1 Samuel 25:10
New International Version
Nabal answered David’s servants, “Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days.

New Living Translation
“Who is this fellow David?” Nabal sneered to the young men. “Who does this son of Jesse think he is? There are lots of servants these days who run away from their masters.

English Standard Version
And Nabal answered David’s servants, “Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants these days who are breaking away from their masters.

Berean Standard Bible
But Nabal asked them, “Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants these days are breaking away from their masters.

King James Bible
And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.

New King James Version
Then Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, “Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who break away each one from his master.

New American Standard Bible
But Nabal answered David’s servants and said, “Who is David? And who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants today who are each breaking away from his master.

NASB 1995
But Nabal answered David’s servants and said, “Who is David? And who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants today who are each breaking away from his master.

NASB 1977
But Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, “Who is David? And who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants today who are each breaking away from his master.

Legacy Standard Bible
But Nabal answered David’s servants and said, “Who is David? And who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants today who are each breaking away from his master.

Amplified Bible
But Nabal answered David’s servants and said, “Who is David? And who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants today, each of whom is breaking away from his master.

Christian Standard Bible
Nabal asked them, “Who is David? Who is Jesse’s son? Many slaves these days are running away from their masters.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Nabal asked them, “Who is David? Who is Jesse’s son? Many slaves these days are running away from their masters.

American Standard Version
And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there are many servants now-a-days that break away every man from his master.

Contemporary English Version
This is what he said: Who does this David think he is? That son of Jesse is just one more slave on the run from his master, and there are too many of them these days.

English Revised Version
And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Who is David?" Nabal answered David's servants. "Who is Jesse's son? So many servants nowadays are leaving their masters.

Good News Translation
and Nabal finally answered, "David? Who is he? I've never heard of him! The country is full of runaway slaves nowadays!

International Standard Version
Nabal answered David's servants: "Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? There are many servants today who are breaking away from their masters.

Majority Standard Bible
But Nabal asked them, “Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants these days are breaking away from their masters.

NET Bible
But Nabal responded to David's servants, "Who is David, and who is this son of Jesse? This is a time when many servants are breaking away from their masters!

New Heart English Bible
Nabal answered David's servants, and said, "Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants who break away from their masters these days.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there are many servants in these days that break away every man from his master.

World English Bible
Nabal answered David’s servants and said, “Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants who break away from their masters these days.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Nabal answers the servants of David and says, “Who [is] David, and who [is] the son of Jesse? Have servants been multiplied today who are each breaking away from his master?

Young's Literal Translation
And Nabal answereth the servants of David and saith, 'Who is David, and who the son of Jesse? to-day have servants been multiplied who are breaking away each from his master;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Nabal will answer David's servants, and say, Who is David? and who the son of Jesse? this day there were many servants breaking away a man from the face of his lord.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But Nabal answering the servants of David, said: Who is David? and what is the son of Isai? servants are multiplied now a days who flee from their masters.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But Nabal, responding to the servants of David, said: “Who is David? And who is the son of Jesse? Today, servants who are fleeing from their lords are increasing.

New American Bible
But Nabal answered the servants of David: “Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? Nowadays there are many servants who run away from their masters.

New Revised Standard Version
But Nabal answered David’s servants, “Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants today who are breaking away from their masters.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? And who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants today who have broken away every man from his master.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Nabal answered and said to the Servants of David: “Who is David and who is the son of Iyshay? Today there are many Servants who rebel, each man from before his Master
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Nabal answered David's servants, and said: 'Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there are many servants now-a-days that break away every man from his master;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Nabal sprang up, and answered the servants of David, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jessae? Now-a-days there is abundance of servants who depart every one from his master.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David, Nabal, and Abigail
9When David’s young men arrived, they relayed all these words to Nabal on behalf of David. Then they waited. 10 But Nabal asked them, “Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants these days are breaking away from their masters. 11Why should I take my bread and water and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give them to these men whose origin I do not know?”…

Cross References
1 Samuel 17:28
Now when David’s oldest brother Eliab heard him speaking to the men, his anger burned against David. “Why have you come down here?” he asked. “And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and wickedness of heart—you have come down to see the battle!”

2 Samuel 20:1
Now a worthless man named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjamite, happened to be there, and he blew the ram’s horn and shouted: “We have no share in David, no inheritance in Jesse’s son. Every man to his tent, O Israel!”

Judges 9:28
Then Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is not Zebul his officer? You are to serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem. Why should we serve Abimelech?

1 Kings 12:16
When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What portion do we have in David, and what inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, O David!” So the Israelites went home,

2 Kings 18:35
Who among all the gods of these lands has delivered his land from my hand? How then can the LORD deliver Jerusalem from my hand?”

2 Chronicles 13:7
Then worthless and wicked men gathered around him to resist Rehoboam son of Solomon when he was young, inexperienced, and unable to resist them.

Proverbs 18:23
The poor man pleads for mercy, but the rich man answers harshly.

Proverbs 22:7
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.

Isaiah 32:5-7
No longer will a fool be called noble, nor a scoundrel be respected. / For a fool speaks foolishness; his mind plots iniquity. He practices ungodliness and speaks falsely about the LORD; he leaves the hungry empty and deprives the thirsty of drink. / The weapons of the scoundrel are destructive; he hatches plots to destroy the poor with lies, even when the plea of the needy is just.

Isaiah 36:20
Who among all the gods of these lands has delivered his land from my hand? How then can the LORD deliver Jerusalem from my hand?”

Matthew 21:23
When Jesus returned to the temple courts and began to teach, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to Him. “By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You this authority?”

Matthew 26:63
But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to Him, “I charge You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.”

Mark 11:28
“By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You the authority to do them?”

Luke 20:2
“Tell us,” they said, “by what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?”

John 7:15
The Jews were amazed and asked, “How did this man attain such learning without having studied?”


Treasury of Scripture

And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.

Who is David

1 Samuel 20:30
Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness?

1 Samuel 22:7,8
Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds; …

Exodus 5:2
And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.

there be

1 Samuel 22:2
And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

Ecclesiastes 7:10
Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.

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Break Breaking David David's Jesse Master Masters Multiplied Nabal Running Servants Today To-Day
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














But Nabal asked them
The phrase introduces us to Nabal, a wealthy but foolish man whose name means "fool" in Hebrew. His question is not one of genuine inquiry but of disdain and contempt. In the cultural context of ancient Israel, hospitality was a sacred duty, and Nabal's dismissive attitude towards David's men reflects a breach of social norms and a lack of wisdom. This sets the stage for the conflict that follows, highlighting the importance of wisdom and discernment in leadership.

Who is David?
This rhetorical question is laden with scorn. David, though anointed by Samuel and known for his victory over Goliath, is still on the run from King Saul. Nabal's question dismisses David's anointing and achievements, reflecting a worldly perspective that values status and power over God's calling. Historically, this reflects the tension between the house of Saul and David, emphasizing the theme of divine election versus human recognition.

Who is this son of Jesse?
By referring to David as "the son of Jesse," Nabal diminishes David's identity and significance. In the Hebrew tradition, lineage was important, but Nabal uses it here to belittle David, ignoring his divine anointing. This phrase underscores the conflict between human perception and divine purpose, reminding readers that God's plans often defy human expectations.

Many servants these days are breaking away from their masters
Nabal's statement reflects a cynical view of the social upheaval during Saul's reign. It implies that David is merely a rebellious servant, not a legitimate leader. This reflects a broader biblical theme of rebellion and loyalty, where true allegiance is to God's anointed, not merely to human authority. Historically, this period was marked by instability, and Nabal's words capture the fear and suspicion of the time.

(10) There be many servants now a days that break away.--This evident insult indicates that Nabal was of the faction of Saul at this time--was reckoned among those who hated David. It was the report of these words, doubtless, which so furiously excited David. In Nabal, the rich sheep-master, the churlish refuser of the fairly earned gift, he saw a deadly political adversary--one who, with men like Doeg and Cush, would hunt him down like a wild beast. Without this explanation, David's wrath and determination to take such speedy and bloody vengeance on a mere selfish churl is inexplicable. With the light, however, which such an open declaration of deadly hostility on the part of Nabal throws on the transaction, the subsequent passionate conduct of David, although deeply blameable, is not difficult to understand.

Verses 10, 11. - There be many servants, etc. Nabal would scarcely have ventured to speak in so insulting a manner if David had been at Maon, but as he had moved with his men a long distance towards the south, he. gave free vent to his rude feelings without restraint. David was to him a mere slave who had run away from his master, Saul. My bread,... my water. These are the necessaries of life, while the flesh was the special luxury provided for the festival. David's ten young men would not literally carry water to him at so great a distance, nor did Nabal mean more than our phrase "meat and drink." The use, nevertheless, of water as equivalent to drink marks the value of water in the hill country, and also the abstemious habits of the people.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But Nabal
נָבָ֜ל (nā·ḇāl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5037: Nabal -- a man of Carmel

asked
וַיֹּ֔אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

them,
עַבְדֵ֤י (‘aḇ·ḏê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

“Who
מִ֥י (mî)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

is David?
דָוִ֖ד (ḏā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

Who [is]
וּמִ֣י (ū·mî)
Conjunctive waw | Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

this son of
בֶן־ (ḇen-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

Jesse?
יִשָׁ֑י (yi·šāy)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3448: Jesse -- father of David

Many
רַבּ֣וּ (rab·bū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7235: To be or become much, many or great

servants
עֲבָדִ֔ים (‘ă·ḇā·ḏîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

these days
הַיּוֹם֙ (hay·yō·wm)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

are breaking away
הַמִּתְפָּ֣רְצִ֔ים (ham·miṯ·pā·rə·ṣîm)
Article | Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 6555: To break through

from
מִפְּנֵ֥י (mip·pə·nê)
Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

their masters.
אֲדֹנָֽיו׃ (’ă·ḏō·nāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 113: Sovereign, controller


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OT History: 1 Samuel 25:10 Nabal answered David's servants and said Who (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
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