Kindness to Mephibosthe

2 Samuel 9

For Jonathan's sake, David seeks out Jonathan's lame son Memphibosthe and restores to him Saul's land, giving him a permanent place at the king's own table.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonAND David said, Is there any yet left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?

BrentonAnd David said, Is there yet any one left in the house of Saul, that I may deal kindly with him for Jonathan's sake?

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Δαυὶδ, εἰ ἔστιν ἔτι ὑπολελειμμένος ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ Σαοὺλ, καὶ ποιήσω μετʼ αὐτοῦ ἔλεος ἕνεκεν Ἰωνάθαν;

KJVAnd David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?

JPSAnd David said: ‘Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?’

ThomsonNow there was a servant of the house of Saul, whose name was Siba. So they called him to David. And the king said to him, Art thou Siba? And he said, I am thy servant.

BrentonAnd there was a servant of the house of Saul, and his name was Siba: and they call him to David; and the king said to him, Art thou Siba? and he said, I am thy servant.

GreekΚαὶ ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου Σαοὺλ ἦν παῖς, καὶ ὄνομα αὐτῷ Σιβά· καὶ καλοῦσιν αὐτὸν πρὸς Δαυίδ· καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ βασιλεὺς, σὺ εἶ Σιβά; καὶ εἶπεν, ἐγὼ δοῦλος σός.

KJVAnd there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he.

JPSNow there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba, and they called him unto David; and the king said unto him: ‘Art thou Ziba?’ And he said: ‘Thy servant is he.’

ThomsonThen the king said to him, Is there any man yet left of the house of Saul, that I may treat him with all the kindness possible? And when Siba said to the king, There is still a son of Jonathan who is disabled in his feet,

BrentonAnd the king said, Is there yet a man left of the house of Saul, that I may act towards him with the mercy of God? and Siba said to the king, There is yet a son of Jonathan, lame of his feet.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν ὁ βασιλεὺς, εἰ ὑπολέλειπται ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου Σαοὺλ ἔτι ἀνὴρ, καὶ ποιήσω μετʼ αὐτοῦ ἔλεος Θεοῦ; καὶ εἶπε Σιβὰ πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα, ἔτι ἐστὶν υἱὸς τῷ Ἰωνάθαν πεπληγὼς τοὺς πόδας.

KJVAnd the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.

JPSAnd the king said: ‘Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God unto him?’ And Ziba said unto the king: ‘Jonathan hath yet a son, who is lame on his feet.’

Thomsonthe king said to Siba, Where is he? And Siba said to the king, Behold at the house of Machir, son of Amiel of Lodabar.

BrentonAnd 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.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν ὁ βασιλεὺς, ποῦ οὗτος; καὶ εἶπε Σιβὰ πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα, ἰδοὺ ἐν οἴκῳ Μαχεὶρ υἱοῦ Ἀμιὴλ ἐκ τῆς Λοδάβαρ.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd 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.’

ThomsonThereupon king David sent for him from the house of Machir, son of Amiel of Lodabar.

BrentonAnd king David sent, and took him out of the house of Machir the son of Amiel of Lodabar.

GreekΚαὶ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ βασιλεὺς Δαυὶδ, καὶ ἔλαβεν αὐτὸν ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου Μαχὶρ υἱοῦ Ἀμιὴλ ἐκ τῆς Λαδάβαρ.

KJVThen king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.

JPSThen king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar.

ThomsonAnd when Memphibosthe, son of Jonathan, son of Saul, was brought before king David, he fell on his face, and made obeisance to him. And when David said to him, Memphibosthe! He said, Here am I, thy servant.

BrentonAnd Memphibosthe the son of Jonathan the son of Saul comes to 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.

GreekΚαὶ παραγίνεται Μεμφιβοσθὲ υἱὸς Ἰωνάθαν υἱοῦ Σαοὺλ πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα Δαυίδ, καὶ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ, καὶ προσεκύνησεν αὐτῷ· καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Δαυίδ, Μεμφιβοσθέ; καὶ εἶπεν, ἰδοὺ ὁ δοῦλός σου.

KJVNow 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!

JPSAnd 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! ’

ThomsonThen David said to him, Fear not; for I will indeed deal kindly with thee, for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and restore thee all the fields of Saul thy grandfather, and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.

BrentonAnd David said to him, Fear not, for I will surely deal mercifully with thee for the sake of Jonathan thy father, and I will restore to thee all the land of Saul the father of thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Δαυίδ, μὴ φοβοῦ, ὅτι ποιῶν ποιήσω μετὰ σοῦ ἔλεος διὰ Ἰωνάθαν τὸν πατέρα σου, καὶ ἀποκαταστήσω σοι πάντα ἀγρὸν Σαοὺλ πατρὸς τοῦ πατρός σου, καὶ σὺ φαγῃ ἄρτον ἐπὶ τῆς τραπέζης μου διαπαντός.

KJVAnd David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.

JPSAnd David said unto him: ‘Fear not; for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.’

ThomsonUpon which Memphibosthe bowed down, and said, Who am I, thy servant, that thou shouldst look on such a dead dog as I am?

BrentonAnd Memphibosthe did obeisance, and said, Who am I thy servant, that thou hast looked upon a dead dog like me?

GreekΚαὶ προσεκύνησε Μεμφιβοσθὲ, καὶ εἶπε, τίς εἰμι ὁ δοῦλός σου, ὅτι ἐπέβλεψας ἐπὶ τὸν κύνα τὸν τεθνηκότα τὸν ὅμοιον ἐμοί;

KJVAnd he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?

JPSAnd he bowed down, and said: ‘What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?’

ThomsonThen the king called Siba, the servant of Saul, and said to him, All that belong to Saul and his house I have given to thy master’s son.

BrentonAnd the king called Siba the servant of Saul, and said to him, All that belonged to Saul and to all his house have I given to the son of thy lord.

GreekΚαὶ ἐκάλεσεν ὁ βασιλεὺς Σιβὰ τὸ παιδάριον Σαοὺλ, καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτὸν, πάντα ὅσα ἐστὶ τῷ Σαοὺλ καὶ ὅλῳ τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ δέδωκα τῷ υἱῷ τοῦ κυρίου σου.

KJVThen the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master’s son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house.

JPSThen the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said unto him: ‘All that pertained to Saul and to all his house have I given unto thy master’s son.

ThomsonTherefore work thou the land for him; both thou and thy sons, and thy servants; and thou shalt bring in provisions for thy master’s son, that he may have bread to eat. And Memphibosthe, thy master’s son, shall eat bread continually at my table. Now Siba had fifteen sons, and twenty servants.

BrentonAnd thou, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him; and thou shalt bring in bread to the son of thy lord, and he shall eat bread: and Memphibosthe the son of thy lord shall eat bread continually at my table. Now Siba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

GreekΚαὶ ἐργᾷ αὐτῷ τὴν γῆν σὺ, καὶ οἱ υἱοί σου, καὶ οἱ δοῦλοί σου, καὶ εἰσοίσεις τῷ υἱῷ τοῦ κυρίου σου ἄρτους, καὶ ἔδεται ἄρτους· καὶ Μεμφιβοσθὲ υἱὸς τοῦ κυρίου σου φάγεται διαπαντὸς ἄρτον ἐπὶ τῆς τραπέζης μου· καὶ τῷ Σιβᾷ ἦσαν πεντεκαίδεκα υἱοὶ, καὶ εἴκοσι δοῦλοι.

KJVThou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master’s son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master’s son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

JPSAnd thou shalt till the land for him, thou, and thy sons, and thy servants; and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master’s son may have bread to eat; but Mephibosheth thy master’s son shall eat bread continually at my table.’ Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

ThomsonAnd Siba said to the king, According to all that the king hath commanded his servant, so will thy servant do. So Memphibosthe ate at David’s table, like one of the king’s sons;

BrentonAnd Siba said to the king, According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will thy servant do. And Memphibosthe did eat at the table of David, as one of the sons of the king.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Σιβὰ πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα, κατὰ πάντα ὅσα ἐντέταλται ὁ κύριός μου ὁ βασιλεὺς τῷ δούλῳ αὐτοῦ, οὕτως ποιήσει ὁ δοῦλός σου· καὶ Μεμφιβοσθὲ ἤσθιεν ἐπὶ τῆς τραπέζης Δαυὶδ καθὼς εἷς τῶν υἱῶν αὐτοῦ τοῦ βασιλέως.

KJVThen said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king’s sons.

JPSThen said Ziba unto the king: ‘According to all that my lord the king commandeth his servant, so shall thy servant do; but Mephibosheth eateth at my table as one of the king’s sons.’

Thomsonand Memphibosthe had a young son whose name was Micha; and all the family of the house of Siba were servants of Memphibosthe.

BrentonAnd Memphibosthe had a little son, and his name was Micha: and all the household of Siba were servants to Memphibosthe.

GreekΚαὶ τῷ Μεμφιβοσθὲ υἱὸς μικρὸς ἦν, καὶ ὄνομα αὐτῷ Μιχά· καὶ πᾶσα ἡ κατοίκησις τοῦ οἴκου Σιβὰ δοῦλοι τοῦ Μεμφιβοσθέ.

KJVAnd Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth.

JPSNow Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth.

ThomsonAnd Memphibosthe dwelt at Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table, and was lame in both his feet.

BrentonAnd Memphibosthe dwelt in Jerusalem, for he continually ate at the table of the king; and he was lame in both his feet.

GreekΚαὶ Μεμφιβοσθὲ κατῴκει ἐν Ἱερουσαλὴμ, ὅτι ἐπὶ τῆς τραπέζης τοῦ βασιλέως αὐτὸς διαπαντὸς ἤσθιε, καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν χωλὸς ἀμφοτέροις τοῖς ποσὶν αὐτοῦ.

KJVSo Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king’s table; and was lame on both his feet.

JPSBut Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem; for he did eat continually at the king’s table; and he was lame on both his feet.