And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.

1 SAMUEL 25:42KJV
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1 Samuel 25:42 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 25:42 mean?

1 Samuel 25:42 describes Abigail accepting David’s marriage proposal and traveling to join him. Her quick departure turns the proposal into a new household: she leaves with her attendants and becomes David’s wife.

Following her response to David’s servants in verse 41, Abigail’s actions show that her answer was not merely polite. The narrator pictures a journey, with Abigail riding a donkey and five young women accompanying her.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 25:42

  • “damsels” — נַעֲרוֹת (naʿarot): The word means young women and can refer to female attendants. Here, the KJV’s “damsels of hers” presents the five as women who served or accompanied Abigail.
  • “after” — רֶגֶל (regel): This word commonly means “foot.” In the phrase describing the young women who went after Abigail, it helps picture them following at her feet, or in her company.

Why 1 Samuel 25:42 matters

  • Abigail’s journey follows a major change in her circumstances. Earlier in the passage, she was Nabal’s wife; after Nabal’s death, David sent messengers to ask her to marry him (verses 3, 38–40).
  • David’s messengers connect the proposal with the marriage. Abigail goes “after the messengers of David,” showing that she travels with the people he sent rather than receiving him at her former home.
  • The five attendants show Abigail departing with members of her household. Their presence gives the brief account a picture of a group traveling together, not Abigail setting out alone.

Where else these words appear

“Abigail” Hebrew H26 · used in 17 verses

  • 1 Samuel 25:3 Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.
  • 1 Samuel 25:36 And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.
  • 2 Samuel 2:2 So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite.

“damsels” Hebrew H5291 · used in 57 verses

  • Genesis 24:14 And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.
  • Deuteronomy 22:27 For he found her in the field, and the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her.
  • 1 Kings 1:3 So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

“hasted” Hebrew H4116 · used in 60 verses

  • Genesis 18:6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.
  • Judges 9:48 And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.
  • Esther 5:5 Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

“rode” Hebrew H7392 · used in 75 verses

  • Genesis 24:61 And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.
  • 1 Kings 1:44 And the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king's mule:
  • Psalms 66:12 Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.