Lexical Definition
מְפִיבֹשֶׁת Mᵉphîybôsheth (mef-ee-bo'-sheth) Mephibosheth N:N-M-P
or מְפִבֹשֶׁת Mᵉphibôsheth (mef-ee-bo'-sheth); probably from פָּאָה and בֹּשֶׁת; dispeller of shame (i.e. of Baal)
Mephibosheth.
- § Mephibosheth = "exterminating the idol"
- Mephibosheth, the name of two Israelites
1) grandson of Saul and son of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, Saul's concubine; he and his brother Armoni were among the 7 victims surrendered by David to the Gibeonites to avert a famine
2) son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul
2a) also 'Merib-baal'
| Form | Translated As | In Verse(s) |
|---|---|---|
| מְפִיבֹֽשֶׁת | Mephibosheth | 2Sam.4.4 |
| O Mephibosheth | 2Sam.19.25 | |
| מְפִיבֹ֨שֶׁת | Mephibosheth | 2Sam.9.6 |
| מְפִיבֹ֙שֶׁת֙ | Mephibosheth | 2Sam.19.30 |
| מְפִיבֹ֔שֶׁת | O Mephibosheth | 2Sam.9.6 |
| מְפִי | Mephi- | 2Sam.16.1 • 2Sam.21.7 |
| לִמְפִיבֹֽשֶׁת | of Mephibosheth | 2Sam.9.12 |
| לִמְפִי | to Mephi- | 2Sam.16.4 |
| וּמְפִיבֹ֙שֶׁת֙ | and Mephibosheth | 2Sam.9.10 |
| וּמְפִיבֹ֗שֶׁת | and Mephibosheth | 2Sam.9.11 • 2Sam.9.13 |
| וּמְפִבֹ֙שֶׁת֙ | and Mephibosheth | 2Sam.19.24 |
| וְלִמְפִיבֹ֥שֶׁת | and to Mephibosheth | 2Sam.9.12 |
| בֹ֖שֶׁת | -bosheth | 2Sam.16.1 • 2Sam.21.7 |
| בֹ֑שֶׁת | -bosheth | 2Sam.16.4 |
Extended Information
- A man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.4.4
- son of: Jonathan (יְהוֹנָתָן)
- father of: Micah (מִיכָה); also called Merib-baal at 1Ch.8.34 9.40
Profile
Male • Saul's family • Son of Jonathan and grandson of King Saul.
Jonathan's son living at the time of United Monarchy
Mephibosheth, also called Merib-baal, was the son of Jonathan and grandson of King Saul (2Sa.4.4; 1Ch.8.34).
- Jonathan's son from the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.4.4;
- referred to as Mephibosheth מְפִיבֹשֶׁת, or Merib-baal מְרִיב בַּעַל, or Merib-baal מְרִי בַעַל;
- a son of Jonathan יְהוֹנָתָן;
- father of Micah מִיכָה.
Mephibosheth, also known as Merib-baal, was the son of Jonathan and grandson of King Saul (1Ch.8.34; 9.40). He was five years old when his father and grandfather died in battle at Mount Gilboa (2Sa.4.4). During the panic following their deaths, Mephibosheth's nurse picked him up to flee, but he fell and became lame in both feet (2Sa.4.4). Years later, when David had established his kingdom, he sought to show kindness to Mephibosheth for the sake of his father Jonathan (2Sa.9.6). David restored to him all the land that had belonged to Saul and allowed him to eat at the king's table regularly (2Sa.9.6,10,11,13). Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica (2Sa.9.12). During Absalom's rebellion, Mephibosheth's servant Ziba falsely accused him of disloyalty to David (2Sa.16.1,4). After Absalom's death, Mephibosheth met David and explained that Ziba had deceived him (2Sa.19.24,25). David divided Saul's land between Mephibosheth and Ziba (2Sa.19.30). Later, when the Gibeonites demanded seven of Saul's descendants to avenge Saul's attempt to annihilate them, David spared Mephibosheth because of his oath to Jonathan (2Sa.21.7).
All entries for Mephibosheth or Merib-baal: מְפִיבֹשֶׁת ☩ מְרִיב בַּעַל ☩ מְרִי בַעַל