2 Samuel 16:9

⁷ And as he yelled curses, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you worthless man of bloodshed!

⁸ The LORD has paid you back for all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, you have come to ruin because you are a man of bloodshed!”

Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!”

¹⁰ But the king replied, “What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? If he curses me because the LORD told him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why did you do this?’”

¹¹ Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son, my own flesh and blood, seeks my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone and let him curse me, for the LORD has told him so.

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: Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!”
KJV: 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.
WEB: Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please let me go over and take off his head.”
ASV: 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.
DARBY: And Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.
BLB: And Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over, please, and turn aside his head.”

ÅB: Da sa Abisai, Serujas sønn, til kongen: Hvorfor skal denne døde hund banne min herre kongen? La meg gå der bort og slå hodet av ham!
OTB: Da sa Abisjai, sønn av Seruja, til kongen, "Hvorfor skal denne døde hunden forbanne min herre kongen? La meg gå over nå og ta av hans hode."
B1930: Da sa Abisai, Serujas sønn, til kongen: Hvorfor skal denne døde hund banne min herre kongen? La mig gå der bort og slå hodet av ham!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Exodus 22:28
You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.
Read in context
2 Samuel 9:8
Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog like me?”
Read in context
1 Samuel 24:14
Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea?
Read in context
2 Samuel 3:8
Abner was furious over Ish-bosheth’s accusation. “Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah?” he asked. “All this time I have been loyal to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends. I have not delivered you into the hand of David, but now you accuse me of wrongdoing with this woman!
Read in context
1 Peter 2:17
Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
Read in context
2 Samuel 3:30
(Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)
Read in context
Jeremiah 40:13–16
Meanwhile, Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the armies in the field came to Gedaliah at Mizpah
Read in context
1 Samuel 26:6–11
And David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” “I will go with you,” answered Abishai.
Read in context