Nabal

American  

[ney-buhl] / ˈneɪ bəl /

noun

1. (in the Bible) a wealthy Calebite, husband of Abigail, who refused rightful tribute to King David for protecting Nabal's flocks.

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Other Word Forms

• Nabalism noun
• Nabalite noun
• Nabalitic adjective

Etymology

Origin of Nabal

Ultimately from Hebrew Nābhāl “fool,” of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

Absorbed in the operation of the blowtorch, William P. Nabal burnt off paint, clapboards, wall, house and all, returned the borrowed blowtorch.

From Time Magazine Archive

Handyman In Peekskill, N. Y., planning to paint his house, William P. Nabal borrowed a blowtorch to remove old paint.

From Time Magazine Archive

And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep.

From Heroes of Israel Text of the Hero Stories with Notes and Questions for Young Students by Soares, Theodore Gerald

David had now two wives with him, Abigail the widow of Nabal, and Ahinoam the Jezreelitess.

From The Expositor's Bible: The First Book of Samuel by Blaikie, William Garden

An interesting side-light is thrown upon this portion of David's career, by the incident of his meeting with Abigail, a woman fair and discreet, married to a sordid churl named Nabal.

From Great Men and Famous Women. Vol. 3 A series of pen and pencil sketches of the lives of more than 200 of the most prominent personages in History by Horne, Charles F. (Charles Francis)