KJV King James Version
And he bowed himself, and said, What [is] thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I [am]?
VERSE STUDY • KJV
2 Samuel 9:8
And he bowed himself, and said, What [is] thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I [am]?
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog like me?”
WEB World English Bible
He bowed down, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look on such a dead dog as I am?”
ASV American Standard Version
And he did obeisance, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
And he boweth himself, and saith, ‘What is thy servant, that thou hast turned unto the dead dog—such as I?’
Surrounding context — 2 Samuel 9
5 Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.
6 Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!
7 And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.
8 And he bowed himself, and said, What [is] thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I [am]?
9 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master’s son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house.
10 Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in [the fruits], that thy master’s son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master’s son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
11 Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, [said the king], he shall eat at my table, as one of the king’s sons.
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Original-language word links
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Cross-references
Matthew 15:26-27But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast [it] to dogs.2 Samuel 16:9Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.1 Samuel 24:14-15After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.1 Samuel 26:20Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.2 Samuel 3:8Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, [Am] I a dog’s head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman?
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
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