1 Samuel 25:38It happened about ten days after, that Yahweh struck Nabal, so that he died.
The setting
Carmel, Israel, ~1000 BC. Ten days later. Nabal dies, possibly from stroke complications. Abigail is now a wealthy widow, and David will soon propose marriage...
The emotion here: reverent awe at witnessing divine intervention in human affairs
The original word
nākāh (נָכָה) — struck down, the same word used for defeating enemies in battle
Why it matters
Ten days was the typical period for stroke victims to either recover or die in ancient times
Read with care
What most readers miss in 1 Samuel 25:38
The timing freed Abigail to marry David and become mother to one of his sons
Common misconceptionSome see this as cruel divine punishment, but Nabal's foolishness and potential violence toward David's men made this intervention protective of many lives.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 1 Samuel 25:38
Bible Genome reading
1 Samuel 25:38 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
1 Samuel 25:38 comes from the book of 1 Samuel, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is grieving, with a comfort power of 40% and a tone that is reverent. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include divine judgment. Notable phrases: Yahweh struck Nabal.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same grieving
“By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you…”
— Genesis 3:19
“Jesus wept.”
— John 11:35
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?”
— Psalms 22:1
“They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.”
— Psalms 22:18
“for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;”
— Romans 3:23
Your reflection
What does 1 Samuel 25:38 mean to you, today?
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