1 Samuel 25:7
New International Version
“’Now I hear that it is sheep-shearing time. When your shepherds were with us, we did not mistreat them, and the whole time they were at Carmel nothing of theirs was missing.

New Living Translation
I am told that it is sheep-shearing time. While your shepherds stayed among us near Carmel, we never harmed them, and nothing was ever stolen from them.

English Standard Version
I hear that you have shearers. Now your shepherds have been with us, and we did them no harm, and they missed nothing all the time they were in Carmel.

Berean Standard Bible
Now I hear that it is time for shearing. When your shepherds were with us, we did not harass them, and nothing of theirs was missing the whole time they were in Carmel.

King James Bible
And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel.

New King James Version
Now I have heard that you have shearers. Your shepherds were with us, and we did not hurt them, nor was there anything missing from them all the while they were in Carmel.

New American Standard Bible
Now then, I have heard that you have shearers. Now, your shepherds have been with us; we have not harmed them, nor has anything of theirs gone missing all the days they were in Carmel.

NASB 1995
‘Now I have heard that you have shearers; now your shepherds have been with us and we have not insulted them, nor have they missed anything all the days they were in Carmel.

NASB 1977
‘And now I have heard that you have shearers; now your shepherds have been with us and we have not insulted them, nor have they missed anything all the days they were in Carmel.

Legacy Standard Bible
So now I have heard that you have shearers; now your shepherds have been with us; and we have not dishonored them, nor have they missed anything all the days they were in Carmel.

Amplified Bible
Now I have heard that you have shearers. Now your shepherds have been with us and we have not harmed them, nor were they missing anything all the time they were in Carmel.

Christian Standard Bible
I hear that you are shearing. When your shepherds were with us, we did not harass them, and nothing of theirs was missing the whole time they were in Carmel.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I hear that you are shearing. When your shepherds were with us, we did not harass them, and nothing of theirs was missing the whole time they were in Carmel.

American Standard Version
And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: thy shepherds have now been with us, and we did them no hurt, neither was there aught missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel.

Contemporary English Version
I've heard that you are cutting the wool from your sheep. When your shepherds were with us in Carmel, we didn't harm them, and nothing was ever stolen from them.

English Revised Version
And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: thy shepherds have now been with us, and we did them no hurt, neither was there aught missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I hear that your sheepshearers are with you. Your shepherds have been with us, [and] we have not mistreated them. Nothing of theirs has been missing as long as they've been in Carmel.

Good News Translation
He heard that you were shearing your sheep, and he wants you to know that your shepherds have been with us and we did not harm them. Nothing that belonged to them was stolen all the time they were at Carmel.

International Standard Version
Now, I've heard that the sheep shearers are with you. Now, your shepherds have been with us. We didn't harm them, and they didn't miss anything all the time they were in Carmel.

Majority Standard Bible
Now I hear that it is time for shearing. When your shepherds were with us, we did not harass them, and nothing of theirs was missing the whole time they were in Carmel.

NET Bible
Now I hear that they are shearing sheep for you. When your shepherds were with us, we neither insulted them nor harmed them the whole time they were in Carmel.

New Heart English Bible
And now, look, I have heard that you have shearers. Now your shepherds have been with us in the wilderness, and we did not hurt them, neither was there anything missing from them, all the while they were in Carmel.

Webster's Bible Translation
And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds who were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there aught missing to them, all the while they were in Carmel.

World English Bible
Now I have heard that you have shearers. Your shepherds have now been with us, and we didn’t harm them. Nothing was missing from them all the time they were in Carmel.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And now, I have heard that you have shearers; now, the shepherds whom you have have been with us, we have not put them to shame, nor has anything been looked after by them, all the days of their being in Carmel.

Young's Literal Translation
and, now, I have heard that thou hast shearers; now, the shepherds whom thou hast have been with us, we have not put them to shame, nor hath anything been looked after by them, all the days of their being in Carmel.

Smith's Literal Translation
And now I heard that shearers were to thee: now the shepherds which are to thee were with us, we harmed them not, and not anything was missing to them all the days of their being in Carmel.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
I heard that thy shepherds that were with us in the desert were shearing: we never molested them, neither was there ought missing to them of the flock at any time, all the while they were with us in Carmel.

Catholic Public Domain Version
I have heard that your shepherds, who were with us in the desert, were shearing. We have never troubled them, nor was anything from the flock missing to them at any time, during the entire time that they have been with us in Carmel.

New American Bible
I have just heard that shearers are with you. Now, when your shepherds were with us, we did them no injury, neither did they miss anything while they were in Carmel.

New Revised Standard Version
I hear that you have shearers; now your shepherds have been with us, and we did them no harm, and they missed nothing, all the time they were in Carmel.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Your shepherds were with us and we did not harm them, and they did not miss anything all the time they were in Carmel.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Your Shepherds were with us and we did not harm them, and they lost nothing all the days that they were in the wilderness
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And now I have heard that thou hast shearers; thy shepherds have now been with us, and we did them no hurt, neither was there aught missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And now, behold, I have heard that thy shepherds who were with is in the wilderness are shearing thy sheep, and we hindered them not, neither did we demand any thing from them all the time they were in Carmel.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David, Nabal, and Abigail
6and say to him, ‘Long life to you, and peace to you and your house and to all that belongs to you. 7Now I hear that it is time for shearing. When your shepherds were with us, we did not harass them, and nothing of theirs was missing the whole time they were in Carmel. 8Ask your young men, and they will tell you. So let my young men find favor with you, for we have come on the day of a feast. Please give whatever you can afford to your servants and to your son David.’ ”…

Cross References
John 10:11-14
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. / The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock. / The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep. ...

Luke 2:8
And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night.

Matthew 9:36
When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

1 Peter 5:2-4
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; / not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. / And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

John 21:15-17
When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.” / Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd My sheep.” / Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

Acts 20:28
Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.

Hebrews 13:20
Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,

Ezekiel 34:2-4
“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who only feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed their flock? / You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened sheep, but you do not feed the flock. / You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the injured, brought back the strays, or searched for the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty.

Jeremiah 23:1-4
“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” declares the LORD. / Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who tend My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your deeds, declares the LORD. / Then I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock from all the lands to which I have banished them, and I will return them to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and multiply. ...

Isaiah 40:11
He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes.

Psalm 23:1-4
A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. / He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. / He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name. ...

Zechariah 11:16-17
For behold, I will raise up a shepherd in the land who will neither care for the lost, nor seek the young, nor heal the broken, nor sustain the healthy, but he will devour the flesh of the choice sheep and tear off their hooves. / Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May a sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered and his right eye utterly blinded!”

Micah 5:4
He will stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majestic name of the LORD His God. And they will dwell securely, for then His greatness will extend to the ends of the earth.

Genesis 31:38-40
I have been with you for twenty years now. Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten the rams of your flock. / I did not bring you anything torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss myself. And you demanded payment from me for what was stolen by day or night. / As it was, the heat consumed me by day and the frost by night, and sleep fled from my eyes.

Exodus 22:5
If a man grazes his livestock in a field or vineyard and allows them to stray so that they graze in someone else’s field, he must make restitution from the best of his own field or vineyard.


Treasury of Scripture

And now I have heard that you have shearers: now your shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing to them, all the while they were in Carmel.

We hurt [heb] we shamed

1 Samuel 25:15,16,21
But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields: …

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.

Isaiah 11:6-9
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them…

Jump to Previous
Aught Carmel Evil Harm Hear Heard Hurt Insulted Keepers Missed Missing Mistreat Ought Shame Shearers Sheep Shepherds Theirs Time Whole Wool-Cutters Word
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Aught Carmel Evil Harm Hear Heard Hurt Insulted Keepers Missed Missing Mistreat Ought Shame Shearers Sheep Shepherds Theirs Time Whole Wool-Cutters Word
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














Now I hear
This phrase indicates the reception of news or information, suggesting a network of communication in ancient Israel. The Hebrew root for "hear" is "שָׁמַע" (shama), which implies not just the act of hearing but also understanding and responding. In a spiritual sense, it reflects the importance of being attentive to God's word and the needs of others, emphasizing the value of active listening in our faith journey.

that it is sheep-shearing time
Sheep-shearing was a significant event in ancient agrarian societies, marking a time of harvest and celebration. The Hebrew term for "sheep-shearing" is "גֵּז" (gez), which denotes a period of economic activity and festivity. This context highlights the prosperity and communal aspects of the time, reminding us of the importance of gratitude and sharing our blessings with others, as David sought to do.

When your shepherds were with us
This phrase underscores the presence and interaction between David's men and Nabal's shepherds. The Hebrew word for "shepherds" is "רֹעִים" (ro'im), which not only refers to those who tend flocks but also carries connotations of leadership and care. This reflects the biblical theme of shepherding as a metaphor for guidance and protection, as seen in the life of David and ultimately in Christ, the Good Shepherd.

we did not mistreat them
The phrase emphasizes the ethical conduct of David's men. The Hebrew root "כָּלַם" (kalam) for "mistreat" suggests causing shame or harm. David's assurance of non-aggression and respect towards Nabal's shepherds highlights the biblical principle of treating others with kindness and integrity, aligning with the Golden Rule taught by Jesus.

and nothing of theirs was missing
This statement reflects the honesty and protective nature of David's men. The Hebrew word "פָּקַד" (paqad) for "missing" implies oversight or loss. By ensuring that nothing was lost, David's men demonstrated stewardship and responsibility. This serves as a reminder of the Christian call to be faithful stewards of what God entrusts to us, ensuring that we safeguard and respect the property and well-being of others.

the whole time they were in Carmel
Carmel, a fertile region, was known for its agricultural abundance. The Hebrew "כַּרְמֶל" (Karmel) means "garden" or "vineyard," symbolizing fruitfulness and blessing. The mention of Carmel situates the narrative in a place of provision and beauty, reminding us of God's provision and the importance of living in harmony with His creation. It also sets the stage for the unfolding account of David's interaction with Nabal, highlighting themes of hospitality and divine justice.

(7) Neither was there ought missing unto them.--These words doubtless refer to the protection which David's armed band had afforded to the herdsmen against the frequent raids of the neighbouring people--the Philistines and other more savage and unscrupulous tribes who dwelt on the borders of Palestine. The request was certainly a fair one, for, as Lange and Ewald remark, "apart from the Eastern custom of giving largely at such great merry-makings, according to which such a request would seem in no way strange, David had a certain right to ask a gift from Nabal's wealth. He had indirectly no small share in the festal joy of Nabal and his house. Without some part of the superfluity of the inhabitants whom he protected, he could not have maintained himself and his army."



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Now
וְעַתָּ֣ה (wə·‘at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

I hear
שָׁמַ֔עְתִּי (šā·ma‘·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

that
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

it is time for shearing.
גֹזְזִ֖ים (ḡō·zə·zîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 1494: To cut off, to shear a, flock, shave the hair, to destroy an enemy

When your shepherds
הָרֹעִ֤ים (hā·rō·‘îm)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 7462: To tend a, flock, pasture it, in, to graze, to rule, to associate with

were
הָי֣וּ (hā·yū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

with us,
עִמָּ֔נוּ (‘im·mā·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

we did not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

harass them,
הֶכְלַמְנ֗וּם (heḵ·lam·nūm)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common plural | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3637: To wound, to taunt, insult

and nothing
וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

of theirs was missing
נִפְקַ֤ד (nip̄·qaḏ)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6485: To visit, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit

the whole
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

time
יְמֵ֖י (yə·mê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3117: A day

they were
הֱיוֹתָ֥ם (hĕ·yō·w·ṯām)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

in Carmel.
בַּכַּרְמֶֽל׃ (bak·kar·mel)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3760: Carmel -- a mountain promontory on the Mediterranean, also a city near Hebron


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OT History: 1 Samuel 25:7 Now I have heard that you have (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 25:6
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