2 Samuel 16:9 nasb — Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over now…

NASB

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

— 2 Samuel 16:9, NASB

Read in Another Translation

5 of 21 translations

2 Samuel 16:9 in Other Translations

7 versions All translations

2 Samuel 16 — Context

6

He threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David; and all the people and all the mighty men were at his right hand and at his left.

7

Thus Shimei said when he cursed, "Get out, get out, you man of bloodshed, and worthless fellow!

8

"The LORD has returned upon you all the bloodshed of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. And behold, you are taken in your own evil, for you are a man of bloodshed!"

9

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

10

But the king said, "What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? If he curses, and if the LORD has told him, 'Curse David,' then who shall say, 'Why have you done so?'"

11

Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "Behold, my son who came out from me seeks my life; how much more now this Benjamite? Let him alone and let him curse, for the LORD has told him.

12

"Perhaps the LORD will look on my affliction and return good to me instead of his cursing this day."

2 Samuel 16:9 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 2 Samuel 16:9 say?
2 Samuel 16:9 in the NASB reads: “Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over now and cut off his head."”
Where is 2 Samuel 16:9 in the Bible?
2 Samuel 16:9 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 2 Samuel, chapter 16, verse 9.
Who wrote 2 Samuel?
2 Samuel is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Nathan and Gad). It was written c. 930–722 BC.
What is the book of 2 Samuel about?
2 Samuel records David's reign — his rise to the throne, the conquest of Jerusalem, the eternal covenant God makes with his house, and the moral failure with Bathsheba that fractures his family. From the highs of triumph to the depths of repentance, David remains the messianic prototype.
What are the major themes of 2 Samuel?
2 Samuel explores themes including Davidic Covenant, Sin & Repentance, Kingdom, Mercy, Consequences. These themes shape the meaning and context of 2 Samuel 16:9.
What translation should I read 2 Samuel 16:9 in?
2 Samuel 16:9 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 2 Samuel 16:9?
2 Samuel 16:9 reads (NASB): “Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over now and cut off his head."” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
GodsGoodBook logo

GodsGoodBook

Making God's Word accessible to everyone

Experience the Bible like never before with multiple translations, powerful search tools, and features to make God's Word personal to you. Completely free, forever.

Features

15+ Bible Translations
Powerful Search Tools
Highlight & Annotate
Share Verses
100% Free Forever
© 2025 GodsGoodBookVersion 1.8.2