2 Samuel 9:10
8 And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?
9 Then 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.
Thou 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.
11 Then 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.
12 And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- You and your sons and servants are to work the ground for him and bring in the harvest, so that your master’s grandson may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, is always to eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
- KJV
- Thou 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.
- WEB
- 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.
- ASV
- And 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 alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
- DARBY
- And thou, 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. And Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread at my table continually. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
- BLB
- And you will work the land for him—you and your sons and your servants, and you shall bring in, that the son of your master may have food to eat. And Mephibosheth son of your master shall always eat bread at my table.” And Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
- ÅB
- Og du skal dyrke jorden for ham, du og dine sønner og dine tjenere, og høste inn for ham, så din herres sønn kan ha brød å spise, men selv skal Mefiboset, din herres sønn, alltid spise ved mitt bord. Siba hadde femten sønner og tyve tjenere.
- OTB
- Du, dine sønner og dine tjenere skal arbeide jorden for ham, og bringe inn høsten slik at din mesters barnebarn kan ha mat; men Mefibosjet, din mesters barnebarn, skal spise ved mitt bord regelmessig." Siba hadde femten sønner og tjue tjenere.
- B1930
- Og du skal dyrke jorden for ham, du og dine sønner og dine tjenere, og høste inn for ham, så din herres sønn kan ha brød å ete, men selv skal Mefiboset, din herres sønn, alltid ete ved mitt bord. Siba hadde femten sønner og tyve tjenere.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
2 Samuel 9:7
And 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.
Read in context2 Samuel 19:28
For all of my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king?
Read in context2 Kings 25:29
And changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life.
Read in context2 Samuel 9:11–13
Then 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.
Read in contextLuke 14:15
And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.
Read in context