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Tuesday, September 9th, 2025
the Week of Proper 18 / Ordinary 23
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J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible

2 Samuel 16:3

Then said the king, And where is thy lord's son? And Ziba said unto the king - Lo! abiding in Jerusalem, for he said, To-day, will the house of Israel, restore unto me, the kingdom of my father.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Mephibosheth;   Servant;   Slander;   Ziba;   Thompson Chain Reference - Mephibosheth;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Servants;   Slander;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Hadadezer or Hadarezer;   Mephibosheth;   Ziba;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Mephibosheth;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Ziba;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Samuel, Books of;   Ziba;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Samuel, Books of;   Ziba;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Mephibosheth ;   Ziba ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Absalom;   Jerusalem;   Mephibosheth;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Mephib'osheth;   Zi'ba;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Mephibosheth;   Samuel, Books of;   Tale;   Ziba;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Calumny;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“Where is your master’s grandson?” the king asked.
Hebrew Names Version
The king said, Where is your master's son? Tziva said to the king, Behold, he abides at Yerushalayim; for he said, Today will the house of Yisra'el restore me the kingdom of my father.
King James Version
And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.
Lexham English Bible
Then the king said, "Where is the son of your lord?" And Ziba said to the king, "He is living in Jerusalem for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel shall return the kingdom of my father to me.'"
English Standard Version
And the king said, "And where is your master's son?" Ziba said to the king, "Behold, he remains in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my father.'"
New Century Version
The king asked, "Where is Mephibosheth?" Ziba answered him, "Mephibosheth is staying in Jerusalem because he thinks, ‘Today the Israelites will give my father's kingdom back to me!'"
New English Translation
The king asked, "Where is your master's grandson?" Ziba replied to the king, "He remains in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will give back to me my grandfather's kingdom.'"
Amplified Bible
Then the king said, "And where is your master's son [Mephibosheth]?" Ziba said to the king, "Behold, he remains in Jerusalem, for he said, 'Today the house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my father.'"
New American Standard Bible
Then the king said, "And where is your master's son?" And Ziba said to the king, "Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, 'Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.'"
Geneva Bible (1587)
And the king sayde, But where is thy masters sonne? Then Ziba answered the King, Beholde, he remayneth in Ierusalem: for he sayde, This day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdome of my father.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then the king said, "And where is your master's son?" And Ziba said to the king, "Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will return the kingdom of my father to me.'"
Contemporary English Version
"And where is Mephibosheth?" David asked. Ziba answered, "He stayed in Jerusalem, because he thinks the people of Israel want him to rule the kingdom of his grandfather Saul."
Complete Jewish Bible
The king asked, "Where is your master's [grand]son?" Tziva answered the king, "He's staying in Yerushalayim, because he said, ‘Today the house of Isra'el will restore my father's kingship to me.'"
Darby Translation
And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said to the king, Behold, he abides at Jerusalem; for he said, To-day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.
Easy-to-Read Version
Then the king asked, "And where is Mephibosheth?" Ziba answered the king, "Mephibosheth is staying in Jerusalem. He said, ‘Today the Israelites will give my father's kingdom back to me.'"
George Lamsa Translation
And the king said to him, Where is your masters son? Ziba said to him, Behold he remains at Jerusalem; for he said, Today shall the house of Israel restore to me the kingdom of Saul my father.
Good News Translation
"Where is Mephibosheth, the grandson of your master Saul?" the king asked him. "He is staying in Jerusalem," Ziba answered, "because he is convinced that the Israelites will now restore to him the kingdom of his grandfather Saul."
Literal Translation
And the king said, And where is the son of your lord? And Ziba said to the king, Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, Today the house of Israel will give back to me the kingdom of my father.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
The kynge sayde: Where is thy lordes sonne? Siba sayde vnto the kynge: Beholde, he abyde that Ierusale, for he saide: To daye shal ye house of Israel restore my fathers kigdome vnto me.
American Standard Version
And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem; for he said, To-day will the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.
Bible in Basic English
And the king said, And where is your master's son? And Ziba said, He is still at Jerusalem: for he said, Today Israel will give back to me the kingdom of my father.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the king sayde: Where is thy maisters sonne? Ziba aunswered vnto the king, Behold he tarieth still at Hierusalem: For he sayde, This day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdome of my father.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the king said: 'And where is thy master's son?' And Ziba said unto the king: 'Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem; for he said: To-day will the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.'
King James Version (1611)
And the king said, And where is thy masters sonne? and Ziba said vnto the king, Behold, he abideth at Ierusalem: for hee said, To day shall the house of Israel restore mee the kingdome of my father.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the king said, And where is the son of thy master? and Siba said to the king, Behold, he remains in Jerusalem; for he said, To-day shall the house of Israel restore to me the kingdom of my father.
English Revised Version
And the king said, And where is thy master’s son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, Today shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.
Berean Standard Bible
"Where is your master's grandson?" asked the king. And Ziba answered, "Indeed, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he has said, 'Today, the house of Israel will restore to me the kingdom of my grandfather.'"
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And the kyng seide, Where is the sone of thi lord? And Siba answeride to the kyng, He dwellide in Jerusalem, `and seide, To dai the Lord of the hows of Israel schal restore to me the rewme of my fadir.
Young's Literal Translation
And the king saith, `And where [is] the son of thy lord?' and Ziba saith unto the king, `Lo, he is abiding in Jerusalem, for he said, To-day do the house of Israel give back to me the kingdom of my father.'
Update Bible Version
And the king said, And where is your master's son? And Ziba said to the king, Look, he abides at Jerusalem; for he said, Today will the house of Israel restore to me the kingdom of my father.
Webster's Bible Translation
And the king said, And where [is] thy master's son? And Ziba said to the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To-day shall the house of Israel restore to me the kingdom of my father.
World English Bible
The king said, Where is your master's son? Ziba said to the king, Behold, he abides at Jerusalem; for he said, Today will the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.
New King James Version
Then the king said, "And where is your master's son?" And Ziba said to the king, "Indeed he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, "Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me."'
New Living Translation
"And where is Mephibosheth, Saul's grandson?" the king asked him. "He stayed in Jerusalem," Ziba replied. "He said, ‘Today I will get back the kingdom of my grandfather Saul.'"
New Life Bible
Then the king said, "Where is your owner's son?" And Ziba answered, "He is staying in Jerusalem. For he said, ‘Today the family of Israel will return to me the nation of my father.'"
New Revised Standard
The king said, "And where is your master's son?" Ziba said to the king, "He remains in Jerusalem; for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back my grandfather's kingdom.'"
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the king said: Where is thy master’s son? And Siba answered the king: He remained in Jerusalem, saying: To day, will the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.
Revised Standard Version
And the king said, "And where is your master's son?" Ziba said to the king, "Behold, he remains in Jerusalem; for he said, 'Today the house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my father.'"
THE MESSAGE
The king said, "And where is your master's grandson?" "He stayed in Jerusalem," said Ziba. "He said, ‘This is the day Israel is going to restore my grandfather's kingdom to me.'"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then the king said, "And where is your master's son?" And Ziba said to the king, "Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, 'Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.'"

Contextual Overview

1 Now, David, had passed on but a little from the summit, when lo! Ziba, servant of Mephibosheth, met him, - with a couple of asses saddled, and, upon them, two hundred cakes of bread, and one hundred cakes of raisins, and one hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine. 2 And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou, by these? And Ziba said - The asses, are for the king's household, to ride on, and, the bread and the summer fruits, are for the young men to eat, and, the wine, is for drink to such as are faint in the wilderness. 3 Then said the king, And where is thy lord's son? And Ziba said unto the king - Lo! abiding in Jerusalem, for he said, To-day, will the house of Israel, restore unto me, the kingdom of my father. 4 Then said the king unto Ziba, Lo! thine, is all that pertained to Mephibosheth. And Ziba said - I have done homage, that I might find favour in thine eyes, my lord O king.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

where is: 2 Samuel 9:9, 2 Samuel 9:10, Psalms 88:18, Micah 7:5

day: 2 Samuel 19:24-30, Exodus 20:16, Deuteronomy 19:18, Deuteronomy 19:19, Psalms 15:3, Psalms 101:5, Proverbs 1:19, Proverbs 21:28, 1 Timothy 6:9, 1 Timothy 6:10, Jude 1:11

Reciprocal: Exodus 23:1 - shalt not 2 Samuel 19:26 - I will saddle 2 Samuel 19:27 - slandered

Cross-References

Genesis 16:1
But Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children, - she had, however, an Egyptian handmaid, whose name was Hagar.
Genesis 16:4
And he went in unto Hagar anti she conceived, - and when she saw that she had conceived, lightly esteemed, was her lady, in her eyes.
Genesis 16:5
Then said Sarai unto Abram: My wrong, is, on thee! I, gave my handmaid into thy broom, and when she seeth that she hath conceived, then am lightly esteemed in her eyes Yahweh judge betwixt me and her.
Genesis 25:6
but, to the sons of the concubines whom Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, - and then sent them away from Isaac his son while he himself yet lived, eastward unto the land of the east.
Genesis 28:9
Esau therefore went unto Ishmael, - and took Mahalath daughter of Ishmael son of Abraham sister of Nebaioth, to himself to wife, in addition to the wives that he had.
Genesis 30:4
And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid, to wife, - and Jacob went in unto her;
Genesis 30:9
Then saw Leah, that she had left off bearing, - so she took Zilpah, her handmaid, and gave her to Jacob to wife.
Genesis 32:22
And he arose in that night and took his two wives, and his two handmaids, and his eleven sons, - and pressed over the ford of Jabbok.
Genesis 35:22
And it came to pass while Israel inhabited that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine; and Israel heard of it. And so the Sons of Israel came to be Twelve.
2 Samuel 5:13
And David took him yet more concubines and wives, out of Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron, and there were, yet further, born unto David, sons and daughters.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the king said, and where [is] thy master's son?.... The son of Saul, who was Ziba's master, meaning Mephibosheth:

and Ziba said unto the king, behold, he abideth at Jerusalem; as there was reason for it, since he was lame of both his feet, 2 Samuel 9:13, though he could have rode upon an ass, and followed the king, as he proposed to do; but his servant deceived him, and carried off the asses to serve a purpose for himself, see 2 Samuel 19:26;

for he said, today shall the house of Israel restore unto me the kingdom of my father; his father Saul; which was far from his thoughts; and a most wicked suggestion of his servant to blacken his character, and get his estate from him; nor was there the least probability of the kingdom coming to him, but all the reverse; for let it go how it would with David, Absalom, and not Mephibosheth, stood fair for the kingdom.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Thy master’s son - Meaning Saul’s grandson 2 Samuel 9:6. David asks the question, evidently hurt at the apparent ingratitude of Mephibosheth. It is impossible to say whether Mephibosheth was quite guiltless or not. If Psalms 116:0 was composed by David, and after the quelling of Absalom’s rebellion, 2 Samuel 16:11 may contain David’s confession of his present hasty judgment 2 Samuel 16:4 in the matter.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Samuel 16:3. To-day shall the house of Israel — What a base wretch was Ziba! and how unfounded was this accusation against the peaceable, loyal and innocent Mephibosheth!


 
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