2 Samuel 9 11

2 Samuel 9:11 kjv

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.

2 Samuel 9:11 nkjv

Then Ziba said to the king, "According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do." "As for Mephibosheth," said the king, "he shall eat at my table like one of the king's sons."

2 Samuel 9:11 niv

Then Ziba said to the king, "Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do." So Mephibosheth ate at David's table like one of the king's sons.

2 Samuel 9:11 esv

Then Ziba said to the king, "According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so will your servant do." So Mephibosheth ate at David's table, like one of the king's sons.

2 Samuel 9:11 nlt

Ziba replied, "Yes, my lord the king; I am your servant, and I will do all that you have commanded." And from that time on, Mephibosheth ate regularly at David's table, like one of the king's own sons.

2 Samuel 9 verses

2 Samuel 9 11 Meaning

2 Samuel 9:11 records Ziba's response to King David's command concerning Mephibosheth, affirming his immediate and full obedience. It then confirms that Mephibosheth indeed began eating regularly at King David's table, enjoying a status akin to that of the king's own sons. This verse signifies the implementation and visible demonstration of David's extraordinary kindness and faithfulness to his covenant with Jonathan, transforming Mephibosheth's life from obscurity and potential danger to honor and royal provision.

2 Samuel 9 11 Context

This verse is part of 2 Samuel chapter 9, a narrative demonstrating King David's unwavering faithfulness to his covenant (Hebrew: berith) with Jonathan, as recorded in 1 Samuel 20. After consolidating his kingdom, David seeks to express "kindness" (Hebrew: chesed, steadfast love/loyalty) to anyone remaining from Saul's house, not out of political necessity but out of integrity and remembrance of his oath. He discovers Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, who is lame in both feet—a condition that would typically exclude him from royal presence in ancient Near Eastern (ANE) courts and signify a tragic, helpless state.

In this cultural context, new dynasties often eradicated surviving members of previous royal lines to prevent future claims to the throne. David's action radically defies this norm. Instead of execution, Mephibosheth is restored his grandfather Saul's land (via Ziba's management) and, more significantly, is granted the unparalleled privilege of consistently eating at the king's personal table. This signifies full reconciliation, adoption into the royal family, and a guarantee of lifelong security and honor, embodying David's exceptional commitment to chesed.

2 Samuel 9 11 Word analysis

• Then (וַיֹּאמֶר, vayyomer): Connects Ziba's statement directly to David's command in the previous verse, indicating an immediate response and implementation.
• said (וַיֹּאמֶר, vayyomer): A standard verb for speech, here denoting Ziba's formal and obedient declaration to the king.
• Ziba (צִיבָא, tsiyva’): Saul's servant, appointed by David to manage Saul's estate, now functioning as the key administrator of Mephibosheth's restored inheritance.
• to the king: Reaffirms the recipient of Ziba's report and highlights David's supreme authority and the source of the benefaction.
• According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do. (כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶת עַבְדּוֹ, כֵּן יַעֲשֶׂה עַבְדֶּךָ, kᵉkhōl ’ǎsher tsivvah ’ǎdonî hammalekh ’et ‘avdo, ken ya‘aśeh ‘avdekha): This is a formal, humble, and obedient response from a servant to his sovereign. Ziba affirms his complete adherence to David's instructions, emphasizing that the command originated from David's absolute authority ("my lord the king") and that his own actions are simply faithful execution.
• So (וַמְפִיבֹשֶׁת, u-Mᵉphîvōsheth - note the waw conjunction, here signifying result or continuation): Marks the direct consequence and fulfillment of David's decree and Ziba's promise.
• Mephibosheth (מְפִיבֹשֶׁת, Mᵉphîvōsheth): Jonathan's son, Saul's grandson, physically lame but now spiritually and socially elevated by royal grace.
• ate (אֹכֵל, ’ōkhēl): Present participle, indicating an ongoing and continuous action. It's not a one-time event but a permanent privilege of communion and sustenance. This word symbolizes deep inclusion and secure provision.
• at my table (עַל־שֻׁלְחָנִי, ‘al-shulḥānî): Crucially, "my" refers to King David. David had explicitly stated in verse 10, "But Mephibosheth your master's son shall eat bread at my table always." This indicates direct fellowship and intimate inclusion with the king, not a general allowance for food from royal provisions. Eating at the king's table symbolized utmost honor, protection, and guaranteed livelihood, equivalent to becoming part of the royal household.
• like one of the king's sons (כְּאַחַד מִבְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ, kᵉ’aḥaḏ mib^ənê hammalekh): This phrase highlights the unprecedented status conferred upon Mephibosheth. Despite his infirmity, and his lineage from the previous, rival dynasty, he is treated with the same honor and intimacy as David's own children. This signifies complete acceptance, security, and an almost adoptive status, profoundly embodying chesed.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do.": This phrase serves as an administrative and personal vow of fidelity from Ziba to David. It underlines the formal establishment of David's generous policy concerning Mephibosheth. Ziba's declaration confirms the immediate execution of royal commands, reflecting the hierarchical structure of the ancient Israelite court. It also implicitly highlights the king's wisdom and just rule as perceived by his subjects.
• "So Mephibosheth ate at my table like one of the king's sons.": This constitutes the tangible outcome of David's extraordinary chesed and Ziba's compliance. It encapsulates the core of the chapter's theme: a profound reversal of fortune brought about by a sovereign's grace. Eating at the royal table, particularly the king's table, was the ultimate sign of acceptance and favor, erasing Mephibosheth's past insecurity, vulnerability, and lameness in the societal perception of his standing. This wasn't merely provision but elevation to intimate fellowship.

2 Samuel 9 11 Bonus section

• Polemics against contemporary beliefs: David's actions directly challenge the common ANE practice of systematically eliminating all potential claimants from rival dynastic lines to secure power. By bringing Mephibosheth to his own table, David demonstrated a moral kingship founded on divine covenant, not ruthless pragmatism or fear, thereby implicitly critiquing the prevailing brutal norms.
• Symbolic significance of "lame" Mephibosheth: Mephibosheth's lameness (a consequence of the accident in 2 Sam 4:4) physically represents his powerlessness and vulnerability. His seating at the king's table despite this infirmity profoundly symbolizes God's grace welcoming the weak and undeserving into His fellowship, not by their strength or merit but by His abundant love. It speaks to the transformation from a state of brokenness and exile to one of honor and belonging.
• Foreshadowing Christ's Kingdom: David's extraordinary kindness to Mephibosheth is often viewed typologically as a picture of God's grace towards humanity. Like Mephibosheth, we were once alienated (by sin, inherited from Adam, our "first king"), crippled in our spiritual ability to approach God, and worthy of judgment. Yet, through Jesus, the greater Son of David, we are offered fellowship "at the King's table" (spiritual communion, access to His presence, eternal life) as "sons" of God, not based on our worthiness, but on His steadfast love and covenant.

2 Samuel 9 11 Commentary

2 Samuel 9:11 is the pivotal verse that confirms the physical manifestation of King David's covenant loyalty (chesed) to Jonathan's house. Ziba's swift and humble affirmation "According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do," immediately validates David's preceding directives (2 Sam 9:10). The immediate consequence, "So Mephibosheth ate at my table like one of the king's sons," powerfully illustrates David's commitment. This act goes far beyond simple charity or basic provision; it's a complete restoration to honor and familial closeness within the highest echelon of the kingdom. In ancient Near Eastern customs, members of a previous royal family were typically executed or exiled; David's act is a radical departure, demonstrating unparalleled mercy and faithfulness that transcend conventional political prudence. Mephibosheth, though physically disabled, is seated equally, symbolically healed in his social and familial standing by the king's grace. This ongoing royal commensality is the deepest symbol of peace, reconciliation, and security for the formerly marginalized Mephibosheth, showcasing David's kingship as one of justice, covenant fidelity, and profound, undeserved kindness.

• Example for practical usage: When we receive undeserved blessings or opportunities, we can remember Mephibosheth's elevation to the King's table, acknowledging that they are a testament to divine favor or the generous hand of another, often beyond what we merited. It highlights the beauty of inclusion and restorative grace.