Bible Strands
2 Samuel 9:6
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Mephibosheth, identified as Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson, arrives at David’s presence after being summoned from Lo-debar and prostrates himself. David initiates the exchange by calling his name, prompting a formal declaration of servitude.
The words — The Hebrew מְפִיבֹשֶׁת (Mephibosheth) literally denotes “from the mouth of shame,” while אֶל־דָּוִד (el-David) marks his physical movement into the king’s direct presence. These terms anchor the encounter in a shift from obscurity to royal attention.
The thread — This posture of submission parallels Ziba’s bowing in 2 Samuel 16:4 and anticipates Mephibosheth’s unshaven state in 2 Samuel 19:24, while 1 Chronicles 9:40 preserves his lineage as Merib-baal. The motif of prostration before David recurs across these passages.
Why it lands — The text records a displaced heir acknowledging royal authority before any covenant promise is fulfilled. It requires the reader to observe the gap between Mephibosheth’s posture of submission and David’s impending restoration.
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
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!
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 16:4 So the king said to Ziba, “All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!” “I humbly bow before you,” said Ziba. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king!”
- 1 Chronicles 9:40 The son of Jonathan: Merib-baal, who was the father of Micah.
- 2 Samuel 19:24 Then Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, went down to meet the king. He had not cared for his feet or trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes from the day the king had left until the day he returned safely.
- 1 Samuel 25:23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey, fell facedown, and bowed before him.
- 1 Chronicles 8:34 The son of Jonathan: Merib-baal, and Merib-baal was the father of Micah.
- Genesis 18:2 And Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
- Genesis 33:3 But Jacob himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.
- 1 Samuel 20:41 When the young man had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone, fell facedown, and bowed three times. Then he and Jonathan kissed each other and wept together—though David wept more.