Abishag
Pronounced AB-ih-shag
- Meaning
- "My father wanders; Father of error"
- Origin
- Hebrew
Abishag was a beautiful young Shunammite woman who was brought to care for the aged King David in his final days. She attended to David and kept him warm, though Scripture notes that "the king knew her not." Abishag's story became politically significant after David's death. When Adonijah requested Bathsheba to ask Solomon for permission to marry Abishag, Solomon interpreted this as a veiled attempt to claim the throne — since possessing a king's concubine implied royal authority. This request cost Adonijah his life. Though Abishag speaks no recorded words in Scripture, her presence at the end of David's life and the political upheaval surrounding her highlight how even seemingly minor figures can be caught up in the currents of biblical history.
Spiritual meaning
Abishag's quiet service to the aging king reminds us that faithful, humble care for others — even without recognition — is a noble calling. God sees every act of compassion, even when the world overlooks it.
Related verses (KJV)
"So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king."
1 Kings 1:3-4 (KJV) →"And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah?"
1 Kings 2:22 (KJV) →