2 Samuel 9:8

8 He did obeisance, and said, What is your servant, that you should look on such a dead dog as I am?

2 Samuel 9:8 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 9:8

And he bowed himself
In token of gratitude, and as a sign of humility, and of the sense he had of his unworthiness to enjoy such a favour:

and said, what [is] thy servant, that thou shouldest look on such a
dead dog as I [am]?
one so mean, and base, and worthless; which he might say with respect to the infirmities of his body, the rejection of his family by the Lord, their attainder of high treason for rebellion against David, and the low circumstances he was brought into and now under; though one of the royal family, the son of a prince, and grandson of a king; such was his humility, and the sense he had of his being undeserving of any favour from the king, and says this with admiration and astonishment.

2 Samuel 9:8 In-Context

6 Mefivoshet, the son of Yonatan, the son of Sha'ul, came to David, and fell on his face, and did obeisance. David said, Mefivoshet. He answered, Behold, your servant!

7 David said to him, "Don't be afraid of him; for I will surely show you kindness for Yonatan your father's sake, and will restore you all the land of Sha'ul your father; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.

8 He did obeisance, and said, What is your servant, that you should look on such a dead dog as I am?

9 Then the king called to Tziva, Sha'ul's servant, and said to him, All that pertained to Sha'ul and to all his house have I given to your master's son.

10 You shall till the land for him, you, and your sons, and your servants; and you shall bring in [the fruits], that your master's son may have bread to eat: but Mefivoshet your master's son shall eat bread always at my table. Now Tziva had fifteen sons and twenty servants.