2 Samuel 9:4

THE MESSAGE

"Where is he?" "He's living at the home of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar."

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
The king asked him, “Where is he?”

Hebrew Names Version
The king said to him, Where is he? Tziva said to the king, Behold, he is in the house of Makhir the son of `Ammi'el, in Lo-Devar.

King James Version
And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.

Lexham English Bible
The king said to him, "Where is he?" And Ziba said to the king, "He is here in the house of Makir the son of Ammiel in Lo Debar."

English Standard Version
The king said to him, "Where is he?" And Ziba said to the king, "He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar."

New Century Version
The king asked Ziba, "Where is this son?" Ziba answered, "He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar."

New English Translation
The king asked him, "Where is he?" Ziba told the king, "He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.

Amplified Bible
So the king said to him, "Where is he?" And Ziba replied to the king, "He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar."

New American Standard Bible
So the king said to him, "Where is he?" And Ziba said to the king, "Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar."

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then the King said vnto him, Where is he? And Ziba said vnto the King, Behold, he is in the house of Machir ye sonne of Ammiel of Lo-debar.

Legacy Standard Bible
So the king said to him, "Where is he?" And Ziba said to the king, "Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel in Lo-debar."

Contemporary English Version
"Where is he?" David asked. Ziba replied, "He lives in Lo-Debar with Machir the son of Ammiel."

Complete Jewish Bible
The king said to him, "Where is he?" and Tziva answered, "He's there in the house of Makhir the son of ‘Ammi'el, in Lo-D'var."

Darby Translation
And the king said to him, Where is he? And Ziba said to the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.

Easy-to-Read Version
The king said to Ziba, "Where is this son?" Ziba said to the king, "He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar."

George Lamsa Translation
And the king said to him, Where is he? And Ziba said to the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Gammir, in Lo-debar.

Good News Translation
"Where is he?" the king asked. "At the home of Machir son of Ammiel in Lodebar," Ziba answered.

Literal Translation
And the king said to him, Where is he? And Ziba said to the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel in Lo-debar.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
The kynge sayde vnto him: Where is he? Siba sayde vnto ye kynge: Beholde, he is at Ladober in ye house of Machir ye sonne of Ammuel.

American Standard Version
And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar.

Bible in Basic English
And the king said to him, Where is he? And Ziba said to the king, He is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
The king said vnto him: where is he? Ziba saide vnto the king: Behold, he is in the house of Machir the sonne of Amiel of Lodeber.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the king said unto him: 'Where is he?' And Ziba said unto the king: 'Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar.'

King James Version (1611)
And the king saide vnto him, Where is hee? and Ziba said vnto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir the sonne of Ammiel, in Lodebar.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the king said, Where is he? and Siba said to the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Amiel of Lodabar.

English Revised Version
And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo–debar.

Berean Standard Bible
"Where is he?" replied the king. And Ziba said, "Indeed, he is in Lo-debar at the house of Machir son of Ammiel."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
The kyng seide, Where is he? And Siba seide to the kyng, Lo! he is in the hows of Machir, sone of Amyel, in Lodabar.

Young's Literal Translation
And the king saith to him, `Where [is] he?' and Ziba saith unto the king, `Lo, he [is] in the house of Machir, son of Ammiel, in Lo-Debar.'

Update Bible Version
And the king said to him, Where is he? And Ziba said to the king, Look, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the king said to him, Where [is] he? And Ziba said to the king, Behold, he [is] in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar.

World English Bible
The king said to him, Where is he? Ziba said to the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Look-debar.

New King James Version
So the king said to him, "Where is he?" And Ziba said to the king, "Indeed he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar."

New Living Translation
"Where is he?" the king asked. "In Lo-debar," Ziba told him, "at the home of Makir son of Ammiel."

New Life Bible
So the king said to him, "Where is he?" Ziba answered the king, "See, he is in the family of Machir the son of Ammiel in Lo-debar."

New Revised Standard
The king said to him, "Where is he?" Ziba said to the king, "He is in the house of Machir son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And the king said to him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Lo! he, is in the house of Machir son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Where is he? said he. And Siba said to the king: Behold he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel in Lodabar.

Revised Standard Version
The king said to him, "Where is he?" And Ziba said to the king, "He is in the house of Machir the son of Am'miel, at Lo-debar."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
So the king said to him, "Where is he?" And Ziba said to the king, "Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel in Lo-debar."

Contextual Overview

¹ One day David asked, "Is there anyone left of Saul's family? If so, I'd like to show him some kindness in honor of Jonathan." ² It happened that a servant from Saul's household named Ziba was there. They called him into David's presence. The king asked him, "Are you Ziba?" "Yes sir," he replied. ³ The king asked, "Is there anyone left from the family of Saul to whom I can show some godly kindness?" Ziba told the king, "Yes, there is Jonathan's son, lame in both feet." ⁴ "Where is he?" "He's living at the home of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar." ⁵ King David didn't lose a minute. He sent and got him from the home of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar. ⁶ When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan (who was the son of Saul), came before David, he bowed deeply, abasing himself, honoring David. David spoke his name: "Mephibosheth." "Yes sir?" ⁷ "Don't be frightened," said David. "I'd like to do something special for you in memory of your father Jonathan. To begin with, I'm returning to you all the properties of your grandfather Saul. Furthermore, from now on you'll take all your meals at my table." ⁸ Shuffling and stammering, not looking him in the eye, Mephibosheth said, "Who am I that you pay attention to a stray dog like me?"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Machir: 2 Samuel 17:27-29

Lodebar: This place appears to have been situated beyond Jordan; and was probably, as Reland supposes, the same as Debir or Lidbir, Joshua 13:26.

Cross-References

Leviticus 3:17
The Peace-Offering "If your offering is a Peace-Offering and you present an animal from the herd, either male or female, it must be an animal without any defect. Lay your hand on the head of your offering and slaughter it at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. Aaron's sons, the priests, will throw the blood on all sides of the Altar. As a Fire-Gift to God from the Peace-Offering, present all the fat that covers or is connected to the entrails, the two kidneys and the fat around them at the loins, and the lobe of the liver that is removed along with the kidneys. Aaron and his sons will burn it on the Altar along with the Whole-Burnt-Offering that is on the wood prepared for the fire: a Fire-Gift, a pleasing fragrance to God . "If your Peace-Offering to God comes from the flock, bring a male or female without defect. If you offer a lamb, offer it to God . Lay your hand on the head of your offering and slaughter it at the Tent of Meeting. The sons of Aaron will throw its blood on all sides of the Altar. As a Fire-Gift to God from the Peace-Offering, present its fat, the entire fat tail cut off close to the backbone, all the fat on and connected to the entrails, the two kidneys and the fat around them on the loins, and the lobe of the liver which is removed along with the kidneys. The priest will burn it on the Altar: a meal, a Fire-Gift to God . "If the offering is a goat, bring it into the presence of God , lay your hand on its head, and slaughter it in front of the Tent of Meeting. Aaron's sons will throw the blood on all sides of the Altar. As a Fire-Gift to God present the fat that covers and is connected to the entrails, the two kidneys and the fat which is around them on the loins, and the lobe of the liver which is removed along with the kidneys. The priest will burn them on the Altar: a meal, a Fire-Gift, a pleasing fragrance. "All the fat belongs to God . This is the fixed rule down through the generations, wherever you happen to live: Don't eat the fat; don't eat the blood. None of it."

Leviticus 19:26
"Don't eat meat with blood in it. "Don't practice divination or sorcery.

Deuteronomy 12:16
But you may not eat the blood. Pour the blood out on the ground like water. Nor may you eat there the tithe of your grain, new wine, or olive oil; nor the firstborn of your herds and flocks; nor any of the Vow-Offerings that you vow; nor your Freewill-Offerings and Tribute-Offerings. All these you must eat in the Presence of God , your God, in the place God , your God, chooses—you, your son and daughter, your servant and maid, and the Levite who lives in your neighborhood. You are to celebrate in the Presence of God , your God, all the things you've been able to accomplish.

Deuteronomy 12:23
Only this: Absolutely no blood. Don't eat the blood. Blood is life; don't eat the life with the meat. Don't eat it; pour it out on the ground like water. Don't eat it; then you'll have a good life, you and your children after you. By all means, do the right thing in God 's eyes.

Deuteronomy 14:21
Because you are a people holy to God , your God, don't eat anything that you find dead. You can, though, give it to a foreigner in your neighborhood for a meal or sell it to a foreigner. Don't boil a kid in its mother's milk.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the king said unto him, where is he?.... In what part of the land, city, or town, does he dwell?

and Ziba said unto the king, behold, he [is] in the house of Machir,

the son of Ammiel; a descendant of Machir, the son of Manasseh, to whom the land of Gilead was given, which lay on the other side Jordan:

in Lodebar; a place in that country, perhaps the same with Debir in

Joshua 13:26. Here it may be his mother's relations lived, and here he might dwell in obscurity, and lie hid from the knowledge of David; who, it might be feared by his friends, would have dispatched him, had he known where he was. Some take it to be an appellative, and render it, as Abarbinel observes, "without anything"; as if he was so poor that he had not anything to support himself with. No mention as yet is made of his name, perhaps because the historian had given it before, 2 Samuel 4:4.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

David reaped the fruit of his kindness to Mephibosheth, for, when he fled from Absalom, Machir, the son of Ammiel, was one of those who were most liberal in providing him and his army with necessaries (marginal reference). According to 1 Chronicles 3:5, Ammiel (called inversely Eliam, 2 Samuel 11:3) was the father of Bath-sheba. If this be the same Ammiel, Machir would be Bath-sheba’s brother. However, the name is not a very uncommon one (Num 13:12; 1 Chronicles 26:5, etc.).

Lo-debar - Evidently on the east of Jordan River, and in the neighborhood of Ish-bosheth’s capital, Mahanaim 2 Samuel 17:27, but not identified by any modern traveler. Thought by some, not improbably, to be the same as Debir Joshua 13:26.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Samuel 9:4. Lo-debar. — Supposed to have been situated beyond Jordan; but there is nothing certain known concerning it.