1 Samuel 25:31

1 Samuel 25:31 Meaning and Explanation

That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid.

King James Version (KJV)

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Abigail warns that needless bloodshed would burden David's conscience, and asks to be remembered.

What Does 1 Samuel 25:31 Mean?

Abigail completes her plea by pointing to David's own future peace of mind: vengeance taken now would become a grief and a stumbling block to his heart in the days of his reign. She asks only that, when the Lord has dealt well with him, he remember her.

She appeals to David's conscience, sparing him a regret that no throne could undo. Wisdom looks past the satisfaction of the moment to the burden it would leave behind. To be kept from sin is itself a great mercy, and Abigail labors to give David that gift, that his hands and his heart might be clean when his kingdom comes.

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What does 1 Samuel 25:31 mean?

Abigail warns that needless bloodshed would burden David's conscience, and asks to be remembered.

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