1 Samuel 25:23
New International Version
When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground.

New Living Translation
When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed low before him.

English Standard Version
When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got down from the donkey and fell before David on her face and bowed to the ground.

Berean Standard Bible
When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey, fell facedown, and bowed before him.

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

New King James Version
Now when Abigail saw David, she dismounted quickly from the donkey, fell on her face before David, and bowed down to the ground.

New American Standard Bible
When Abigail saw David, she hurried and dismounted from her donkey, and fell on her face in front of David and bowed herself to the ground.

NASB 1995
When Abigail saw David, she hurried and dismounted from her donkey, and fell on her face before David and bowed herself to the ground.

NASB 1977
When Abigail saw David, she hurried and dismounted from her donkey, and fell on her face before David, and bowed herself to the ground.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Abigail saw David; so she hurried and dismounted from her donkey and fell on her face before David and bowed herself to the ground.

Amplified Bible
When Abigail saw David, she hurried and dismounted from the donkey, and kneeled face downward before David and bowed down to the ground [in respect].

Christian Standard Bible
When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey and knelt down with her face to the ground and paid homage to David.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey and fell with her face to the ground in front of David.

American Standard Version
And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and alighted from her ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground.

Contemporary English Version
Abigail quickly got off her donkey and bowed down in front of David.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When Abigail saw David, she quickly got down from her donkey. She immediately bowed down in front of David with her face touching the ground.

Good News Translation
When Abigail saw David, she quickly dismounted and threw herself on the ground

International Standard Version
When Abigail saw David, she quickly got down from the donkey and fell on her face before David, prostrating herself on the ground.

Majority Standard Bible
When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey, fell facedown, and bowed before him.

NET Bible
When Abigail saw David, she got down quickly from the donkey, threw herself down before David, and bowed to the ground.

New Heart English Bible
When Abigail saw David, she hurried, and got off from her donkey, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground at his feet.

Webster's Bible Translation
And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground.

World English Bible
When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got off her donkey, and fell before David on her face and bowed herself to the ground.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Abigail sees David, and hurries and comes down from off the donkey, and falls on her face before David, and bows herself to the earth,

Young's Literal Translation
And Abigail seeth David, and hasteth and cometh down from off the ass, and falleth before David on her face, and boweth herself to the earth,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Abigail will see David, and will hasten, and will come down from the ass, and fall before David upon her face, and will worship him to the earth.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when Abigail saw David she made haste and lighted off the ass, and fell before David, on her face, and adored upon the ground.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then, when Abigail had seen David, she hurried and descended from the donkey. And she fell upon her face before David, and she reverenced on the ground.

New American Bible
As soon as Abigail saw David, she dismounted quickly from the donkey and, falling down, bowed low to the ground before David in homage.

New Revised Standard Version
When Abigail saw David, she hurried and alighted from the donkey, and fell before David on her face, bowing to the ground.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And when Abigail saw David, she hastened and alighted from the ass, and fell before David on her face and bowed herself to the ground,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Abigal saw David and she hurried and she came down from the donkey and she fell before David on her face and she bowed down on the ground
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And when Abigail saw David, she made haste, and alighted from her ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed down to the ground.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Abigaia saw David, and she hasted and alighted from her ass; and she felt before David on her face, and did obeisance to him, bowing to the ground

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Abigail Intercedes for Nabal
22May God punish David, and ever so severely, if I let one of Nabal’s men survive until morning.” 23When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey, fell facedown, and bowed before him. 24She fell at his feet and said, “My lord, may the blame be on me alone, but please let your servant speak to you; hear the words of your servant.…

Cross References
Genesis 18:2
And Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.

Genesis 33:3
But Jacob himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.

Ruth 2:10
At this, she fell on her face, bowing low to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you should take notice of me, even though I am a foreigner?”

2 Kings 4:37
She came in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground. Then she picked up her son and went out.

Esther 8:3
And once again, Esther addressed the king. She fell at his feet weeping and begged him to revoke the evil scheme of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews.

Matthew 2:11
On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Matthew 15:25
The woman came and knelt before Him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

Matthew 18:26
Then the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Have patience with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’

Luke 7:38
As she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair. Then she kissed His feet and anointed them with the perfume.

Luke 17:16
He fell facedown at Jesus’ feet in thanksgiving to Him—and he was a Samaritan.

John 11:32
When Mary came to Jesus and saw Him, she fell at His feet and said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Acts 10:25
As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him.

Acts 16:29
Calling for lights, the jailer rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.

Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.

Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.


Treasury of Scripture

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

lighted

Joshua 15:18
And it came to pass, as she came unto him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou?

Judges 1:14
And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou?

fell

1 Samuel 20:41
And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.

1 Samuel 24:8
David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.

Jump to Previous
Abigail Ab'igail Alighted Ass Bowed Boweth David Dismounted Donkey Earth Haste Hasted Hasteth Herself Hurried Lighted Quickly
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Abigail Ab'igail Alighted Ass Bowed Boweth David Dismounted Donkey Earth Haste Hasted Hasteth Herself Hurried Lighted Quickly
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














When Abigail saw David
The name "Abigail" in Hebrew means "my father's joy" or "source of joy." Abigail is introduced as a woman of intelligence and beauty, and her actions in this verse reflect her wisdom and discernment. The act of seeing David signifies more than just physical sight; it represents her recognition of the gravity of the situation and the importance of David's role as the anointed future king of Israel. In the historical context, David was a fugitive, yet Abigail perceives his divine anointing and potential.

she quickly got off the donkey
The phrase "quickly got off" indicates urgency and respect. In ancient Near Eastern culture, dismounting from a donkey was a gesture of humility and submission, especially when approaching someone of higher status. Abigail's swift action underscores her determination to avert disaster and her recognition of David's authority. The donkey, a common mode of transport, symbolizes peace and service, contrasting with the warlike tensions surrounding David's men and Nabal's household.

fell facedown before David
Falling facedown is a profound act of reverence and supplication. In Hebrew culture, this posture was often adopted in the presence of royalty or divine beings, signifying total submission and respect. Abigail's action here is both a plea for mercy and an acknowledgment of David's future kingship. It reflects her understanding of the spiritual and political dynamics at play, as well as her role as a peacemaker.

and bowed to the ground
Bowing to the ground further emphasizes Abigail's humility and respect. This gesture is a continuation of her submission and is a physical manifestation of her appeal for peace. In the scriptural context, bowing is often associated with worship and honor, indicating Abigail's recognition of David's God-given destiny. Her actions serve as a model of wise and humble intervention, demonstrating how one can influence events through grace and humility.

(23) Fell before David.--This act of obeisance, and, in fact, the whole tone of the wise wife of Nabal in her address to David, seems to betoken her consciousness that she was addressing the anointed of Jehovah, the future king--at no distant date--of Israel. Her worst fears she found realised when she met David, probably at no great distance from the principal residence of Nabal, accompanied by so large an armed force, evidently bent on some deed of violence. She deprecated his wrath by representing her husband not merely as a bad man, but as one scarcely responsible for his actions. Had she only known of the mission of David's followers to Nabal, she implies, very different indeed had been their reception; they would not, at least, have returned to David empty-handed.

Verses 23-25. - Abigail... fell before David on her face. This very abject obeisance may have been grounded on her belief in David's future kingship, or it may simply mark the inferior position held by women in those days (see ver. 41). Her whole address is couched in very humble terms. David (1 Samuel 24:8) only stooped with his face to the ground before Saul. Upon me. Abigail represents herself as the person really guilty, on whom the iniquity, i.e. the punishment of the offence, must fall. Nabal is a mere son of Belial, a worthless, bad man, whose name Nabal, i.e. fool, is a sign that folly is with him, and accompanies all his acts. As a fool he is scarcely accountable for his doings, and Abigail, whose wont and business it was to set things to rights, saw not the young men, and so was unable to save them from her husband's rudeness.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
When Abigail
אֲבִיגַ֙יִל֙ (’ă·ḇî·ḡa·yil)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 26: Abigail -- 'my father is joy', two Israelite women

saw
וַתֵּ֤רֶא (wat·tê·re)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

David,
דָּוִ֔ד (dā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

she quickly
וַתְּמַהֵ֕ר (wat·tə·ma·hêr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 4116: To be liquid, flow easily, to hurry, promptly

got off
וַתֵּ֖רֶד (wat·tê·reḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend

the donkey,
הַחֲמ֑וֹר (ha·ḥă·mō·wr)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2543: A male ass

fell
וַתִּפֹּ֞ל (wat·tip·pōl)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5307: To fall, lie

facedown,
פָּנֶ֔יהָ (pā·ne·hā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 6440: The face

and bowed
וַתִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ (wat·tiš·ta·ḥū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7812: To depress, prostrate

before
לְאַפֵּ֤י (lə·’ap·pê)
Preposition-l | Noun - mdc
Strong's 639: The nose, nostril, the face, a person, ire

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


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OT History: 1 Samuel 25:23 When Abigail saw David she hurried (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 25:22
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