2 Samuel 9 8

2 Samuel 9:8 kjv

And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?

2 Samuel 9:8 nkjv

Then he bowed himself, and said, "What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?"

2 Samuel 9:8 niv

Mephibosheth bowed down and said, "What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?"

2 Samuel 9:8 esv

And he paid homage and said, "What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?"

2 Samuel 9:8 nlt

Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and exclaimed, "Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?"

2 Samuel 9 verses

2 Samuel 9 8 Meaning

This verse expresses Mephibosheth’s profound humility and overwhelming sense of unworthiness in the face of King David’s extraordinary and unexpected kindness. It highlights his shock and awe that the mighty king would extend grace, attention, and honor to someone he considered to be the lowest of the low—a "dead dog." His question is a rhetorical one, emphasizing his self-perceived nothingness and highlighting the vast chasm between his low status and the king's high regard, seeing David's gesture as pure, unmerited favor.

2 Samuel 9 8 Context

Following David's consolidation of his kingdom and his residence in Jerusalem, the narrative of 2 Samuel 9 opens with David seeking to demonstrate covenantal kindness to the remnants of Saul’s house for the sake of his oath to Jonathan (2 Sam 7 and 1 Sam 20). In ancient Near Eastern customs, a new king typically annihilated previous dynastic lines to prevent future claims to the throne. David, however, driven by covenant fidelity and an unprecedented act of grace, sought out any survivor. He learns of Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, who is crippled and living in obscurity. David, learning of Mephibosheth's lameness and lowly state, declares his intention to restore all of Saul’s land to him and grant him a perpetual place at the king's table. Verse 8 is Mephibosheth's immediate and overwhelming response to this astounding declaration of royal grace. His expression highlights his complete surprise and sense of unworthiness, considering himself the least deserving of such honor, especially given his precarious position as a remnant of a rival house and his physical disability which made him dependent and vulnerable.

2 Samuel 9 8 Word analysis

• Then he bowed himself (וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲוּ – vayyishtachavu):
  • Word: Bowed, specifically prostrated or fell on one's face.
  • Significance: An extreme act of reverence, submission, and humility, signifying total surrender and respect. It’s a common posture before a king or God, denoting that the person considers themselves utterly beneath the authority they are facing.
• and said (וַיֹּאמֶר – vayyomer):
  • Word: And he said.
  • Significance: A simple connector, indicating his verbal response immediately followed his physical posture of humility. His words flow directly from his physical demonstration.
• What is thy servant (מָה אֶבֶדְךָ – mah avdekha):
  • Word: "What is your servant?" - A rhetorical question.
  • Significance: It conveys utter insignificance and self-abasement. Mephibosheth views himself as nothing, questioning why one as great as David would even acknowledge him. "Servant" (עֶבֶד – eved) implies low status relative to the king, yet here it is paired with the question of utter worthlessness.
• that thou shouldest look upon (וַתַּבִּיט אֶל – vattabbiṭ ’el):
  • Word: "And you should look upon/pay attention to."
  • Significance: Emphasizes David's active, intentional gaze and benevolence towards someone he would normally ignore or dispatch. It’s not just seeing, but giving benevolent consideration and care. The use of "thou" highlights the contrast with "I."
• such a dead dog (כְּלֶב מֵת – kəlev met):
  • Word: "Like a dead dog."
  • Significance: This is a powerful, extreme metaphor for contemptible worthlessness. In the ancient world, dogs were largely scavenger animals, often despised; a dead dog was utterly useless, ritually unclean, and repugnant. It represents the lowest possible status—not just alive and despised, but dead, useless, and polluting. This is the pinnacle of his self-perception, conveying extreme humiliation and unworthiness.
• as I am (אָנֹכִי – ’anokhi):
  • Word: "I/me."
  • Significance: Personalizes and applies the "dead dog" description directly to himself, emphasizing that this abject state is his reality.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Then he bowed himself, and said": This phrase describes Mephibosheth's immediate, full physical and verbal reaction to David's surprising benevolence. It signifies deep respect, profound humility, and even shock, reflecting a person overwhelmed by grace they never expected.
• "What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon": This entire clause conveys a profound rhetorical question of unworthiness. It highlights the vast, perceived chasm between his own low status as a dependent, disabled descendant of a deposed king and David's high, gracious regard. It underscores the unmerited nature of David's kindness.
• "such a dead dog as I am?": This powerful conclusion is the climax of Mephibosheth's self-debasement. It’s not false humility, but a raw, cultural expression of his utter insignificance and contemptibility in contrast to the honor being shown. It emphasizes the scandalous nature of David's grace in his eyes, an act beyond what could be earned or deserved by one so vile in his own estimation.

2 Samuel 9 8 Bonus section

• Polemical Implication: David's extraordinary kindness to Mephibosheth stands in stark contrast to the common ancient Near Eastern practice where conquering kings systematically exterminated all rival royal claimants. This act defies standard political expediency, subtly showcasing a divine standard of justice and mercy that goes beyond mere human prudence, echoing God's covenantal faithfulness.
• Prefigurement of Divine Grace: The account of Mephibosheth is often seen as a powerful prefigurement of God's unmerited grace toward humanity. David, the righteous king, seeks out the "lame" (spiritually disabled) and "unworthy" (sinful) to bring them into his presence and share in his kingdom's blessings. Mephibosheth's lameness can symbolize humanity's spiritual brokenness and inability to approach God on its own terms. Despite this inability, he is brought to the king's table, signifying fellowship and restoration through grace alone, not through merit.
• Covenant Fidelity: This act is not random kindness but the direct fulfillment of the sacred covenant David made with Jonathan. It demonstrates David’s faithfulness to his oath, paralleling God’s unwavering faithfulness to His covenants, especially the covenant He made with David himself (2 Sam 7), promising a perpetual kingdom through David's line. Mephibosheth's elevation highlights how divine covenants can transform destitution into dignity.

2 Samuel 9 8 Commentary

Mephibosheth's response in 2 Samuel 9:8 is a powerful display of genuine humility born of astonishment. He understands that, by conventional political standards of his time, he deserved obliteration, not royal favor. His choice of "dead dog" as a descriptor is highly significant; it's a term used to express extreme worthlessness and powerlessness, echoing David's own self-description to Saul, but even more so as a "dead" thing. It’s not mere flattery, but a visceral reaction to profound, undeserved grace. David's act, motivated by his faithful covenant with Jonathan, transcends typical human expectations of justice or power dynamics and strongly mirrors the nature of God's grace towards humanity. Just as David reached out to Mephibosheth despite his lineage and disability, God reaches out to unworthy, broken humanity, restoring them to His presence and providing sustenance at His table. Mephibosheth's humility, therefore, serves as a model response to receiving divine-like favor.