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Wednesday, August 6th, 2025
the Week of Proper 13 / Ordinary 18
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New Life Version

2 Samuel 9:6

Mephibosheth the son of Saul's son Jonathan came to David and fell on his face to the ground in respect. David said, "Mephibosheth." And he answered, "Here is your servant!"

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - David;   Friendship;   Kindness;   King;   Mephibosheth;   Thompson Chain Reference - Bible Stories for Children;   Children;   Home;   Mephibosheth;   Pleasant Sunday Afternoons;   Religion;   Stories for Children;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Jonathan;   Mephibosheth;   Ziba;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Obeisance, Do;   Samuel, Books of;   Ziba;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - David;   Samuel, Books of;   Ziba;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Mephibosheth ;   Ziba ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Jonathan;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Zi'ba;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Mephibosheth;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Reverence;   Samuel, Books of;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Mephibosheth son of Jonathan son of Saul came to David, fell facedown, and paid homage. David said, “Mephibosheth!”
Hebrew Names Version
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!
King James Version
Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!
Lexham English Bible
So Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David. And he fell on his face and did obeisance. David said, "Mephibosheth," and he said, "I am ready to serve you."
English Standard Version
And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, "Mephibosheth!" And he answered, "Behold, I am your servant."
New Century Version
Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, came before David and bowed facedown on the floor. David said, "Mephibosheth!" Mephibosheth said, "I am your servant."
New English Translation
When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed low with his face toward the ground. David said, "Mephibosheth?" He replied, "Yes, at your service."
Amplified Bible
Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David and fell face down and lay himself down [in respect]. David said, "Mephibosheth." And he answered, "Here is your servant!"
New American Standard Bible
Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and prostrated himself. And David said, "Mephibosheth." And he said, "Here is your servant!"
Geneva Bible (1587)
Nowe when Mephibosheth the sonne of Ionathan, the sonne of Saul was come vnto Dauid, he fel on his face, and did reuerence. And Dauid sayde, Mephibosheth? And he answered, Beholde thy seruant.
Legacy Standard Bible
So Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and prostrated himself. And David said, "Mephibosheth." And he said, "Here is your servant!"
Complete Jewish Bible
M'fivoshet the son of Y'honatan, the son of Sha'ul, came to David, fell on his face and prostrated himself. David said, "M'fivoshet!" and he answered, "Here is your servant!"
Darby Translation
And Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, and fell on his face and did obeisance. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he said, Behold thy servant!
Easy-to-Read Version
Jonathan's son Mephibosheth came to David and bowed with his face low to the floor. David said, "Mephibosheth?" Mephibosheth said, "Yes sir, it is I, your servant Mephibosheth."
George Lamsa Translation
Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come to David, he fell on his face and did obeisance. And David said to him, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold your servant!
Good News Translation
When Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul, arrived, he bowed down before David in respect. David said, "Mephibosheth," and he answered, "At your service, sir."
Literal Translation
And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan the son of Saul came to David and fell on his face, and prostrated himself. And David said, Mephibosheth! And he said, Behold, your servant.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Now whan Mephiboseth the sonne of Ionathas the sonne of Saul came vnto Dauid, he fell vpon his face, & worshiped him. Dauid sayde: Mephiboseth. He sayde: Here am I thy seruaunt.
American Standard Version
And Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came unto David, and fell on his face, and did obeisance. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold, thy servant!
Bible in Basic English
And Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, came to David, and falling down on his face, gave him honour. And David said, Mephibosheth. And answering he said, Your servant is here.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Now when Miphiboseth the sonne of Ionathan ye sonne of Saul was come vnto Dauid, he fell on his face, and dyd reuerence: And Dauid saide, Miphiboseth? He aunswered: Beholde thy seruaunt.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came unto David, and fell on his face, and prostrated himself. And David said: 'Mephibosheth!' And he answered: 'Behold thy servant!'
King James Version (1611)
Now when Mephibosheth the sonne of Ionathan the sonne of Saul, was come vnto Dauid, hee fell on his face, and did reuerence: and Dauid said, Mephibosheth! And he answered, Behold thy seruant.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Memphibosthe the son of Jonathan the son of Saul comes to the king David, and he fell upon his face and did obeisance to him: and David said to him, Memphibosthe: and he said, Behold thy servant.
English Revised Version
And Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came unto David, and fell on his face, and did obeisance. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!
Berean Standard Bible
And when Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he fell facedown in reverence. Then David said, "Mephibosheth!" "I am your servant," he replied.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe whanne Myphibosech, the sone of Jonathas, sone of Saul, hadde come to Dauid, he felde in to his face, and worschipide. And Dauid seide, Myphibosech! Which answeride, Y am present, thi seruaunt.
Young's Literal Translation
and Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, son of Saul, cometh unto David, and falleth on his face, and doth obeisance, and David saith, `Mephibosheth;' and he saith, `Lo, thy servant.'
Update Bible Version
And Mephibaal, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, and fell on his face, and did obeisance. And David said, Mephibaal. And he answered, Look, your slave!
Webster's Bible Translation
Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!
World English Bible
Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, and fell on his face, and did obeisance. David said, Mephibosheth. He answered, Behold, your servant!
New King James Version
Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, "Mephibosheth?" And he answered, "Here is your servant!"
New Living Translation
His name was Mephibosheth; he was Jonathan's son and Saul's grandson. When he came to David, he bowed low to the ground in deep respect. David said, "Greetings, Mephibosheth." Mephibosheth replied, "I am your servant."
New Revised Standard
Mephibosheth son of Jonathan son of Saul came to David, and fell on his face and did obeisance. David said, "Mephibosheth!" He answered, "I am your servant."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Now, when Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came in unto David, he fell on his face and did homage. And David said, Mephibosheth? And he said, Lo! thy servant.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when Miphiboseth the son of Jonathan the son of Saul was come to David, he fell on his face and worshipped. And David said: Miphiboseth? And he answered: Behold thy servant.
Revised Standard Version
And Mephib'osheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David, and fell on his face and did obeisance. And David said, "Mephib'osheth!" And he answered, "Behold, your servant."
THE MESSAGE
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?"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and prostrated himself. And David said, "Mephibosheth." And he said, "Here is your servant!"

Contextual Overview

1 Then David said, "Is there anyone left of the family of Saul, to whom I may show kindness because of Jonathan?" 2 Now there was a servant in Saul's house whose name was Ziba. They called him to David, and the king said to him, "Are you Ziba?" And he said, "I am your servant." 3 The king said, "Is there not still someone of the family of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God?" And Ziba said to the king, "There is still a son of Jonathan who cannot walk because of his feet." 4 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." 5 Then King David sent men to bring him from the family of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar. 6 Mephibosheth the son of Saul's son Jonathan came to David and fell on his face to the ground in respect. David said, "Mephibosheth." And he answered, "Here is your servant!" 7 David said to him, "Do not be afraid. For I will be sure to show kindness to you because of your father Jonathan. I will return to you all the land of your grandfather Saul. And you will eat at my table always." 8 Again Mephibosheth put his face to the ground and said, "Who am I? Why should you care for a dead dog like me?"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Mephibosheth: 1 Chronicles 8:34, 1 Chronicles 9:40, called Meribbaal

he fell: Genesis 18:2, Genesis 33:3, 1 Samuel 20:41, 1 Samuel 25:23

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 22:12 - Here I am 2 Samuel 1:7 - Here am I 2 Samuel 19:24 - Mephibosheth 1 Kings 1:31 - did reverence

Cross-References

Genesis 4:14
See, this day You have made me go away from the land. And I will be hidden from Your face. I will run away and move from place to place. And whoever finds me will kill me."
Genesis 5:1
This is the book of the children of Adam and of their children's children. When God made man, He made him in the likeness of God.
Genesis 9:2
Every animal of the earth, every bird of the sky, everything that moves on the ground, and all the fish of the sea will be afraid of you. They are given into your hand.
Genesis 9:3
Every moving thing that lives will be food for you. I give all to you as I gave you the green plants.
Genesis 9:5
For sure, I will take the life of every animal and every person for taking a life. I will punish every man's brother for taking the life of man.
Genesis 9:6
Whoever takes the life of a man will have his life taken. For God made man to be like Him.
Genesis 9:12
Then God said, "This is something special to see for all time, because of the agreement that I am making between Me and you and every living thing that is with you:
Genesis 9:14
When I bring clouds over the earth and the rain-bow is seen in the clouds,
Genesis 9:26
He also said, "Honor and thanks be to the Lord, the God of Shem. Let Canaan be his servant.
Genesis 9:27
May God make Japheth great. Let him live in the tents of Shem. And let Canaan be his servants."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul,.... For that was his name, though sometimes called Meribbaal, 1 Chronicles 8:34; and this was his relation to Jonathan and Saul, the son of the one, and grandson of the other:

was come unto David; to his court and palace in Jerusalem, being thither brought; for he could not go of himself, being lame:

he fell on his face, and did reverence; to him as a king, in a civil way, and in the best manner he could, considering that he was lame on his feet:

and David said, Mephibosheth; is it he? having learnt what his name was, this he expressed with great vehemency and affection, as glad that he had found one of Jonathan's posterity: and

he answered, behold thy servant! he answered to his name, and owned his subjection to David, and was ready to take the oath of allegiance to him, and give him homage, and serve him in what way he could.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Mephibosheth - Also called Merib-baal (and Meri-baal, probably by a clerical error, 1 Chronicles 9:40). The two names seem to have the same meaning: Bosheth, shame, being the equivalent for Baal, and Mephi (scattering or destroying, being equivalent to Merib (contending with). Compare Ish-bosheth and Esh-baal, Jerub-baal and Jerub-besheth.

He fell on his face - In fear. Such generosity to a fallen rival as David showed in restoring him his paternal property seemed to him scarcely credible.


 
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