Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, July 8th, 2025
the Week of Proper 9 / Ordinary 14
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Read the Bible

New Life Version

1 Samuel 24:14

After whom has the king come out? After whom are you running? After a dead dog? After a little bug?

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Dog (Sodomite?);   Flea;   Humility;   Proverbs;   Self-Control;   Thompson Chain Reference - Humility;   Humility-Pride;   Insects;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Dog, the;   Insects;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Dogs;   Right-Hand;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Prayer;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Dog;   Flea;   Providence;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - David;   Dog;   Flea;   Mephibosheth;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Insects;   Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Dog;   Flea;   Prayer;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Flea;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Dog;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Da'vid;   Dog,;   Flea,;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Flea;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Dog;   Flea;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Dead;   Dog;   Flea;   Saul;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - God;   Poetry;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Who has the king of Israel come after? What are you chasing after? A dead dog? A single flea?
Hebrew Names Version
After whom is the king of Yisra'el come out? after whom do you pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
King James Version
After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
Lexham English Bible
After whom did the king of Israel go out? After whom are you pursuing? After a dead dog? After one flea?
English Standard Version
After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea!
New Century Version
Whom is the king of Israel coming out against? Whom are you chasing? It's as if you are chasing a dead dog or a flea.
New English Translation
Who has the king of Israel come out after? Who is it that you are pursuing? A dead dog? A single flea?
Amplified Bible
"After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue [with three thousand men]? A dead dog, a single flea?
New American Standard Bible
"After whom has the king of Israel gone out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog, a single flea?
Geneva Bible (1587)
After whom is the King of Israel come out? after whome doest thou pursue? after a dead dog, and after a flea?
Legacy Standard Bible
After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? After a dead dog, after a single flea?
Contemporary English Version
Why should the king of Israel be out chasing me, anyway? I'm as worthless as a dead dog or a flea.
Complete Jewish Bible
as the old saying has it, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness, but I will not lay a hand on you.'
Darby Translation
After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a single flea.
Easy-to-Read Version
Who are you chasing? Did the king of Israel bring an army to chase a single flea or a dying dog?
George Lamsa Translation
After whom have you come out, O king of Israel? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog, and after a flea?
Good News Translation
Look at what the king of Israel is trying to kill! Look at what he is chasing! A dead dog, a flea!
Literal Translation
After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom are you pursuing? After a dead dog? After a flea?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Whom persecutest thou O kynge of Israel, whom persecutest thou? a deed dogg? a flee?
American Standard Version
After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
Bible in Basic English
After whom has the king of Israel come out? for whom are you searching? for a dead dog, an insect.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
After whom is the king of Israel come out? After whom doest thou pursue? After a dead dog, and after a flea.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
King James Version (1611)
After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom doest thou pursue? After a dead dogge, after a flea.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
As the old proverb says, Transgression will proceed from the wicked ones: but my hand shall not be upon thee.
English Revised Version
After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
Berean Standard Bible
Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea?
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
`Whom pursuest thou, kyng of Israel, whom pursuest thou? Thou pursuest a deed hound, and a quyk fle.
Young's Literal Translation
`After whom hath the king of Israel come out? after whom art thou pursuing? -- after a dead dog! after one flea!
Update Bible Version
After whom has the king of Israel come out? after whom do you pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
Webster's Bible Translation
After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea?
World English Bible
After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom do you pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
New King James Version
After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea?
New Living Translation
Who is the king of Israel trying to catch anyway? Should he spend his time chasing one who is as worthless as a dead dog or a single flea?
New Revised Standard
Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A single flea?
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
After whom, hath the king of Israel come forth? After whom, art thou in pursuit? After a dead dog! after a single flea!
Douay-Rheims Bible
(24-15) After whom dost thou pursue? After a dead dog, after a flea.
Revised Standard Version
After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea!
THE MESSAGE
"What does the king of Israel think he's doing? Who do you think you're chasing? A dead dog? A flea? God is our judge. He'll decide who is right. Oh, that he would look down right now, decide right now—and set me free of you!"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog, a single flea?

Contextual Overview

9 David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘David wants to hurt you'? 10 See, your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you to me today in the cave. Some told me to kill you, but I had pity on you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my leader, for he is the Lord's chosen one.' 11 Now, my father, see the piece of your clothing in my hand. I cut off the piece of your clothing but did not kill you. So know and understand that I have no desire to do wrong to you. I have not sinned against you, yet you come wanting to kill me. 12 May the Lord judge between you and me. May He punish you for your action against me. But my hand will not be against you. 13 As the men of long ago said in their wisdom, ‘Out of the sinful comes sin,' but my hand will not be against you. 14 After whom has the king come out? After whom are you running? After a dead dog? After a little bug? 15 May the Lord be the One to judge between you and me. May He see and help me, and save me from you."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the king: 2 Samuel 6:20, 1 Kings 21:7

a dead dog: 1 Samuel 17:43, 2 Samuel 3:8, 2 Samuel 9:8, 2 Samuel 16:9

a flea: 1 Samuel 26:20, Judges 8:1-3

Reciprocal: Job 7:17 - magnify Job 13:25 - break Psalms 113:7 - needy Psalms 124:7 - Our soul Psalms 142:6 - for they Lamentations 4:18 - hunt Mark 14:48 - Are

Cross-References

Genesis 15:8
And Abram said, "O Lord God, how may I know that it will be mine?"
Genesis 24:1
Now Abraham was old. He had lived many years. And the Lord had brought good to Abraham in every way.
Genesis 24:2
Abraham said to the oldest servant in his house and the one who took care of all that he owned, "Place your hand under my hip,
Genesis 24:7
The Lord, the God of heaven, Who took me from my father's house and from the land of my birth, spoke to me and promised me. He said, ‘I will give this land to your children and to their children's children.' He will send His angel in front of you. And you will take a wife for my son from there.
Genesis 24:8
But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this promise to me. Only do not take my son there."
Genesis 24:9
So the servant placed his hand under the hip of Abraham, and he promised to do this.
Genesis 24:10
Then the servant took ten of Abraham's camels and left. He took with him all kinds of gifts from Abraham. Then he went to the city of Nahor in Mesopotamia.
Genesis 24:11
He made the camels get down on their knees outside the city by the well of water in the evening. It was the time when women go out to get water.
Genesis 24:13
See, I am standing here by the well of water. And the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to get water.
Genesis 24:15
Before he had finished speaking, Rebekah came out, the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah and Nahor, the brother of Abraham. She had a jar on her shoulder.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

After whom is the king of Israel come out?.... From his court and palace, with an army of men, and at the head of them:

after whom dost thou pursue? with such eagerness and fury:

after a dead dog; as David was in the opinion, and according to the representation of his enemies, a dog, vile, mean, worthless, of no account; a dead dog, whose name was made to stink through the calumnies cast upon him; and if a dead dog, then as he was an useless person, and could do no good, so neither could he do any hurt, not so much as bark, much less bite; and therefore it was unworthy of so great a prince, a lessening, a degrading of himself, as well as a vain and impertinent thing, to pursue after such an one, that was not worthy of his notice, and could do him neither good nor harm:

after a flea? a little contemptible animal, not easily caught, as it is observed by some, and when caught good for nothing. David, by this simile, fitly represents not only his weakness and impotence, his being worthless, and of no account, and beneath the notice of such a prince as Saul; but the circumstances he was in, being obliged to move from place to place, as a flea leaps from one place to another, and is not easily taken, and when it is, of no worth and value; signifying, that as it was not worth his pains to seek after him, so it would be to no purpose, he should not be able to take him.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

After whom ... - i. e., was it consistent with the dignity of the king of Israel to lead armies in pursuit of a weak and helpless individual like David?

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Samuel 24:14. After a dead dog — A term used among the Hebrews to signify the most sovereign contempt; see 2 Samuel 16:9. One utterly incapable of making the least resistance against Saul, and the troops of Israel. The same idea is expressed in the term flea. The Targum properly expresses both thus: one who is weak, one who is contemptible.


 
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