2 Samuel 9:6

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!

Now when Mephibosheth {H4648}, the son {H1121} of Jonathan {H3083}, the son {H1121} of Saul {H7586}, was come {H935} unto David {H1732}, he fell {H5307} on his face {H6440}, and did reverence {H7812}. And David {H1732} said {H559}, Mephibosheth {H4648}. And he answered {H559}, Behold thy servant {H5650}!

M'fivoshet the son of Y'honatan, the son of Sha'ul, came to David, fell on his face and prostrated himself. David said, "M'fivoshet!" and he answered, "Here is your servant!"

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.

And Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came unto David, and fell on his face, and did obeisance. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold, thy servant!

Commentary

2 Samuel 9:6 describes the pivotal moment when Mephibosheth, the grandson of King Saul and son of David's beloved friend Jonathan, comes before King David. This encounter is a powerful display of humility, grace, and faithfulness to a covenant.

Context

Following his ascension to the throne and securing his kingdom, King David remembered the covenant of kindness he had made with Jonathan, Saul's son. In ancient Near Eastern customs, a new king often eradicated the previous royal line to prevent future challenges. However, David, driven by his deep love and loyalty to Jonathan, sought to show extraordinary kindness to any surviving member of Saul's house. This verse captures the moment Mephibosheth, who was lame in both his feet from an early childhood accident, is brought before the king after David's earlier inquiry (2 Samuel 9:1).

Key Themes

  • Covenant Faithfulness: David's actions are a direct fulfillment of his solemn oath to Jonathan, demonstrating the sacredness of promises made.
  • Grace and Kindness: Instead of judgment or punishment, Mephibosheth receives unexpected favor. David extends grace to someone who, by his lineage, might have been considered a threat. This foreshadows God's unmerited favor toward us.
  • Humility and Reverence: Mephibosheth's posture—falling on his face and declaring himself "thy servant"—reveals his profound humility and awareness of David's royal authority. He likely expected death or servitude, not restoration.
  • Restoration: While not fully detailed in this verse, the subsequent verses show David's intent to restore all of Saul's land to Mephibosheth and grant him a permanent seat at the king's table, symbolizing full acceptance and honor.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "did reverence" translates the Hebrew verb shachah (שָׁחָה), which means to bow down, prostrate oneself, or worship. It signifies profound respect, submission, and often adoration. In this context, it conveys Mephibosheth's deep deference to David, acknowledging David's absolute authority and his own vulnerable position. His response, "Behold thy servant!", further underscores his posture of humility and readiness to obey, reflecting the common self-description of one in a subordinate or dependent role before a king.

Practical Application

This passage offers profound spiritual lessons for believers today. Just as Mephibosheth, a descendant of a rejected king and physically impaired, received unmerited favor from David, so too do we receive God's abundant grace despite our own spiritual infirmities and rebellious nature. We are called to approach God with a similar humility and reverence, acknowledging His sovereignty and our dependence on Him. The story of David and Mephibosheth is a beautiful illustration of God's redemptive love, demonstrating how He seeks out the lost and broken to bring them into His household and bestow upon them blessings far beyond what they deserve or could imagine.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.
Israel Demands a King The Anointing of Saul, Israel's First King Comparing Saul and David: Two Kings, Two Hearts The Friendship of David and Jonathan 7 Things You Didn't Know About King David

Cross-References

  • 1 Chronicles 8:34

    And the son of Jonathan [was] Meribbaal; and Meribbaal begat Micah.

  • 1 Chronicles 9:40

    And the son of Jonathan [was] Meribbaal: and Meribbaal begat Micah.

  • 2 Samuel 16:4

    Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine [are] all that [pertained] unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee [that] I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.

  • 2 Samuel 19:24

    ¶ And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came [again] in peace.

  • 2 Samuel 19:30

    And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house.

  • 1 Samuel 25:23

    And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,

  • 1 Samuel 20:41

    [And] as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of [a place] toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.
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