2 Samuel 16:9

⁷ And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:

⁸ The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.

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.

¹⁰ And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?

¹¹ And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.

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
Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.
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
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 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 Peter 2:17
Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
Read in context
2 Samuel 3:30
So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
Read in context
Jeremiah 40:13–16
Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah,
Read in context
1 Samuel 26:6–11
Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.
Read in context