2 Samuel 9:2

1 Then David asked, “Is there anyone left from the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for the sake of Jonathan?”

And there was a servant of Saul’s family named Ziba. They summoned him to David, and the king inquired, “Are you Ziba?” “I am your servant,” he replied.

3 So the king asked, “Is there anyone left of Saul’s family to whom I can show the kindness of God?” Ziba answered, “There is still Jonathan’s son, who is lame in both feet.”

4 “Where is he?” replied the king. And Ziba said, “Indeed, he is in Lo-debar at the house of Machir son of Ammiel.”

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
And there was a servant of Saul’s family named Ziba. They summoned him to David, and the king inquired, “Are you Ziba?” “I am your servant,” he replied.
KJV
And 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.
WEB
There 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.”
ASV
And 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.
DARBY
And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba; and they called him to David. And the king said to him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant!
BLB
And to the house of Saul [was] a servant, and his name [was] Ziba. And they called him to David, and the king said to him, “[Are] you Ziba?” And he said, “Your servant.”
ÅB
Nå var der i Sauls hus en tjener som hette Siba; han ble kalt til David, og kongen sa til ham: Er du Siba? Han svarte: Ja, din tjener heter så.
OTB
Det var en tjener fra Sauls hus ved navn Siba, som ble ført fram for David. Kongen spurte ham, "Er du Siba?" Og han svarte, "Jeg er din tjener."
B1930
Nu var der i Sauls hus en tjener som hette Siba; han blev kalt til David, og kongen sa til ham: Er du Siba? Han svarte: Ja, din tjener heter så.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 2 Samuel 16:1–4

    When David had gone a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth was there to meet him. He had a pair of saddled donkeys loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine.

    Read in context
  • 2 Samuel 19:17

    along with a thousand men of Benjamin, as well as Ziba the steward of the house of Saul and his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed down to the Jordan before the king

    Read in context
  • 2 Samuel 19:27–29

    and he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. Yet my lord the king is like the angel of God, so do what is good in your eyes.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 15:2–3

    But Abram replied, “O Lord GOD, what can You give me, since I remain childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”

    Read in context
  • Genesis 24:2

    So Abraham instructed the chief servant of his household, who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh,

    Read in context
  • Genesis 39:6

    So Potiphar left all that he owned in Joseph’s care; he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,

    Read in context