2 Kings 8:13

2 Kings 8:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Hazael said, But what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The Lord hath shewed me that thou shalt be king over Syria.
• New International Version (NIV)Hazael said, “How could your servant, a mere dog, accomplish such a feat?” “The Lord has shown me that you will become king of Aram,” answered Elisha.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Hazael said, "What is your servant, who is but a dog, that he should do this great thing?" Elisha answered, "The Lord has shown me that you are to be king over Syria."
• New King James Version (NKJV)So Hazael said, “But what is your servant—a dog, that he should do this gross thing?” And Elisha answered, “The Lord has shown me that you will become king over Syria.”

Context of 2 Kings 8:13

11He stared at him until he became embarrassed. Then the man of God began to cry. 12“Sir, why are you crying?” Hazael asked. Elisha answered, “I know the evil you will do to the Israelites: You will set their fortresses on fire, kill their best young men, smash their little children, and rip open their pregnant women.” But Hazael asked, “How can a dog like me do such a significant thing?” Elisha answered, “The Lord has shown me that you will become king of Aram.” 14Hazael left Elisha and went to his master Benhadad, who asked him what Elisha had said. Hazael answered, “He told me that you will get better.” 15But the next day Hazael took a blanket, soaked it in water, and smothered the king with it. Hazael ruled as king in his place.

2 Kings 8:13 word by word

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר חֲזָהאֵ֔ל כִּ֣י מָ֤ה עַבְדְּךָ֙ הַכֶּ֔לֶב כִּ֣י יַעֲשֶׂ֔ה הַדָּבָ֥ר הַגָּד֖וֹל הַזֶּ֑ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלִישָׁ֔ע הִרְאַ֧נִי יְהוָ֛ה אֹתְךָ֖ מֶ֥לֶךְ עַל־אֲרָֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Hazaelחֲזָהאֵלchăzâ'êl chăzâh'êl · HazaelH2371
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• thy servantעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• a dogכֶּ֫לֶבkeleb · dogH3611
• that he should doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• this greatגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: largeH1419
• thingדָּבָרdâbâr · word: thingH1697
• And Elishaאֱלִישָׁע'ĕlîyshâ‛ · ElishaH477
• The Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• hath shewedרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• over Syriaאֲרָם'ărâm · SyriaH758

Cross-references for 2 Kings 8:13

• 1 Samuel 17:43The Philistine asked David, “Am I a dog that you come to ⌞attack⌟ me with sticks?” So the Philistine called on his gods to curse David.
• 2 Samuel 9:8Mephibosheth bowed down ⌞again⌟ and answered, “Who am I that you would look at a dead dog like me?”
• Psalms 22:16Dogs have surrounded me. A mob has encircled me. They have pierced my hands and feet.
• Isaiah 56:10⌞Israel’s⌟ watchmen are blind. None of them know anything. All of them are like dogs that are unable to bark. They lie around dreaming; they love to sleep.
• Matthew 7:6“Don’t give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls to pigs. Otherwise, they will trample them and then tear you to pieces.
• Philippians 3:2Beware of dogs! Beware of those who do evil things. Beware of those who insist on circumcision.
• Revelation 22:15Outside are dogs, sorcerers, sexual sinners, murderers, idolaters, and all who lie in what they say and what they do.
• Jeremiah 17:9“The human mind is the most deceitful of all things. It is incurable. No one can understand how deceitful it is.
• Matthew 26:33Peter said to him, “Even if everyone else abandons you, I never will.”
• 2 Kings 8:10Elisha replied, “Tell him that he will get better, although the Lord has shown me that he is actually going to die.”
• 1 Kings 19:15The Lord told him, “Go back to the wilderness near Damascus, the same way you came. When you get there, anoint Hazael as king of Aram.
• Micah 2:1How horrible it will be for those who invent trouble and work out plans for disaster while in bed. When the morning dawns, they carry out their plans because they are able to.

Commentaries on 2 Kings 8:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13But what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great things - I believe this verse to be wrongly interpreted by the general run of commentators. It is generally understood that Hazael was struck with horror at the prediction; that these cruelties were most alien from his mind; that he then felt distressed and offended at the imputation of such evils to him; and yet, so little did he know his own heart, that when he got power, and had opportunity…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13But what, is thy servant a dog? - This is a mistranslation, and conveys to the English reader a sense quite different from that of the original. Hazael‘s speech runs thus - “But what is thy servant, this dog, that he should do this great thing?” He does not shrink from Elisha‘s words, or mean to say that he would be a dog, could he act so cruelly as Elisha predicts he will. On the contrary, Elisha‘s prediction has raised his hopes, and his only doubt is…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-15Verses 7-15 Among other changes of men's minds by affliction, it often gives other thoughts of God's ministers, and teaches to value the counsels and prayers of those whom they have hated and despised. It was not in Hazael's countenance that Elisha read what he would do, but God revealed it to him, and it fetched tears from his eyes: the more foresight men have, the more grief they are liable to. It is possible for a man, under the convictions and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13a mere dog: In the ancient Near East, people viewed dogs as scavengers and held them in low regard. King Shalmaneser III of Assyria noted in his records, “Hazael, son of a nobody, seized the throne.”Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Kings 8:13

• Ben-Hadad
• Dog (Sodomite?)
• Elisha
• Falsehood
• Hazael
• Reproof

In the dictionaries

• Elisha
• Syria
• Benhadad
• Dog
• Elijah
• Hazael
• Oppression
• Restore
• Jehoahaz
• Jehoram; Joram

Commentaries on 2 Kings 8

• 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
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings