King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
Complete Jewish Bible:
The king of Isra'el has come on a campaign - after whom? Whom are you chasing? A dead dog! A single flea!
Berean Standard Bible:
Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea?
American Standard Version:
After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
After{H310} whom is the king{H4428} of Israel{H3478} come out{H3318}? after{H310} whom dost thou pursue{H7291}? after{H310} a dead{H4191} dog{H3611}, after{H310} a{H259} flea{H6550}.
Cross-References (KJV):
1 Samuel 26:20
- Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.
1 Samuel 17:43
- And the Philistine said unto David, [Am] I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
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]?
1 Kings 21:7
- And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, [and] eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.
2 Samuel 3:8
- Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, 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?
2 Samuel 16:9
- 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.
Judges 8:1
- ¶ And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply.
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Commentary for 1 Samuel 24:14
1 Samuel 24:14 is a poignant verse set within the broader narrative of the pursuit of David by King Saul. At this juncture in the story, David has been anointed by the prophet Samuel to be the future king of Israel, yet Saul, the current king, is consumed by jealousy and fear of David's growing popularity and divine favor. This has led Saul to relentlessly pursue David in an attempt to kill him and secure his own dynasty.
In the verse, David confronts Saul in a cave at Engedi, where Saul has unwittingly entered to relieve himself. David's men see this as divine providence, an opportunity for David to eliminate his adversary. However, David chooses to spare Saul's life, cutting off a piece of his robe instead as a sign of his respect for Saul's anointed position. When David reveals himself to Saul, he addresses the king with these words: "After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea."
This verse reflects several key themes: God's sovereignty over human affairs, the virtue of restraint and mercy in leadership, and the temporary nature of worldly power. David's rhetorical question underscores the futility of Saul's pursuit. By comparing himself to a "dead dog" and a "flea," David humbly emphasizes his insignificance in the eyes of the world, while also highlighting the disproportionate and unjust nature of Saul's actions. David acknowledges his own lowly status in contrast to Saul's royal position, yet he also implicitly critiques Saul's abuse of kingly power.
Historically, this event is significant as it demonstrates David's character and his trust in God's timing and justice, rather than taking matters into his own hands. It foreshadows David's eventual ascension to the throne and his reputation as a man after God's own heart, despite his imperfections. The verse also serves as a turning point in the relationship between David and Saul, revealing Saul's recognition of his own wrongdoing and David's righteousness, which leads to a temporary reconciliation between the two.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H310
There are 766 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַחַר
Transliteration: ʼachar
Pronunciation: akh-ar'
Description: from אָחַר; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses); after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, [phrase] out (over) live, [phrase] persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth), when, with. - Strong's Number: H4428
There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
Transliteration: melek
Pronunciation: meh'-lek
Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal. - Strong's Number: H3478
There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel. - Strong's Number: H3318
There are 992 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָצָא
Transliteration: yâtsâʼ
Pronunciation: yaw-tsaw'
Description: a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.; [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter. - Strong's Number: H7291
There are 135 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָדַף
Transliteration: râdaph
Pronunciation: raw-daf'
Description: a primitive root; to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively (of time) gone by); chase, put to flight, follow (after, on), hunt, (be under) persecute(-ion, -or), pursue(-r). - Strong's Number: H4191
There are 694 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מוּת
Transliteration: mûwth
Pronunciation: mooth
Description: a primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill; [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), [idiom] must needs, slay, [idiom] surely, [idiom] very suddenly, [idiom] in (no) wise. - Strong's Number: H3611
There are 31 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כֶּלֶב
Transliteration: keleb
Pronunciation: keh'-leb
Description: from an unused root means. to yelp, or else to attack; a dog; hence (by euphemism) a male prostitute; dog. - Strong's Number: H259
There are 801 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶחָד
Transliteration: ʼechâd
Pronunciation: ekh-awd'
Description: a numeral from אָחַד; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first; a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together, - Strong's Number: H6550
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פַּרְעֹשׁ
Transliteration: parʻôsh
Pronunciation: par-oshe'
Description: probably from פָּרַע and עָשׁ; a flea (as the isolated insect); flea.