2 Samuel 9:8

KJV1611 – Modern English

And he bowed himself, and said, What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I am?

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיִּשְׁתַּ֕חוּ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר מֶ֣ה עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ כִּ֣י פָנִ֔יתָ אֶל־הַכֶּ֥לֶב הַמֵּ֖ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר כָּמֽוֹנִי׃

Transliteration

wa-yištaḥû wa-yōʾmer meh ʿabdekā kî pānîtā ʾel-hak-keleb ham-mēt ʾăšer kāmônî

Grammar Details

• *wa-yištaḥû*: waw consecutive + hishtaphel imperfect 3ms - and he bowed down
• *wa-yōʾmer*: waw consecutive + qal imperfect 3ms - and he said
• *meh*: interrogative - what?
• *ʿabdekā*: noun + 2ms suffix - your servant
• *kî*: conjunction - that/for
• *pānîtā*: qal perfect 2ms - you have turned/regarded
• *ʾel-hak-keleb*: preposition + definite article + noun - to the dog
• *ham-mēt*: definite article + adjective ms - the dead
• *ʾăšer*: relative particle - which/who
• *kāmônî*: preposition + 1cs suffix - like me

Word Meanings

• *pānîtā*: turned to/looked upon/regarded/paid attention to
• *hak-keleb* *ham-mēt*: dead dog - expression of extreme self-abasement

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  Mephibosheth bowed down and said, "What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?"

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And he did obeisance,{H7812} and said,{H559} What is thy servant,{H5650} that thou shouldest look{H6437} upon such a dead{H4191} dog{H3611} as I am?

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And he bowed{H7812}{(H8691)} himself, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, What is thy servant{H5650}, that thou shouldest look{H6437}{(H8804)} upon such a dead{H4191}{(H8801)} dog{H3611} as I am?

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  He worshiped and sayde: Who am I thy seruaunt, that thou turnest the to a deed dogg as I am?

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And he bowed himselfe and sayd, What is thy seruant, that thou shouldest looke vpon such a dead dog as I am?

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And he bowed him selfe, and sayde: What is thy seruaunt, that thou shouldest loke vpon such a dead dogge as I am?

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And he bowed himself, and said, What [is] thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I [am]?

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  He did obeisance, and said, "What is your servant, that you should look on such a dead dog as I am?"

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And he boweth himself, and saith, `What `is' thy servant, that thou hast turned unto the dead dog -- such as I?'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And he did obeisance, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And he did obeisance, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And he went down on his face before the king, and said, What is your servant, for you to take note of a dead dog such as I am?

• World English Bible (2000)

  He did obeisance, and said, "What is your servant, that you should look on such a dead dog as I am?"

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Then Mephibosheth bowed and said,“Of what importance am I, your servant, that you show regard for a dead dog like me?”

Referenced Verses

• 2 Sam 16:9 : 9 Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah to the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray you, and take off his head.
• Matt 15:26-27 : 26 But he answered and said, It is not right to take the children's bread, and throw it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
• 1 Sam 24:14-15 : 14 After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom do you pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea. 15 The LORD therefore be judge and judge between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.
• 1 Sam 26:20 : 20 Now, therefore, do not let my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD, for the king of Israel has come out to seek a flea, as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains."
• 2 Sam 3:8 : 8 Then Abner was very angry for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, that against Judah I show kindness this day unto the house of Saul your father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David, that you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman?