1 Samuel 17:43

⁴¹ And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.

⁴² And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.

And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

⁴⁴ And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.

⁴⁵ Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: “Am I a dog,” he said to David, “that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
KJV: And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
WEB: The Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” The Philistine cursed David by his gods.
ASV: And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
DARBY: And the Philistine said to David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
BLB: And the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you would come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

ÅB: Og filisteren sa til David: Er jeg en hund, siden du kommer mot meg med kjepper? Og filisteren bante David ved sin gud.
OTB: Filisteren sa til David: "Er jeg en hund, siden du kommer til meg med staver?" Og han forbannet David ved sine guder.
B1930: Og filisteren sa til David: Er jeg en hund, siden du kommer mot mig med kjepper? Og filisteren bante David ved sin gud.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

2 Samuel 9:8
And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?
Read in context
2 Samuel 3:8
Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I a dog’s head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman?
Read in context
1 Samuel 24:14
After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
Read in context
2 Kings 8:13
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.
Read in context
Proverbs 26:2
As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
Read in context
Genesis 27:29
Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.
Read in context
2 Samuel 16:9
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.
Read in context
Numbers 22:6
Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.
Read in context