Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 4:4

The son of Jonathan, and grandson of Saul (2 Sam. 4:4). He was but five years old when his father and grandfather fell on Mount Gilboa. The child’s nurse hearing of this calamity, fled with him from Gibeah, the royal residence, and stumbling in her haste, the child was thrown to the ground and maimed in both his feet, and ever after was unable to walk (19:26). He was carried to the land of Gilead, where he found a refuge in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar, by whom he was brought up.

Some years after this, when David had subdued all the adversaries of Israel, he began to think of the family of Jonathan, and discovered that Mephibosheth was residing in the house of Machir. Thither he sent royal messengers, and brought him and his infant son to Jerusalem, where he ever afterwards resided (2 Sam. 9).

When David was a fugitive, according to the story of Ziba (2 Sam. 16:1-4) Mephibosheth proved unfaithful to him, and was consequently deprived of half of his estates; but according to his own story, however (19:24-30), he had remained loyal to his friend. After this incident he is only mentioned as having been protected by David against the vengeance the Gibeonites were permitted to execute on the house of Saul (21:7). He is also called Merib-baal (1 Chr. 8:34; 9:40).

People and places

Selected passages

Jump to OET SA2 9:1–13 section.

Recorded scripture occurrences (14)

References recorded in the source data; this is not an exhaustive list of mentions.

Show passage in OET: SA2 4:4

OET-RV SA2 4:4

4 (Sha’ul’s son Yonatan (Jonathan) had a son named Mefiboshet. He was five years old when the report about Sha’ul and Yonatan’s death came from Yizre’el (Jezreel). Mefiboshet’s nanny picked him up to run to safety, but in her hurry he fell and became crippled in his legs.)

OET-LV SA2 4:4

4 And_belonged_to_Yōnātān/(Yəhōnātān/(Jonathan)) the _son _of Shāʼūl a _son stricken _of feet a _son _of five years he _was when_ the _report _of Shāʼūl and_Yōnātān _came from_Yizrəˊ^ʼēl/(Jezreel) and_she_lifted _him nurse _of_his and_she _fled and_he/it _was when_she_made _haste to_flee and_he _fell and_he _became _lame and_his/its_name was_Mephiboshet.

Show passage in OET: SA2 9:6

OET-RV SA2 9:6

6 Then Yonatan’s son Mefiboshet came to David and fell onto his knees and bowed his face down to the ground, and David said, Mefiboshet.”
¶ “I’m your servant,” he replied.

OET-LV SA2 9:6

6 And_ Mephiboshet the _son _of Yōnātān the _son _of Shāʼūl _he _came to Dāvid and_he _fell on his/its_faces/face and_he _bowed _down and_ Dāvid _he/it _said Oh _Mephiboshet and_he/it _said HERE servant _of_is_your.

Show passage in OET: SA2 9:10

OET-RV SA2 9:10

10 You and your fifteen sons and your twenty servants must work the land for him and harvest the produce to support your master’s grandson, but he will eat with me at my house.”

OET-LV SA2 9:10

10 And_you _will _work for_him/it DOM the_soil you and_sons _of_your and_servants _of_your and_you _will _bring and_it _was for_the _son _of your(pl)_master(s)_of_your food and_he_will _eat _it and_Mephiboshet the _son _of your(pl)_master(s)_of_your he _will _eat continually food on table _of_my and_belonged_to_Tsīⱱāʼ fif- teen sons and_twenty servants.

Jump to OET SA2 4:4 section.

Jump to OET SA2 9:6 section.

Jump to OET SA2 9:10 section.

Words tagged with this person or place

These links follow the source-word tags and may include pronouns. Tagging is not exhaustive.