The Meaning of 1 Samuel 25:38 Explained

1 Samuel 25:38

KJV: And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died.

YLT: And it cometh to pass, in about ten days, that Jehovah smiteth Nabal, and he dieth,

Darby: And it came to pass in about ten days that Jehovah smote Nabal, and he died.

ASV: And it came to pass about ten days after, that Jehovah smote Nabal, so that he died.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And it came to pass about ten  days  [after], that the LORD  smote  Nabal,  that he died. 

What does 1 Samuel 25:38 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 25:32-44 - The End Of Selfish Indulgence
The lowly obeisance of this beautiful woman at the young soldier's feet, her frank confession of the injustice done him, her thankfulness that he had been withheld from hasty vengeance, her appreciation of his desire to fight only as a soldier of the Lord, brought David back to his best self.
What a revelation is here given of the agencies by which God seeks to turn us from our evil ways! And, above all, those that enter our lives as sweet human ministries are those arresting influences of the Holy Spirit, pleading with us, striving against our passion and selfishness, and calling us to a nobler, better life. Blessed Spirit, come down more often by the covert of the hill, and stay us in our mad career. Let us not press past thee to take our own wild way, and we shall review thy gracious arrest with ceaseless gratitude.
The idyll ended happily. Nabal died in an apoplectic fit, caused by his debauch and anger. Then David made proposals of marriage to the woman to whom he owed so much, and she gracefully but humbly accepted, declaring herself unworthy. 1 Samuel 25:35 is our Lord's answer to every soul that casts itself upon Him, and every such soul becomes married to Him, when the former husband is dead. See Romans 7:4. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 25:38 mean?

And it came about [after] about ten days that struck Yahweh - Nabal and he died
וַיְהִ֖י כַּעֲשֶׂ֣רֶת הַיָּמִ֑ים וַיִּגֹּ֧ף יְהוָ֛ה אֶת־ נָבָ֖ל וַיָּמֹֽת

וַיְהִ֖י  And  it  came  about 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
כַּעֲשֶׂ֣רֶת  [after]  about  ten 
Parse: Preposition-k, Number, masculine singular construct
Root: עֶשֶׂר 
Sense: ten.
הַיָּמִ֑ים  days 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
וַיִּגֹּ֧ף  that  struck 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָגַף  
Sense: to strike, smite.
יְהוָ֛ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
נָבָ֖ל  Nabal 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: נָבָל  
Sense: a man of Carmel who spurned David’s messengers, then died of shock when he realised it might cause his death; his case was pleaded by his wife Abigail who became David’s wife after his death.
וַיָּמֹֽת  and  he  died 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.