2 Samuel 9:8

Contemporary English Version

Mephibosheth knelt down again and said, "Why should you care about me? I'm worth no more than a dead dog."

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Mephibosheth paid homage and said, “What is your servant that you take an interest in a dead dog like me?”

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

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?

Lexham English Bible
Then he did obeisance and said, "What is your servant that you have paid attention to the dead dog like me?"

English Standard Version
And he paid homage and said, "What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?"

New Century Version
Mephibosheth bowed to David again and said, "You are being very kind to me, your servant! And I am no better than a dead dog!"

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?"

Amplified Bible
Again Mephibosheth lay himself face down and said, "What is your servant, that you would be concerned for a dead dog like me?"

New American Standard Bible
Again he prostrated himself, and said, "What is your servant, that you should be concerned about a dead dog like me?"

Geneva Bible (1587)
And he bowed himselfe and sayd, What is thy seruant, that thou shouldest looke vpon such a dead dog as I am?

Legacy Standard Bible
So he prostrated himself and said, "What is your servant, that you should regard a dead dog like me?"

Complete Jewish Bible
He prostrated himself and said, "What is your servant that makes you pay such attention to a dead dog like me?"

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

Easy-to-Read Version
Mephibosheth bowed to David again and he said, "I am no better than a dead dog, but you are being very kind to me."

George Lamsa Translation
And he bowed himself and said, What is your servant, that you should look upon me? For I am like a dead dog.

Good News Translation
Mephibosheth bowed again and said, "I am no better than a dead dog, sir! Why should you be so good to me?"

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

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
He worshiped and sayde: Who am I thy seruaunt, that thou turnest the to a deed dogg as I am?

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?

Bible in Basic English
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?

Bishop's 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?

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And he bowed down, and said: 'What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?'

King James Version (1611)
And hee bowed himselfe, and saide, What is thy seruant, that thou shouldest looke vpon such a dead dogge as I am?

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Memphibosthe did obeisance, and said, Who am I thy servant, that thou hast looked upon a dead dog like me?

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

Berean Standard Bible
Mephibosheth bowed down and said, "What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog like me?"

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Which worschipide him, and seide, Who am Y, thi seruaunt, for thou hast biholde on a deed dogge lijk me?

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?'

Update Bible Version
And he did obeisance, and said, What is your slave, that you should look at such a dead dog as I am?

Webster's Bible Translation
And he bowed himself, and said, What [is] thy servant, that thou shouldst look upon such a dead dog as I [am]?

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

New King James Version
Then he bowed himself, and said, "What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?"

New Living Translation
Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and exclaimed, "Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?"

New Life Bible
Again Mephibosheth put his face to the ground and said, "Who am I? Why should you care for a dead dog like me?"

New Revised Standard
He did obeisance and said, "What is your servant, that you should look upon a dead dog such as I?"

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And he did homage, and said - What is thy servant, - that thou hast turned towards such a dead dog as I?

Douay-Rheims Bible
He bowed down to him, and said: Who am I thy servant, that thou shouldst look upon such a dead dog as I am?

Revised Standard Version
And he did obeisance, and said, "What is your servant, that you should look upon a dead dog such as I?"

THE MESSAGE
Shuffling and stammering, not looking him in the eye, Mephibosheth said, "Who am I that you pay attention to a stray dog like me?"

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Again he prostrated himself and said, "What is your servant, that you should regard a dead dog like me?"

Contextual Overview

¹ One day, David thought, "I wonder if any of Saul's family are still alive. If they are, I will be kind to them, because I made a promise to Jonathan." ² David called in Ziba, one of the servants of Saul's family. David said, "So you are Ziba." "Yes, Your Majesty, I am." ³ David asked, "Are any of Saul's family still alive? If there are, I want to be kind to them." Ziba answered, "One of Jonathan's sons is still alive, but he can't walk." ⁴ "Where is he?" David asked. Ziba replied, "He lives in Lo-Debar with Machir the son of Ammiel." ⁵David sent some servants to bring Jonathan's son from Lo-Debar. His name was Mephibosheth, and he was the grandson of Saul. He came to David and knelt down. David asked, "Are you Mephibosheth?" "Yes, I am, Your Majesty." ⁷ David said, "Don't be afraid. I'll be kind to you because Jonathan was your father. I'm going to give you back the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul. Besides that, you will always eat with me at my table." ⁸ Mephibosheth knelt down again and said, "Why should you care about me? I'm worth no more than a dead dog."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

a dead dog: 2 Samuel 3:8, 2 Samuel 16:9, 1 Samuel 24:14, 1 Samuel 24:15, 1 Samuel 26:20, Matthew 15:26, Matthew 15:27

Reciprocal: Ruth 2:10 - Why have 1 Samuel 17:43 - Am 2 Samuel 19:28 - didst thou 2 Samuel 24:20 - bowed 2 Kings 8:13 - a dog

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And he bowed himself,.... In token of gratitude, and as a sign of humility, and of the sense he had of his unworthiness to enjoy such a favour:

and said, what [is] thy servant, that thou shouldest look on such a dead dog as I [am]? one so mean, and base, and worthless; which he might say with respect to the infirmities of his body, the rejection of his family by the Lord, their attainder of high treason for rebellion against David, and the low circumstances he was brought into and now under; though one of the royal family, the son of a prince, and grandson of a king; such was his humility, and the sense he had of his being undeserving of any favour from the king, and says this with admiration and astonishment.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Mephibosheth’s humility of expression, even in the mouth of an Oriental, is painful. It was perhaps in part the result of his helpless lameness, and of the other misfortunes of his life.

A dead dog - The wild dogs of the East, which still abound in every town, are the natural objects of contempt and dislike.