Mephibosheth (son of Jonathan)
므비보셋 (요나단의 아들)
Named at 2 Samuel 4:4: “Now Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news came about Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel; and his nurse picked him up and fled. As she hurried to flee, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.” 2 Samuel 9:6–13 says that Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face, and David said to him, “Don’t be afraid, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your father. You will eat bread at my table continually”; that Mephibosheth ate at the king’s table like one of the king’s sons; that he had a young son, whose name was Mica; and that he lived in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table, and was lame in both his feet. 2 Samuel 16:3–4 says that when the king said, “Where is your master’s son?”, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth said to the king, “Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem; for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore me the kingdom of my father.’” and that the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” 2 Samuel 19:24–30 says that Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither groomed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came home in peace; that when the king said to him, “Why didn’t you go with me, Mephibosheth?”, he answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go with the king,’ because your servant is lame. He has slandered your servant to my lord the king”; and that when the king said, “I say, you and Ziba divide the land”, Mephibosheth said, “Yes, let him take all, because my lord the king has come in peace to his own house”; the Korean Revised Version reads 사울의 손자, Saul’s grandson, where WEB says “the son of Saul” at 19:24.
Direct relationships 6
Open in the full graphCollected relationship evidence
Source-backed narrative relations; not independent historical verification. Legacy dates and coordinates are outside this review.
Collection & rightsSource evidence (6)
AI-assisted comparison with the cited narrative; not independent historical verification.
- 2SA 4:4, engwebp
4Now Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news came about Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel; and his nurse picked him up and fled. As she hurried to flee, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.
- 2SA 9:1–8, engwebp
1David said, “Is there yet any who is left of Saul’s house, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
2There was of Saul’s house a servant whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” He said, “I am your servant.”
3The king said, “Is there not yet any of Saul’s house, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “Jonathan still has a son, who is lame in his feet.”
4The king said to him, “Where is he?” Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.”
5Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar.
6Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, fell on his face, and showed respect. David said, “Mephibosheth?” He answered, “Behold, your servant!”
7David said to him, “Don’t be afraid, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your father. You will eat bread at my table continually.”
8He bowed down, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look at such a dead dog as I am?”
- 2SA 9:9–13, engwebp
9Then the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s son.
10Till the land for him—you, your sons, and your servants. Bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have bread to eat; but Mephibosheth your master’s son will always eat bread at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
11Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so your servant will do.” So Mephibosheth ate at the king’s table like one of the king’s sons.
12Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. All who lived in Ziba’s house were servants to Mephibosheth.
13So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. He was lame in both his feet.
- 2SA 16:1–4, engwebp
1When David was a little past the top, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him with a couple of donkeys saddled, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, and one hundred clusters of raisins, and one hundred summer fruits, and a container of wine.
2The king said to Ziba, “What do you mean by these?” Ziba said, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that those who are faint in the wilderness may drink.”
3The king said, “Where is your master’s son?” Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem; for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore me the kingdom of my father.’”
4Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” Ziba said, “I bow down. Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, O king.”
- 2SA 19:24–30, engwebp
24Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king; and he had neither groomed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came home in peace.
25When he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, “Why didn’t you go with me, Mephibosheth?”
26He answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go with the king,’ because your servant is lame.
27He has slandered your servant to my lord the king, but my lord the king is as an angel of God. Therefore do what is good in your eyes.
28For all my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king; yet you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right therefore have I yet that I should appeal any more to the king?”
29The king said to him, “Why do you speak any more of your matters? I say, you and Ziba divide the land.”
30Mephibosheth said to the king, “Yes, let him take all, because my lord the king has come in peace to his own house.”
- 2SA 21:7–9, engwebp
7But the king spared Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the LORD’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.
8But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Merab the daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite.
9He delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites; and they hanged them on the mountain before the LORD, and all seven of them fell together. They were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, at the beginning of barley harvest.
AI-assisted, human review pending, 2026-09-26
Machine comparison on 2026-10-07: the wording raised none of the 3 rules against the passages this entry cites. No person has read it.
Unresolved interpretation: Ziba’s words at 2 Samuel 16:3 and Mephibosheth’s at 19:26–27
- 2 Samuel 16:3 says that the king said, “Where is your master’s son?”, and that Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem; for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore me the kingdom of my father.’” At 16:4 the king says to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.”
Source evidence (1)
AI-assisted comparison with the cited narrative; not independent historical verification.
- 2SA 16:1–4, engwebp
1When David was a little past the top, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him with a couple of donkeys saddled, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, and one hundred clusters of raisins, and one hundred summer fruits, and a container of wine.
2The king said to Ziba, “What do you mean by these?” Ziba said, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that those who are faint in the wilderness may drink.”
3The king said, “Where is your master’s son?” Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem; for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore me the kingdom of my father.’”
4Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” Ziba said, “I bow down. Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, O king.”
- 2SA 16:1–4, engwebp
- 2 Samuel 19:25 has the king say to Mephibosheth, “Why didn’t you go with me, Mephibosheth?” At 19:26–27 he answers, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go with the king,’ because your servant is lame. He has slandered your servant to my lord the king”. At 19:29–30 the king says, “Why do you speak any more of your matters? I say, you and Ziba divide the land”, and Mephibosheth says to the king, “Yes, let him take all, because my lord the king has come in peace to his own house.”
Source evidence (1)
AI-assisted comparison with the cited narrative; not independent historical verification.
- 2SA 19:24–30, engwebp
24Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king; and he had neither groomed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came home in peace.
25When he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, “Why didn’t you go with me, Mephibosheth?”
26He answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go with the king,’ because your servant is lame.
27He has slandered your servant to my lord the king, but my lord the king is as an angel of God. Therefore do what is good in your eyes.
28For all my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king; yet you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right therefore have I yet that I should appeal any more to the king?”
29The king said to him, “Why do you speak any more of your matters? I say, you and Ziba divide the land.”
30Mephibosheth said to the king, “Yes, let him take all, because my lord the king has come in peace to his own house.”
- 2SA 19:24–30, engwebp
2 Samuel 16:3 says that when the king asked, “Where is your master’s son?”, Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem; for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore me the kingdom of my father.’” 16:4 says that the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” 19:25–30 says that when the king asked Mephibosheth why he didn’t go with him, Mephibosheth answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go with the king,’ because your servant is lame. He has slandered your servant to my lord the king”, and that the king said, “I say, you and Ziba divide the land.” The text does not say which of the two spoke truly. This collection records what each passage says and does not decide whose words were true.
Unresolved interpretation: Eshbaal and Merib-baal of 1 Chronicles 8 and 9
- 2 Samuel 2:8 says, “Now Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s army, had taken Ishbosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim.” 4:4 says that Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was lame in his feet, and ends, “His name was Mephibosheth.” 9:12 says, “Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica.”
Source evidence (3)
AI-assisted comparison with the cited narrative; not independent historical verification.
- 2SA 2:8–11, engwebp
8Now Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s army, had taken Ishbosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim.
9He made him king over Gilead, over the Ashurites, over Jezreel, over Ephraim, over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
10Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.
11The time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
- 2SA 4:4, engwebp
4Now Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news came about Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel; and his nurse picked him up and fled. As she hurried to flee, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.
- 2SA 9:9–13, engwebp
9Then the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s son.
10Till the land for him—you, your sons, and your servants. Bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have bread to eat; but Mephibosheth your master’s son will always eat bread at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
11Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so your servant will do.” So Mephibosheth ate at the king’s table like one of the king’s sons.
12Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. All who lived in Ziba’s house were servants to Mephibosheth.
13So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. He was lame in both his feet.
- 2SA 2:8–11, engwebp
- 1 Chronicles 8:33–34 and 9:39–40 both say, “Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal. The son of Jonathan was Merib-baal. Merib-baal became the father of Micah.”
Source evidence (2)
AI-assisted comparison with the cited narrative; not independent historical verification.
- 1CH 8:33–40, engwebp
33Ner became the father of Kish. Kish became the father of Saul. Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
34The son of Jonathan was Merib-baal. Merib-baal became the father of Micah.
35The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz.
36Ahaz became the father of Jehoaddah. Jehoaddah became the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri became the father of Moza.
37Moza became the father of Binea. Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son.
38Azel had six sons, whose names are these: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.
39The sons of Eshek his brother: Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet the third.
40The sons of Ulam were mighty men of valor, archers, and had many sons, and grandsons, one hundred fifty. All these were of the sons of Benjamin.
- 1CH 9:39–44, engwebp
39Ner became the father of Kish. Kish became the father of Saul. Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
40The son of Jonathan was Merib-baal. Merib-baal became the father of Micah.
41The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz.
42Ahaz became the father of Jarah. Jarah became the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri became the father of Moza.
43Moza became the father of Binea, Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son.
44Azel had six sons, whose names are Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.
- 1CH 8:33–40, engwebp
2 Samuel 2:8 names Ishbosheth the son of Saul, 4:4 Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, and 9:12 Mica the son of Mephibosheth. 1 Chronicles 8:33–34 and 9:39–40 name Eshbaal among the sons of Saul, Merib-baal the son of Jonathan, and Micah, whom Merib-baal fathered. Both editions write the first two names otherwise: the Korean Revised Version reads 이스보셋 and 에스바알, 므비보셋 and 므립바알, and WEB Ishbosheth and Eshbaal, Mephibosheth and Merib-baal. The Korean Revised Version writes 미가 in both books, and WEB Mica in 2 Samuel 9:12 and Micah in 1 Chronicles. The text does not say whether they are the same men. This collection records the Eshbaal, Merib-baal and Micah of 1 Chronicles as names of its lists, linked to no entry of 2 Samuel, and does not decide whether they are the same men.
All 6 relationships: AI-assisted, human review pending
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Jonathan (son of Saul) — Father of — Mephibosheth (son of Jonathan)
Evidence: 2 Samuel 4:4, 2 Samuel 9:1–8, 2 Samuel 21:7–9
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Mephibosheth (son of Jonathan) — Father of — Mica (son of Mephibosheth)
Evidence: 2 Samuel 9:9–13
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Took part in (4) — Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth falls and becomes lame, David says he will show Mephibosheth kindness for Jonathan’s sake, The king calls Ziba, Saul’s servant, and Mephibosheth eats continually at the king’s table, Mephibosheth comes down to meet the king, and the king tells him to divide the land with Ziba
A relationship with an event rests on the passages the event cites: each event’s page has them.
Verses tagged with this entry
Names in the World English Bible text that carry this entry’s tag. They are carried over from the tags on the Korean Revised Version, which are matched by name inside chapters that already have collected evidence, and a verse where the English says “he” carries none. All await human review. They are a separate list from the source passages above. An empty list does not mean the entry is absent from the text.
Now Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news came about Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel; and his nurse picked him up and fled. As she hurried to flee, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.
Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, fell on his face, and showed respect. David said, “Mephibosheth?” He answered, “Behold, your servant!”
Till the land for him—you, your sons, and your servants. Bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have bread to eat; but Mephibosheth your master’s son will always eat bread at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so your servant will do.” So Mephibosheth ate at the king’s table like one of the king’s sons.
Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. All who lived in Ziba’s house were servants to Mephibosheth.
So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. He was lame in both his feet.
When David was a little past the top, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him with a couple of donkeys saddled, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, and one hundred clusters of raisins, and one hundred summer fruits, and a container of wine.
Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” Ziba said, “I bow down. Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, O king.”
Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king; and he had neither groomed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came home in peace.
When he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, “Why didn’t you go with me, Mephibosheth?”
Mephibosheth said to the king, “Yes, let him take all, because my lord the king has come in peace to his own house.”
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[Bibliadatum entry report]
Entry: Mephibosheth (son of Jonathan) (person-mephibosheth-jonathan)
Address: https://bibliadatum.org/en/wiki/person/mephibosheth-jonathan
Current wording: Named at 2 Samuel 4:4: “Now Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news came about Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel; and his nurse picked him up and fled. As she hurried to flee, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.” 2 Samuel 9:6–13 says that Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face, and David said to him, “Don’t be afraid, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your father. You will eat bread at my table continually”; that Mephibosheth ate at the king’s table like one of the king’s sons; that he had a young son, whose name was Mica; and that he lived in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table, and was lame in both his feet. 2 Samuel 16:3–4 says that when the king said, “Where is your master’s son?”, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth said to the king, “Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem; for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore me the kingdom of my father.’” and that the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” 2 Samuel 19:24–30 says that Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither groomed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came home in peace; that when the king said to him, “Why didn’t you go with me, Mephibosheth?”, he answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go with the king,’ because your servant is lame. He has slandered your servant to my lord the king”; and that when the king said, “I say, you and Ziba divide the land”, Mephibosheth said, “Yes, let him take all, because my lord the king has come in peace to his own house”; the Korean Revised Version reads 사울의 손자, Saul’s grandson, where WEB says “the son of Saul” at 19:24.
Cited evidence: 2SA 4:4, engwebp / 2SA 9:1–8, engwebp / 2SA 9:9–13, engwebp / 2SA 16:1–4, engwebp / 2SA 19:24–30, engwebp / 2SA 21:7–9, engwebp
Review state: ai-assisted / human-review-pending
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