870), Abigail (H0026H)(?), Nethanel (H5417H), Raddai (H7288), Ozem (H0684) and Elihu (H0453J); married to Michal (H4324), Abigail (H0026), Ahinoam (H0293H), Maacah (H4601I), Haggith (H2294), Abital (H0037), Eglah (H5698) and Bathsheba (H1339);

father of: Amnon (H0550), Chileab (H3609), Absalom (H0053), Adonijah (H0138), Shephatiah (H8203), Ithream (H3507), Shammua (H8051H), Shobab (H7727), Nathan (H5416), Solomon (H8010), Ibhar (H2984), Elishua (H0474), Nepheg (H5298H), Japhia (H3309I), Elishama (H0476H), Eliada (H0450), Eliphelet (H0467), Tamar (H8559H), Elpelet (H0467I), Nogah (H5052) and Jerimoth (H3406N)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

da'-vid (dawidh, or dawidh, "beloved"; Daueid, also in New Testament, Dauid, Dabid; see Thayer's Lexicon):

I. NAME AND GENEALOGY

II. EARLY YEARS

1. Shepherd

2. Slinger

3. Harpist

4. Poet

5. Psalmist

6. Tribesman

III. IN THE SERVICE OF SAUL

1. David First Meets Saul

2. His First Exploit

3. Envy of Saul and Flight of David

4. Jonathan and David

IV. DAVID IN EXILE

1. David as Outlaw

2. David Joins the Philistines

V. DAVID AS KING

1. Civil War

2. Conquests Abroad

3. Political Situation

4. The Ark

VI. DOMESTIC LIFE

1. His Wives and Children

2. Domestic Troubles

VII. HIS OFFICIALS

1. Prophets

2. Priests

3. Military Officers

4. Other Officials

5. Mutual Rivalry

VIII. PERSONAL CHARACTER OF DAVID

1. Chronicles

2. Psalms

3. Complex Character

4. Physical Courage

5. Moral Courage

6. Prudence

7. Strategy

8. Nobility

9. David in Relation to His Family

10. David in Relation to His Friends

11. His Success

12. His Foreign Friends

13. Nemesis

Easton's Bible Dictionary

David

Beloved, the eighth and youngest son of Jesse, a citizen of Bethlehem. His father seems to have been a man in humble life. His mother’s name is not recorded. Some think she was the Nahash of 2 Sam. 17:25. As to his personal appearance, we only know that he was red-haired, with beautiful eyes and a fair face (1 Sam. 16:12; 17:42).

His early occupation was that of tending his father’s sheep on the uplands of Judah. From what we know of his after history, doubtless he frequently beguiled his time, when thus engaged, with his shepherd’s flute, while he drank in the many lessons taught him by the varied scenes spread around him. His first recorded exploits were his encounters with the wild beasts of the field. He mentions that with his own unaided hand he slew a lion and also a…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(well-beloved), the son of Jesse. His life may be divided into three portions: His youth before his introduction to the court of Saul; His relations with Saul; His reign. The early life of David contains in many important respects the antecedents of his future career. It appears that David was the youngest son, probably the youngest child, of a family of ten, and was born in Bethlehem B.C. 1085. The first time that David appears in history at once admits us to the whole family circle. The annual sacrificial feast is being held when Samuel appears, sent by God to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as they pass before him, (1 Samuel 16:6-10) Samuel sends for the youngest, David, who was "keeping the sheep," and anoints him. (1 Samuel 16:11-13) As David stood before Samuel we are enabled to…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Beloved, the youngest son of Jesse, of the tribe of Judah, born in Bethlehem B. C. 1085; one of the most remarkable men in either sacred of secular history. His life is fully recorded in 1Sa 16:1 1Ki 2:46. He was "the Lord’s anointed," chosen by God to be king of Israel instead of Saul, and consecrated to that office by the venerable prophet Samuel long before he actually came to the throne, 1Sa 16:1-13, for which God prepared him by the gift of his Spirit, and a long course of vicissitudes and dangers. In his early pastoral life he distinguished himself by his boldness, fidelity, and faith in God; and while yet a youth was summoned to court, as one expert in music, valiant, prudent in behavior, and comely in person. He…

and [the] two [the] wives of David they had been taken captive Ahinoam the Jezreelite [woman] and Abigail [the] wife of Nabal the Carmelite
נִשְׁבּ֑וּnish.Bu they had been taken captive H7617 Verb · Niphal · perfect third person common plural
47× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to take someone captive, like a prisoner of war. It involves transporting people away from their homes, often as a result of conflict or battle. The Bible uses it to describe the experiences of the Israelites.
Amplified meaning
captured, made prisoners
Tyndale gloss
to take captive
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁבָה (shabah) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to take captive.' It has a range of uses, including to transport someone into captivity or to lead them away. The word appears in both the Qal and Niphal stems, indicating active and passive forms of taking or being taken captive.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁבָה 47 vb. take captive

Qal take captive

Niph. be taken captive

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7617 שָׁבָה take captive

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7617 shabah shaw-baw'

a primitive root; to transport into captivity:--(bring

away, carry, carry away, lead, lead away, take) captive(-s),

drive (take) away.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁבָה (sha.vah) — to take captive.

1) to take captive

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to take captive

1a2) captive (participle)

1a3) to lead captive

1b) (Niphal) to be taken captive

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Niphal · perfect third person common plural
HVNp3cp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

kap'-tiv (shebhi, galah; aichmalotos and its derivatives): The frequent references in the Old Testament to captives as men forcibly deported (from the Hebrew root shabhah) or inhabiting a land foreign to them (from Hebrew galah) reflect the universal practice of the ancient world. The treatment of captives was sometimes barbarous (2Sa 8:2) but not always so (2Ki 6:21,22).

See further under ASSIR and WAR.

Figurative: Except in Job 42:10 the figurative use of the idea is confined to the New Testament, where reference is made to the triumphal reign of the Lord Jesus (Lu 4:18; Eph 4:8), or, on the other hand, to the power of the…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Captive

One taken in war. Captives were often treated with great cruelty and indignity (1 Kings 20:32; Josh. 10:24; Judg. 1:7; 2 Sam. 4:12; Judg. 8:7; 2 Sam. 12:31; 1 Chr. 20:3). When a city was taken by assault, all the men were slain, and the women and children carried away captive and sold as slaves (Isa. 20; 47:3; 2 Chr. 28:9-15; Ps. 44:12; Joel 3:3)…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

A prisoner of war. Such were usually treated with great cruelty by the heathen nations. They were kept for slaves, and often sold; but this was a modification of the ancient cruelty, and a substitute for putting them to death Although the treatment of captives by the Jews seems sometimes to be cruel, it was very much milder than that of the heathen, and was mitigated, as far as possible in the circumstances, by their civil code.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Prisoner of war Ge 14:12; 1Sa 30:1,2

→ Cruelty to

Putting to death Nu 31:9-20; De 20:13; 21:10; Jos 8:29; 10:15-40; 11:11; Jud 7:25; 8:21; 21:11; 1Sa 15:32,33; 2Sa 8:2; 2Ki 8:12; Jer 39:6

Twenty thousand, by Amaziah 2Ch 25:11,12

and [the] two [the] wives of David they had been taken captive Ahinoam the Jezreelite [woman] and Abigail [the] wife of Nabal the Carmelite
אֲחִינֹ֙עַם֙'a.chi.No.'am Ahinoam H293 Noun proper feminine
7× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Ahinoam was the name of two women in the Bible, one was the wife of King Saul and the other was the wife of King David. Her name means my brother is delight. She was the mother of Amnon, David's son.
Amplified meaning
the Jezreelitess, from Jezreel
Tyndale gloss
Ahinoam
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֲחִינֹ֫עַם (*Achiyno`am*) means "my brother is delight" and refers to two women in the Old Testament: the wife of Saul and the wife of David. The entries indicate that she was the daughter of Ahimaaz and the mother of notable figures like Jonathan and Amnon. The name is built from the roots for "brother" and "pleasantness."

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֲחִינֹ֫עַם n.pr.f. (my brother is delight)

wife of Saul

Jezreelitess, wife of David

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H293 אֲחִינֹ֫עַם

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

293 'Achiyno`am akh-ee-no'-am

from 251 and 5278; brother of pleasantness; Achinoam, the

name of two Israelitesses:--Ahinoam.

see HEBREW for 0251

see HEBREW for 05278

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֲחִינֹ֫עַם (a.chi.no.am) — Ahinoam.

A woman living at the time of United Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Sa.14.50;

daughter of: Ahimaaz (H0290); married to Saul (H7586G);

mother of: Jonathan (H3083H), Abinadab (H0041H), Malchi-shua (H4444), Merab (H4764) and Michal (H4324)

§ Ahinoam = "my brother is delight"

1) wife of Saul, daughter of Ahimaaz

2) wife of David, mother of Amnon, a Jezreelitess

אֲחִינֹ֫עַם (a.chi.no.am) — Ahinoam.

A woman living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.25.43; married to David (H1732);

mother of: Amnon (H0550)

§ Ahinoam = "my brother is delight"

1) wife of Saul, daughter of Ahimaaz

2) wife of David, mother of Amnon, a Jezreelitess

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper feminine
HNpf
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

a-hi-no'-am, a-hin'-o-am ('achino`am, "my brother is pleasantness"):

(1) Daughter of Ahimaaz, and wife of King Saul (1Sa 14:50).

(2) The woman from Jezreel whom David married after Saul gave Michal to another husband. She and Abigail, the widow of Nabal, seem to have been David's only wives prior to the beginning of his reign in Hebron. His marriage to Abigail is mentioned first, with some details, followed by the statement, easily to be understood in the pluperfect, that he had previously married Ahinoam (1Sa 25:39-44). Three times they are mentioned together, Ahinoam always first (1Sa 27:3; 30:5; 2Sa 2:2), and Ahinoam is the mother of David's first son and Abigail of his…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Ahinoam

Brother of pleasantness = pleasant. (1.) The daughter of Ahimaaz, and wife of Saul (1 Sam. 14:50).

(2.) A Jezreelitess, the first wife of David (1 Sam. 25:43; 27:3). She was the mother of Amnon (2 Sam. 3:2). (See 1 Sam. 30:5, 18; 2 Sam. 2:2.)

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(brother of grace , i.e. gracious). The daughter of Ahimaaz and wife of Saul. (1 Samuel 14:50) (B.C. about 1090.) A native of Jezreel who was married to David during his wandering life. (1 Samuel 25:43) (B.C. 1060.) She lived with him and his other wife Abigail at the court of Achish, (1 Samuel 27:3) was taken prisoner with her by the Amalekites when they plundered Ziklag, (1 Samuel 30:5) but was rescued by David. (1 Samuel 30:18)

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. Daughter of Ahimaaz and wife of Saul, 1Sa 14:50.

2. A woman of Jezreel, wife of David and mother Amnon. She was taken captive by the Amalekites, at Ziklag, 1Sa 30:5; but was recovered by David, and accompanied him to Hebron, 2Sa 2:2; 3:2.

and [the] two [the] wives of David they had been taken captive Ahinoam the Jezreelite [woman] and Abigail [the] wife of Nabal the Carmelite
הַיִּזְרְעֵלִ֔יתhai.yiz.re.'e.Lit the Jezreelite [woman] H3158 Particle · noun gentilic feminine singular absolute
13× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A Jezreelite is a native of Jezreel, meaning sown of God, an inhabitant of the city of Jezreel.
Tyndale gloss
Jezreelite
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יִזְרְעֵאלִי (yiz-reh-ay-lee) refers to a Jezreelite, or an inhabitant of Jezreel, which means 'sown of God.' It is derived patronymically from יִזְרְעֶאל (yiz-re-el), the name of a location. The term appears in both masculine and feminine forms.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יִזְרְעֵאלִי m., יִזְרְעֵאלִית f., adj.gent.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3158 יִזְרְעֵאלִי, יִזְרְעֵאלִית

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3158 Yizr`e'liy yiz-reh-ay-lee'

patronymically from 3157; a Jizreelite or native of

Jizreel:--Jezreelite.

see HEBREW for 03157

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יִזְרְעֵאלִי (yiz.re.e.li) — Jezreel.

Jezreelite , of Jezreel "sown of God"

an inhabitant of Jezreel

Another spelling of yiz.re.el (יִזְרְעֶאל "Jezreel" H3157)

יִזְרְעֵאלִי (yiz.re.e.li) — Jezreelite.

Group of yiz.re.el (יִזְרְעֶאל "Jezreel" H3157H)

§ Jezreelite , of Jezreel "sown of God"

an inhabitant of Jezreel

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTd/Ngfsa — Particle · noun gentilic feminine singular absolute
HTd/Ngfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

woom'-an ('ishshah, "a woman" (feminine of 'ish, "a man"]; gune, "a woman" "wife"):

I. IN THE CREATIVE PLAN

II. IN OLD TESTAMENT TIMES

1. Prominence of Women

2. Social Equality

3. Marriage Laws

4. Inheritance

5. Domestic Duties

6. Dress and Ornaments

7. Religious Devotion and Service

(1) in Idolatry and False Religion

(2) in Spiritual Religion

III. INTER-TESTAMENTAL ERA

IV. IN NEW TESTAMENT TIMES

1. Mary and Elisabeth

2. Jesus and Women

3. In the Early Church

4. Official Service

5. Widows

6. Deaconesses

IV. LATER TIMES

1. Changes in Character and Condition

2. Notable Examples of Christian Womanhood

3. Woman in the 20th Century

The generic term "man" includes woman. In the narrative of the creation (Ge 1:26,27) Adam is a collective term for mankind. It may signify human being, male or female, or humanity entire. "God said, Let us make man .... and let them"…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Woman

Was “taken out of man” (Gen. 2:23), and therefore the man has the preeminence. “The head of the woman is the man;” but yet honour is to be shown to the wife, “as unto the weaker vessel” (1 Cor. 11:3, 8, 9; 1 Pet. 3:7). Several women are mentioned in Scripture as having been endowed with prophetic gifts, as Miriam (Ex. 15:20), Deborah (Judg. 4:4, 5), Huldah (2 Kings 22:14), Noadiah (Neh. 6:14), Anna (Luke 2:36, 37), and the daughters of Philip the evangelist…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Is spoken of in Scripture as the beloved and honored companion and helpmeet, not the servant, of man, Ge 2:23,24, created as the necessary completion of man, Ge 3:16 1Co 11:3,8,9 14:34,35 1Ti 2:11-14, yet specially qualified for that sphere, and as necessary in it as man in his. Man and woman are indeed essentially one, the natural qualities of each so responding to those of the other as to lay the foundation of the most tender and abiding unity. The Bible thus raised the Jewish woman high above the woman of heathenism; and the Old Testament contains some of the finest portraitures of female character. But still greater is the contrast between the women of heathenism and…

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- Origin and cause of the name

Ge 2:23

- ORIGINALLY MADE

. By God in his own image

Ge 1:27

. From one of Adam's ribs

Ge 2:21,22

. For man

1Co 11:9

. To be an helpmeet for man

Ge 2:18,20

. Subordinate to man

1Co 11:3

. To be the glory of man

1Co 11:7

- Deceived by Satan

Ge 3:1-6; 2Co 11:3; 1Ti 2:14

- Led man to disobey God

and [the] two [the] wives of David they had been taken captive Ahinoam the Jezreelite [woman] and Abigail [the] wife of Nabal the Carmelite
וַאֲבִיגַ֕יִלva.'a.vi.Ga.yil and Abigail H26 Conjunction · noun proper feminine
17× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Abigail was an Israelite woman, first mentioned in 2 Samuel 17:25, known for her wisdom and kindness. She was the daughter of Nahash and married to Jether, and later to King David. Abigail is also the name of another Israelite woman.
Amplified meaning
previously married to
Tyndale gloss
Abigail
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֲבִיגַ֫יִל (*Abiygayil*) means 'my father is joy.' It refers to two women in the Old Testament: one was the wife of Nabal and later David, while the other is noted as David's sister. The name is derived from the words for 'father' and 'joy,' indicating its joyful connotation.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֲבִיגַ֫יִל n.pr.f. (my father is joy (?))

wife of Nabal, then of David

sister of David

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H26 אֲבִיגַ֫יִל

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

26 'Abiygayil ab-ee-gah'-yil

or shorter Abiygal {ab-ee-gal'}; from 1 and 1524; father

(i.e. source) of joy; Abigail or Abigal, the name of two

Israelitesses:--Abigal.

see HEBREW for 01

see HEBREW for 01524

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֲבִיגַ֫יִל, אֲבִיגַ֫ל (a.vi.ga.yil) — Abigail.

A woman living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.25.3; married to David (H1732) and Nabal (H5037);

mother of: Chileab (H3609)

§ Abigail = "my father is joy"

1) wife of Nabal, then of David

אֲבִיגַ֫יִל, אֲבִיגַ֫ל (a.vi.ga.yil) — Abigail.

A woman living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.17.25;

daughter of: Nahash (H5176I) and Nahash (H5176I)(?);

sister of: David (H1732)(?), Eliab (H0446I)(?), Abinadab (H0041I)(?), Shimeah (H8093)(?), Nethanel (H5417H)(?), Raddai (H7288)(?), Ozem (H0684)(?), Zeruiah (H6870)(?), Abigail (H0026H)(?) and Elihu (H0453J)(?); married to Jether (H3500H);

mother of: Amasa (H6021)

§ Abigail = "my father is joy"

sister of David

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper feminine
HC/Npf
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Abigail

Father (i.e., “leader”) of the dance, or “of joy.” (1.) The sister of David, and wife of Jether an Ishmaelite (1 Chr. 2:16,17). She was the mother of Amasa (2 Sam. 17:25).

(2.) The wife of the churlish Nabal, who dwelt in the district of Carmel (1 Sam. 25:3). She showed great prudence and delicate management at a critical period of her husband’s life. She was “a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance.” After Nabal’s death she became the wife of David (1 Sam. 25:14-42), and was his companion in all his future fortunes (1 Sam. 27:3; 30:5;

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. Formerly the wife of Nabal of Carmel, and afterwards of David. Upon receiving information of Nabal’s ingratitude to David, 1Sa 25:14, she loaded several asses with provisions, and attended by some of here domestics went out to meet him. Her manners and conversation gained for her his esteem, and as soon as the days of mourning for Nabal’s death, which happened soon afterwards, were over, he made her his wife. The issue of the marriage was, as some critics suppose, two sons, Chileab and Daniel, 2Sa 3:3; 1Ch 3:1; but it is most probable that these names were borne by one person.

2. A sister of David, and mother of Amasa, 1Ch 2:16,17.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

the father's joy

and [the] two [the] wives of David they had been taken captive Ahinoam the Jezreelite [woman] and Abigail [the] wife of Nabal the Carmelite
אֵ֖שֶׁת'E.shet [the] wife of H802 Noun common · feminine singular construct
781× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for woman, used to describe a female person, wife, or animal, appears in many biblical passages, including Genesis and Exodus, and is often translated as woman, wife, or female.
Tyndale gloss
woman
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אִשָּׁה (ishshah) means 'woman,' 'wife,' or 'female.' It can refer to a woman in general, a wife in relation to a man, or the female of animals. The term also has distributive and reciprocal uses, indicating 'each woman' from her neighbor. The word is derived from the masculine forms אִישׁ (ish) and אִישָׁה (ishah), indicating a broad range of meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִשָּׁה 773 n.f. woman, wife, female

woman

Wife (woman belonging to a man, usually cstr. or sf.)

Female of animals

With distrib. & recipr. sense, each woman from her neighbor; each one

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H802 אִשָּׁה woman, wife, female . woman

. Wife (woman belonging to a man, usually cstr. or sf.)

. Female of animals

. With distrib. & recipr. sense, each woman from her neighbor; each one

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

802 'ishshah ish-shaw'

feminine of 376 or 582; irregular plural, nashiym

{naw-sheem'}; a woman (used in the same wide sense as

582):--(adulter)ess, each, every, female, X many, + none,

one, + together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.

see HEBREW for 0376

see HEBREW for 0582

see HEBREW for 0582

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִשָּׁה (ish.shah) — woman.

: woman

1) woman, wife, female

1a) woman (opposite of man)

1b) wife (woman married to a man)

1c) female (of animals)

1d) each, every (pronoun)

אִשָּׁה (ish.shah) — woman: wife.

: wife/widow

1) woman, wife, female

1a) woman (opposite of man)

1b) wife (woman married to a man)

1c) female (of animals)

1d) each, every (pronoun)

אִשָּׁה (ish.shah) — woman: another.

: another

1) woman, wife, female

1a) woman (opposite of man)

1b) wife (woman married to a man)

1c) female (of animals)

1d) each, every (pronoun)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular construct
HNcfsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and [the] two [the] wives of David they had been taken captive Ahinoam the Jezreelite [woman] and Abigail [the] wife of Nabal the Carmelite
נָבָ֥לna.Val Nabal H5037 Noun proper masculine
22× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Nabal was an Israelite who lived during King David's time, known for being foolish and spurning David's messengers. His wife Abigail intervened on his behalf, later becoming David's wife after Nabal's death. Nabal means 'fool' in Hebrew.
Amplified meaning
a foolish man, spurner of David
Tyndale gloss
Nabal
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָבָל (Nabal) refers to a churlish man from Carmel, known for his foolishness, as indicated by its meaning. He is first mentioned in 1 Samuel 25:3, where he spurns David's messengers and later dies from shock. His widow, Abigail, becomes David's wife after his death.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָבָל n.pr.m. a churlish man of Carmel, whose widow David married

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5037 נָבָל

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5037 Nabal naw-bawl'

the same as 5036; dolt; Nabal, an Israelite:--Nabal.

see HEBREW for 05036

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָבָל (na.val) — Nabal.

A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.25.3; married to Abigail (H0026)

§ Nabhal or Nabal = "fool"

a man of Carmel who spurned David's messengers, then died of shock when he realised it might cause his death; his case was pleaded by his wife Abigail who became David's wife after his death

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

na'-bal (nabhal, "foolish" or "wicked"; Nabal): A wealthy man of Maon in the highlands of Judah, not far from Hebron, owner of many sheep and goats which he pastured around Carmel in the same district. He was a churlish and wicked man (1Sa 25:2). When David was a fugitive from Saul, he and his followers sought refuge in the wilderness of Paran, near the possessions of Nabal, and protected the latter's flocks and herds from the marauding Bedouin. David felt that some compensation was due him for such services (1Sa 25:15, 25), so, at the time of sheep-shearing--an occasion of great festivities among sheep masters--he sent 10 of his young men to Nabal to solicit gifts of food for himself and his small band of warriors. Nabal not only refused any assistance or presents, but sent back…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Nabal

Foolish, a descendant of Caleb who dwelt at Maon (1 Sam. 25), the modern Main, 7 miles south-east of Hebron. He was “very great, and he had 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats...but the man was churlish and evil in his doings.” During his wanderings David came into that district, and hearing that Nabal was about to shear his sheep, he sent ten of his young men to ask “whatsoever cometh unto thy hand for thy servants.” Nabal insultingly resented the demand, saying, “Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse?” (1 Sam. 25:10, 11). One of the shepherds that stood by and saw the reception David’s messengers had met with, informed Abigail, Nabal’s wife, who at once realized the danger that threatened her household. She forthwith proceeded to the camp of David, bringing with her ample stores of provisions (25:18). She so courteously and…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(fool) was a sheepmaster on the confines of Judea and the desert, in that part of the country which bore from its great conqueror the name of Caleb. (1 Samuel 25:3; 30:14) (B.C. about 1055.) His residence was on the southern Carmel, in the pasture lands of Maon. His wealth, as might be expected from his abode, consisted chiefly of sheep and goats. It was the custom of the shepherds to drive them into the wild downs on the slopes of Carmel; and it was whilst they were on one of these pastoral excursions that they met a band of outlaws, who showed them unexpected kindness, protecting them by day and night, and never themselves committing any depredations. (1 Samuel 25:7,15,18) Once a year there was a grand banquet on Carmel, "like the feast of a king." ch. (

and [the] two [the] wives of David they had been taken captive Ahinoam the Jezreelite [woman] and Abigail [the] wife of Nabal the Carmelite
הַֽכַּרְמְלִֽי׃Ha.kar.me.Li the Carmelite H3761 Particle · noun gentilic masculine singular absolute
7× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A Carmelite is an inhabitant of Mount Carmel, as mentioned in the Bible, specifically in the books of Kings and Chronicles. The name refers to someone from the garden-land of Carmel.
Amplified meaning
a mountainous region, the Carmelite
Tyndale gloss
Carmelite
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כַּרְמְלִי (Karmliy) refers to a Carmelite, an inhabitant of the town of Carmel. It is derived from the root word כַּרְמֶל (Karmel), meaning 'garden-land.' The term can also refer specifically to individuals like Nabal and Abigail, with a feminine form הַכַּרְמְלִית (hakarmelit) for a Carmelitess.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כַּרְמְלִי adj.gent., c. art., the Carmelite, of Nabal. f. הַכַּרְמְלִית the Carmelitess, of Abigail.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3761 כַּרְמְלִי, כַּרְמְלִית

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3761 Karmliy kar-mel-ee'

patron from 3760; a Karmelite or inhabitant of Karmel (the

town):--Carmelite.

see HEBREW for 03760

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כַּרְמְלִי (kar.me.li) — Carmelite.

Carmelite, of Carmel "garden-land"

an inhabitant of Carmel

Another spelling of kar.mel (כַּרְמֶל "Carmel" H3760)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | Ngmsa — Particle · noun gentilic masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ngmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

kar'-mel-it (karmeli; Karmelios, Karmelites): A native of the Judean Carmel. Those who are thus named are Nabal, the husband of Abigail (1Sa 30:5, etc.), and Hezro (the King James Version Hezrai), one of David's mighty men (2Sa 23:35). In 2Sa 3:3 Septuagint reads tes Abigaias tes Karmelias, "of Abigail the Carmelitess" (1Sa 27:3; 1Ch 3:1).

See following article, CARMELITESS.

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate