2 Samuel 16:9

2 Samuel 16:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then 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.
• New International Version (NIV)Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!”

Context of 2 Samuel 16:9

7Shimei said as he cursed, “Get out, get out, you man of bloodshed, you wicked man! 8The Lord has paid you back for all the blood of the house of Saul in whose place you became king, and the Lord has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. Look, you are in trouble because you’re a man of bloodshed!” Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and remove his head!” 10The king replied, “Sons of Zeruiah, do we agree on anything? He curses me this way because the Lord told him, ‘Curse David! ’ Therefore, who can say, ‘Why did you do that? ’” 11Then David said to Abishai and all his servants, “Look, my own son, my own flesh and blood, intends to take my life — how much more now this Benjaminite! Leave him alone and let him curse me; the Lord has told him to.

2 Samuel 16:9 word by word

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֲבִישַׁ֤י בֶּן־צְרוּיָה֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לָ֣מָּה יְקַלֵּ֞ל הַכֶּ֤לֶב הַמֵּת֙ הַזֶּ֔ה אֶת־אֲדֹנִ֖י הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ אֶעְבְּרָה־נָּ֖א וְאָסִ֥ירָה אֶת־רֹאשֽׁוֹ׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Abishaiאֲבִישַׁי'ăbîyshay 'abshay · AbishaiH52
• the sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of Zeruiahצְרוּיָהtserûyâh · ZeruiahH6870
• unto the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• Why should this deadמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
• dogכֶּ֫לֶבkeleb · dogH3611
• curseקָלַלqâlal · to lightenH7043
• my lordאָדוֹן'âdôn 'âdôn · lordH113
• let me go overעָבַר‛âbar · to passH5674
• I pray thee, and take offסוּרsûr ώûr · to turn aside: removeH5493
• his headרֹאשׁrô'sh · headH7218

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 16:9

• 2 Samuel 3:30Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.
• 1 Samuel 26:6Then David asked Ahimelech the Hethite and Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, “Who will go with me into the camp to Saul?” “I’ll go with you,” answered Abishai.
• 2 Samuel 3:8Abner was very angry about Ish-bosheth’s accusation. “Am I a dog’s head who belongs to Judah?” he asked. “All this time I’ve been loyal to the family of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends and haven’t betrayed you to David, but now you accuse me of wrongdoing with this woman!
• 2 Samuel 9:8Mephibosheth paid homage and said, “What is your servant that you take an interest in a dead dog like me?”
• 1 Samuel 24:14Who has the king of Israel come after? What are you chasing after? A dead dog? A single flea?
• Exodus 22:28“You must not blaspheme God or curse a leader among your people.
• Acts 23:5“I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest,” replied Paul. “For it is written, You must not speak evil of a ruler of your people.”
• 1 Peter 2:17Honor everyone. Love the brothers and sisters. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
• Job 31:30I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse.
• Jeremiah 40:13Meanwhile, Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the armies in the countryside came to Gedaliah at Mizpah

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 16:9

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9This dead dog - See the marginal reference and 2 Samuel 9:8 note. Go over - The ravine, possibly with a stream of water 2 Samuel 17:20, which lay between them and Shimei.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-14Verses 5-14 David bore Shimei's curses much better than Ziba's flatteries; by these he was brought to pass a wrong judgment on another, by those to pass a right judgment on himself: the world's smiles are more dangerous than its frowns. Once and again David spared Saul's life, while Saul sought his. But innocence is no defence against malice and falsehood; nor are we to think it strange, if we are charged with that which we have been most careful to keep…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9Abishai was David’s nephew (1 Chronicles 2:13–16) and likely part of his personal guard. He thought no one should speak to the king disrespectfully and survive (compare 2 Samuel 19:21). David was more cautious in making judgments (compare 1 Kings 2:8–9).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 5-125-12. when king David came to Bahurim--a city of Benjamin (2Sa 3:16; 19:16). It is, however, only the confines of the district that are here meant. Shimei, ... a man of the family of Saul--The misfortune of his family, and the occupation by David of what they considered their rightful possessions, afforded a natural, if not a justifiable cause for this ebullition of rude insults and violence. He upbraided David as an ambitious usurper, and charged him, as…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 16:9

• Abishai
• Clemency
• Dog (Sodomite?)
• Forgiveness
• Meekness
• Shimei
• Zeruiah

In the dictionaries

• Dog
• Shimei
• Abishai
• Bible, the
• David
• Dead
• Horse
• Israel, History of
• Samuel, Books of
• Solomon

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings