Bible Strands
2 Samuel 9:3
So the king asked, “Is there anyone left of the house of Saul to whom I can show the kindness of God?” Ziba answered, “There is still Jonathan’s son, who is lame in both feet.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David questions Ziba about surviving members of Saul’s household immediately after summoning him, seeking a living descendant to extend covenant loyalty. Ziba responds by identifying Jonathan’s disabled son.
The words — The Hebrew phrase הַ/אֶ֨פֶס ע֥וֹד (ha./'E.fes od) literally renders “is there not still,” framing David’s inquiry as a search for a remaining survivor. The verb וְ/אֶעֱשֶׂ֥ה (ve./'e.'e.Seh) means “so I may do,” indicating David’s intent to act on his question.
The thread — This inquiry connects to 2 Samuel 4:4, which records Jonathan’s son as lame in both feet, and echoes Deuteronomy 10:15, where God’s chosen affection extends to descendants. The structural parallel in Titus 3:3 describes former human brokenness, contrasting with the mercy David seeks to extend.
Why it lands — The text records a king actively searching for a disabled descendant of his predecessor to demonstrate covenant loyalty. It requires the reader to observe how political mercy operates through specific, inconvenient human details rather than abstract ideals.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And 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.
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 4:4 And Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the report about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she was hurrying to escape, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.
- Titus 3:3 For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
- Deuteronomy 10:15 Yet the LORD has set His affection on your fathers and loved them. And He has chosen you, their descendants after them, above all the peoples, even to this day.
- 1 Samuel 20:14 And as long as I live, treat me with the LORD’s loving devotion, that I may not die,
- Matthew 5:44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
- Luke 6:36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
- Deuteronomy 4:37 Because He loved your fathers, He chose their descendants after them and brought you out of Egypt by His presence and great power,
- 2 Samuel 19:26 “My lord the king,” he replied, “because I am lame, I said, ‘I will have my donkey saddled so that I may ride on it and go with the king.’ But my servant Ziba deceived me,