Abigail

Pronunciation: AB-ih-gail
Origin of name: Hebrew
Meaning of name: “Her father’s joy” or “fountain of joy”

The Story Behind This Biblical Christian Baby Name

Two women in the Bible were named Abigail. There isn’t much story to the first: she was Abigail the sister of David (who wrote many of the Psalms and became the famous king of Israel). However, the other Abigail was a woman described as “sensible and beautiful”, the wife of Nabal, a man called “mean and dishonest in all his dealings.”

During the time after David had been anointed the next king of Israel but while he was still being persecuted by Saul (the current king whom God had rejected), David asked Nabal for a well-deserved handout. Although Nabal treated David’s men so shamefully that David gathered his soldiers to attack the man, Abigail swiftly intervened to mollify David and spare the life of her husband and all her household.

Her humility, generosity and wisdom was so remarkable that it turned the wrath of the king-to-be, and when her husband died later at God’s hand, David quickly sent messengers to ask for her hand in marriage. She bore David his second son, Chileab.

Scriptures for the Bible Stories of the Girl Name Abigail

The primary scriptural references to the story of Abigail’s meeting and subsequent marriage to David are found 1 Samuel 25.

David’s sister Abigail is mentioned in 1 Chronicles 2:15 (scroll down to verse 15).

Variations of the girl name Abigail

Female: Abbigail, Avigail, Avigayil, Abagail, Abigayle, Abby, Abbey, Abbie, Abbi, Abbe

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