2 Kings 8:13

¹¹ And he settled his countenance stedfastly, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept.

¹² And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child.

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.

¹⁴ So he departed from Elisha, and came to his master; who said to him, What said Elisha to thee? And he answered, He told me that thou shouldest surely recover.

¹⁵ And it came to pass on the morrow, that he took a thick cloth, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died: and Hazael reigned in his stead.

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: “But how could your servant, a mere dog, do such a monstrous thing?” said Hazael. And Elisha answered, “The LORD has shown me that you will be king over Aram.”
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.
WEB: Hazael said, “But what is your servant, who is but a dog, that he could do this great thing?” Elisha answered, “The LORD has shown me that you will be king over Syria.”
ASV: And Hazael said, But what is thy servant, who is but a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, Jehovah hath showed me that thou shalt be king over Syria.
DARBY: And Hazael said, But what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha said, Jehovah has shewn me that thou wilt be king over Syria.
BLB: And Hazael said, “But what [is] your servant, a dog, that he should do this great thing?” And Elisha answered, “YHWH has made me see that you [will be] king over Aram.”

ÅB: Hasael sa: Hva er din tjener, den hund, at han skulle gjøre så store ting? Elisa svarte: Herren har latt meg se deg som konge over Syria.
OTB: Da sa Hasael, "Men hva er din tjener, som ikke er mer enn en hund, at han skulle gjøre denne store ting?" Og Elisa svarte, "Herren har vist meg at du vil bli konge over Aram."
B1930: Hasael sa: Hvad er din tjener, den hund, at han skulde gjøre så store ting? Elisa svarte: Herren har latt mig se dig som konge over Syria.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

1 Samuel 17:43
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.
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1 Kings 19:15
And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:
Read in context
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
Psalms 22:20
Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
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Micah 2:1
Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.
Read in context
Psalms 22:16
For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
Read in context
Matthew 7:6
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
Read in context
2 Kings 8:10
And Elisha said unto him, Go, say unto him, Thou mayest certainly recover: howbeit the LORD hath shewed me that he shall surely die.
Read in context