Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good.

1 SAMUEL 25:21KJV
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1 Samuel 25:21 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 25:21 mean?

1 Samuel 25:21 shows David expressing frustration and anger because he feels his efforts to protect Nabal’s property in the wilderness have been pointless, as Nabal has repaid David’s kindness with insult and ingratitude. David is upset that his good actions have been answered with evil, and he sees his protection of Nabal’s possessions as wasted.

David is speaking to himself or his men after being insulted by Nabal, a wealthy man whose shepherds David had guarded from harm. The verse captures David’s emotional reaction: he feels wronged and is contemplating the injustice of being treated badly after doing good. This moment sets the stage for David’s initial plan to take revenge, which is a key turning point in the story.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 25:21

  • "Vain" (שָׁקֶר, sheqer): This word means "falsehood" or "emptiness." David feels his efforts were empty or without purpose, highlighting his sense of betrayal.
  • "Kept" (שָׁמַר, shamar): This verb means "to guard" or "to watch over." David emphasizes that he actively protected Nabal’s property, not just passively ignored trouble.
  • "Requited" (שׁוּב, shuv): This word means "to return" or "to pay back." David is upset that Nabal has "returned" evil (רַע, ra‘) instead of good (טוֹב, tov), stressing the unfairness of the response.

Why 1 Samuel 25:21 matters

  • This verse helps explain why David is so angry and ready to act rashly against Nabal, giving insight into his mindset before Abigail intervenes.
  • The strong language about "evil for good" highlights a recurring biblical theme: the pain of being mistreated despite doing what is right.
  • Understanding David’s feelings here makes Abigail’s wise and calming intervention in the following verses even more significant, showing how the story pivots from vengeance to mercy.

Where else these words appear

“nothing” Hebrew H3972 · used in 32 verses

  • Genesis 22:12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
  • 1 Samuel 12:4 And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand.
  • 1 Kings 10:21 And all king Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.

“this” Hebrew H2088 · used in 37 verses

  • Genesis 5:1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
  • Exodus 13:3 And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.
  • 1 Kings 17:24 And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.

“vain” Hebrew H8267 · used in 109 verses

  • Exodus 5:9 Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.
  • Psalms 144:11 Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:
  • Jeremiah 8:8 How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain.