2 Samuel 3:8 kjv
Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do show 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?
2 Samuel 3:8 nkjv
Then Abner became very angry at the words of Ishbosheth, and said, "Am I a dog's head that belongs to Judah? Today I show loyalty to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David; and you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman?
2 Samuel 3:8 niv
Abner was very angry because of what Ish-Bosheth said. So he answered, "Am I a dog's head?on Judah's side? This very day I am loyal to the house of your father Saul and to his family and friends. I haven't handed you over to David. Yet now you accuse me of an offense involving this woman!
2 Samuel 3:8 esv
Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bosheth and said, "Am I a dog's head of Judah? To this day I keep showing steadfast love to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not given you into the hand of David. And yet you charge me today with a fault concerning a woman.
2 Samuel 3:8 nlt
Abner was furious. "Am I some Judean dog to be kicked around like this?" he shouted. "After all I have done for your father, Saul, and his family and friends by not handing you over to David, is this my reward ? that you find fault with me about this woman?
2 Samuel 3 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 24:14 | After whom has the king of Israel come out? ...after a dead dog! | David uses similar derogatory language for self. |
| 1 Sam 26:20 | ...like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains. For the king... | David again calls himself a "flea," emphasizing his insignificance to Saul. |
| 2 Sam 9:8 | And he paid homage and said, "What is your servant, that you should look... | Mephibosheth's humble self-designation before David. |
| Prov 26:17 | Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing.. | Warnings against unwise intervention; relates to the fallout of the accusation. |
| Prov 16:18 | Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. | Abner's pride leads to a critical decision. |
| Ps 35:11-12 | Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I do not know... | Describes false accusations and ungratefulness. |
| Ps 69:4 | More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without a.. | Echoes the sentiment of being wrongly accused without cause. |
| Job 2:4-5 | Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "Skin for skin! All that a man... | The severity of accusations and questioning motives. |
| Gen 30:8 | Then Rachel said, "With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister... | God grants justice. Abner seeks vindication through action. |
| Gen 40:23 | Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him. | Relates to Ish-bosheth's ungratefulness. |
| Deut 31:16 | And the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, you are about to lie down with your.. | Consequences for Israel's lack of faithfulness. |
| Judg 2:2 | and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you... | Breaking covenants leads to judgment, here political disloyalty. |
| 1 Ki 1:47 | And the king bowed himself on the bed. And also thus the king said, "Bles.. | Royal concubines signify succession; Abner's act as an affront. |
| 1 Ki 2:22 | And King Solomon answered his mother, "And why do you ask Abishag the.. | Taking a king's concubine implies claiming the throne. |
| Esther 3:5-6 | When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage to him, Haman.. | Rage at perceived disrespect and planning vengeful actions. |
| Matt 5:22 | But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a caus.. | Warns against uncontrolled anger and its consequences. |
| Matt 12:36 | I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every.. | Every word, including accusations, will be judged. |
| Rom 12:19 | Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for.. | Abner takes immediate vengeful action rather than waiting. |
| Eph 4:31-32 | Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put... | Calls believers away from such angry reactions. |
| Phil 2:3 | Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others.. | Abner's reaction is from wounded pride and ambition. |
| Col 3:8 | But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and.. | Paul's instruction against sinful speech and attitudes. |
| Gal 5:19-21 | Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sens.. | Lists wrath and rivalry, seen in Abner's reaction. |
| 1 Pet 2:1 | So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slande.. | Call to abandon actions rooted in negative attitudes. |
| Heb 10:30 | For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." And again,.. | Reiteration that vengeance belongs to God, not individuals. |
2 Samuel 3 verses
2 Samuel 3 8 Meaning
Second Samuel 3:8 records Abner's furious response to Ish-bosheth's accusation regarding Rizpah, Saul's concubine. Abner vehemently denies any disloyalty or attempt to usurp the throne, feeling insulted by the insinuation that he, the guardian of Saul's house, would stoop to such an act. He contrasts his perceived steadfast service to Saul's family with Ish-bosheth's unjust suspicion, using strong, derogatory language ("Am I a dog's head?") to express his outrage. This outburst signals Abner's pivot from supporting Saul's declining kingdom to actively working for David's ascendance, threatening to deliver the entire kingdom to David as a direct consequence of Ish-bosheth's perceived ingratitude and accusation.
2 Samuel 3 8 Context
Chapter 3 of 2 Samuel describes the ongoing civil war between the house of Saul, represented by Ish-bosheth and his military commander Abner, and the house of David, centered in Hebron. While the conflict is prolonged, David's power is steadily growing, and Saul's house is weakening (2 Sam 3:1). Abner, as the most powerful figure in Ish-bosheth's kingdom, acts as the true power behind the throne. The chapter begins by detailing David's growing family, signifying blessing and future reign, contrasting with Ish-bosheth's stagnation. The immediate context of verse 8 is Ish-bosheth's foolish accusation against Abner. Taking a royal concubine was widely understood as an act claiming kingly prerogative and the throne itself (cf. 2 Sam 16:21-22, 1 Kings 2:22). Ish-bosheth, likely motivated by a desperate attempt to assert his waning authority over his more powerful commander, accuses Abner of taking Rizpah, a concubine of Saul. This accusation, whether true or not in Abner's intent, serves as the critical turning point. Abner, already perhaps contemplating shifting allegiance due to the clear trajectory of the war and David's divine anointing, takes immense offense at the public slight, seeing it as both an insult to his honor and an ungrateful response to his years of service protecting Saul's house. This leads him to declare his intention to transfer the entire kingdom to David.
2 Samuel 3 8 Word analysis
Then (וַיִּ֣חַר - wayyīḥar): This conjunction indicates immediate sequence and implies cause and effect. It sets the stage for a powerful emotional reaction.
Abner (אַבְנֵ֗ר - ʾAvnēr): Saul's cousin and commander of his army. A formidable and experienced warrior and politician, pivotal in sustaining Ish-bosheth's claim. His pride and power are significant here.
was very angry (מְאֹד֩ בּוֹ - məʾōḏ bô): Literally "it was hot to him exceedingly." This describes a fierce, intense, burning anger. Not just mild irritation, but profound indignation. It emphasizes the depth of his wounded honor.
at the words (דִּבְרֵי֩ - divrê): Referring to Ish-bosheth's accusation. The verbal attack.
of Ish-bosheth (אִֽישׁ־בֹּ֙שֶׁת֙ - ʾΚ-Bōšet): The weak and relatively incompetent son of Saul, whom Abner had installed as king over Israel. Ish-bosheth's lack of true power contrasts sharply with Abner's command.
and said (וַיֹּאמֶר - wayyōʾmer): Signals Abner's response, which is swift and sharp.
"Am I a dog's head...?" (הֲרֹאשׁ֩ כֶּ֨לֶב - harōʾš keleḇ): An intensely insulting idiomatic Hebrew expression, conveying utter worthlessness, contempt, and extreme humiliation. A "dog" (כֶּלֶב - kelev) in ancient Near Eastern culture was considered unclean, lowly, scavenging, and despised. To call someone a "dog's head" was to strip them of all dignity and honor, reducing them to the lowest, most insignificant status, devoid of any authority or even basic respect. It implies "Do you treat me as utterly contemptible, less than human, unworthy of respect or loyalty?" This contrasts starkly with Abner's position as chief military commander.
that belongs to Judah (אֲשֶׁ֣ר לִֽיהוּדָ֗ה - ʾăšer liYhûḏâ): This phrase further specifies the accusation, implying that Abner's loyalty is to David's faction in Judah rather than to Saul's house, even though Abner is working to protect Ish-bosheth's kingship. Ish-bosheth is effectively accusing Abner of being a traitor who sides with the rival kingdom.
who today shows kindness (אֲנִ֨י הַיּ֤וֹם עֹשֶׂה֙ חֶ֣סֶד - ʾănî hayyōwm ʿōśeh ḥesed): Abner's self-perception. "Doing ḥesed" (חֶסֶד), refers to loyal, steadfast love, faithfulness, kindness, covenant loyalty. He argues his actions are a demonstration of unswerving loyalty, specifically toward Saul's family. He emphasizes "today" to highlight his continued current service, despite the ongoing struggles.
to the house of Saul your father (עִם־בֵּית֩ שָׁא֨וּל אָבִ֜יךָ - ʿim-bêṯ Šāʾûl ʾāḇîḵā): Emphasizing his unwavering loyalty to Ish-bosheth's lineage and the king himself, presenting it as an obligation borne out of family allegiance and tradition.
to his kin (אֶל־אֶחָ֗יו - ʾel-ʾeḥāyw): Referring to Saul's brothers or male relatives.
or his friends (וְאֶל־מְרֵעֵהוּ - wəʾel-məḡerēʿēhû): Saul's associates or those close to him. Abner stresses that his protection extends beyond just Ish-bosheth, covering the entire network that supported Saul.
and have not delivered you (וְלֹ֣א הִמְצִיתִ֔יךָ - wəlōʾ himṣîṯîḵā): Abner asserts that his actions prevented Ish-bosheth's defeat. He positions himself as the protector.
into the hand of David (בְּיַ֖ד דָּוִ֑ד - bəyaḏ Dāwiḏ): The true rival to Ish-bosheth's throne. Abner claims to have thwarted David's progress in deference to Ish-bosheth. This is highly ironic given Abner's next actions.
yet you charge me today (וַתִּפְקֹ֨ד עָלַ֤י הַיּוֹם֙ עֲוֹֽן־אִשָּׁ֔ה - wattiqṣōd ʿālay hayyōwm ʿăwōn-ʾiššâ): Abner expresses outrage at the charge (lit. "you have appointed upon me today a woman's iniquity"). The verb "paqad" (פָּקַד) means to visit, attend to, appoint, or assign accountability. Abner feels held accountable for a shameful "iniquity of a woman," highlighting its petty yet deeply insulting nature concerning his honor and potential claim to the throne. This points to the severe implications of the accusation regarding Rizpah.
with a fault concerning this woman! (עֲוֹֽן־אִשָּׁ֔ה - ʿăwōn-ʾiššâ): The "fault of a woman" specifically refers to the alleged sexual transgression involving Rizpah, a concubine of Saul. Such an act was seen as asserting a claim to the deceased king's property, including his harem, thereby making a veiled or overt claim to the throne itself. Abner interprets this as a false, demeaning accusation questioning his loyalty and suggesting an intention to usurp. His strong reaction indicates that this particular accusation struck him at his deepest sense of honor and allegiance.
2 Samuel 3 8 Bonus section
The practice of inheriting or taking a deceased king's concubines or wives (concubines were often of lesser status but still royal property) was a symbolic act demonstrating a transfer of kingship and authority. Absalom’s public cohabitation with David’s concubines was a prime example (2 Sam 16:20-22). Similarly, Adonijah’s request for Abishag (1 Ki 2:13-25), though seemingly innocent to him, was rightly perceived by Solomon as a thinly veiled attempt to usurp the throne. Therefore, Ish-bosheth’s accusation against Abner, even if politically motivated rather than based on concrete evidence, was a grave one because it suggested Abner was trying to claim the kingship. Abner's explosive response could be seen as an outright denial of this political maneuvering, or, ironically, it served as the very impetus for him to shift allegiance and, effectively, deliver the kingdom to David. Abner’s oath in 2 Sam 3:9-10 immediately following this exchange confirms his commitment to fulfil God’s promise to David, portraying his personal offense as a righteous motivation to align with divine will. This dramatic turning point also reveals Ish-bosheth’s political ineptitude; he alienates his most powerful supporter, sealing his own demise.
2 Samuel 3 8 Commentary
Second Samuel 3:8 marks a pivotal moment in the transfer of power from Saul's house to David's, illustrating how pride, false accusation, and misplaced trust can alter the course of history. Abner, a formidable and proud military commander, felt deeply dishonored by Ish-bosheth's accusation regarding Rizpah. The charge of taking a royal concubine was tantamount to accusing Abner of making a bid for the throne, an ultimate act of disloyalty against the very house he ostensibly served. His furious response, epitomized by "Am I a dog's head?", reflects the extreme indignity of the accusation in the hierarchical and honor-driven culture of the ancient Near East.
Abner saw his actions as selfless loyalty, demonstrating ḥesed (steadfast kindness/loyalty) to a king who now suspected his motives. This perceived ingratitude from a weaker ruler sparked a radical shift in Abner's allegiance. Driven by wounded pride and perhaps seeing the writing on the wall concerning Saul's dwindling house, Abner leverages this accusation to justify his transition to supporting David. This act, while appearing as personal vengeance for a slight, aligns with God's ultimate plan for David's kingdom to be established, though executed through human pride and volatile emotion rather than purely righteous means. It underscores the fragility of alliances built on weakness and suspicion rather than divine decree or mutual respect.