Original Word: מֻפִיבשֶׁת
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Mphiybosheth
Pronunciation: meh-fee-BOH-sheth
Phonetic Spelling: (mef-ee-bo'-sheth)
KJV: Mephibosheth
NASB: Mephibosheth
Word Origin: [probably from H6284 (פָּאָה - cut them to pieces) and H1322 (בּוֹשֶׁת - shame)]

1. dispeller of shame (i.e. of Baal)
2. Mephibosheth, the name of two Israelites

Mephibosheth

Or Mphibosheth {mef-ee-bo'-sheth}; probably from pa'ah and bosheth; dispeller of shame (i.e. Of Baal); Mephibosheth, the name of two Israelites -- Mephibosheth.

see HEBREW pa'ah

see HEBREW bosheth

Word Origin
from paah and bosheth
Definition
"dispeller of shame," another name for NH4807
NASB Translation
Mephibosheth (15).

Identity and Family Connections

Two men bear the name Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel. The better-known is the son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul (2 Samuel 4:4); the other is a son of Saul by Rizpah (2 Samuel 21:8). Jonathan’s son becomes the last surviving male of Saul’s direct royal line, while Rizpah’s son perishes in the atonement made to the Gibeonites. The narrative concerning Jonathan’s son dominates the remaining references (2 Samuel 9; 16; 19; 21:7).

Childhood Injury and Life in Exile

News of Saul’s defeat at Jezreel precipitated panic in the royal household. As the five-year-old prince was hurried away, he fell and was rendered “crippled in both feet” (2 Samuel 4:4). The handicap left him dependent upon others, and he grew up in obscurity at Lo-debar, far from the court and covenant privileges associated with his grandfather’s throne.

Covenant Kindness of David

David’s accession did not sever the bond he had sworn with Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:14–17). Years later, settled in Jerusalem, the king inquired, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul, to whom I may show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (2 Samuel 9:1). The word translated “kindness” carries the idea of loyal love rooted in covenant. Guided by this obligation, David summoned Mephibosheth, who arrived fearful, fully expecting royal justice. Instead he heard: “Do not be afraid, for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table” (2 Samuel 9:7). In an act that joined mercy and restoration, David:
• Returned the family estate, appointing Ziba to cultivate it (2 Samuel 9:9–10).
• Adopted Mephibosheth’s continual table fellowship, granting him a status “like one of the king’s own sons” (2 Samuel 9:11).

Grace thus triumphed over enmity between the houses of Saul and David.

Life at the King’s Table

“So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate always at the king’s table, and he was lame in both feet” (2 Samuel 9:13). The deliberate repetition of his disability underscores that acceptance at court did not depend on physical perfection but on covenant faithfulness. The scene anticipates the Messianic banquet in which spiritual outcasts find welcome (Luke 14:21–23).

Ziba’s Betrayal and the Absalom Crisis

During Absalom’s revolt Ziba met David with provisions and accused Mephibosheth of disloyalty (2 Samuel 16:1–4). Taking the report at face value, David transferred the estate to Ziba. After the rebellion Mephibosheth appeared unkempt, a visible sign of mourning, and declared that Ziba had slandered him and left him unable to follow the king (2 Samuel 19:24–28). David divided the property between them, and Mephibosheth replied, “Since my lord the king has come safely home, let Ziba take it all” (2 Samuel 19:30). His concern was fellowship with the king, not material gain, displaying remarkable humility and loyalty.

Judicial Mercy and the Gibeonite Reparation

When famine struck, David agreed to hand over seven descendants of Saul to the Gibeonites as reparation for Saul’s earlier bloodguilt (2 Samuel 21:1–9). By covenant oath Jonathan’s son was exempt: “The king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan…because of the oath before the LORD” (2 Samuel 21:7). The narrative highlights the inviolability of covenant promises even amid national crisis. The other Mephibosheth, son of Rizpah, died in the reparation (2 Samuel 21:8).

Descendants and Lineage

Mephibosheth’s only recorded child is Micha (2 Samuel 9:12). Later genealogies trace a line of guardians of temple treasures through Micha (1 Chronicles 8:34–40; 9:40–44), preserving the house of Saul within Israel’s post-exilic community.

Lessons for Faith and Ministry

1. Covenant loyalty supersedes political expediency; David’s fidelity models the steadfast love of God toward His people.
2. Physical impairment does not disqualify from divine purposes; Mephibosheth’s place at the table prefigures the gospel’s welcome to the spiritually helpless.
3. Grace transforms enemies into family; the once-fleeing orphan becomes a son at the king’s side.
4. False accusations may test faith, yet ultimate vindication rests with the righteous King.
5. The preservation of Mephibosheth amid judgment shows that God’s oath-bound mercy endures even when justice demands satisfaction.

Thus the life of Mephibosheth, though narrated briefly, richly illustrates covenant grace, humble dependence, and the unbreakable promises that mirror the Lord’s own dealings with His covenant people.

בֹ֑שֶׁת בֹ֖שֶׁת בשת וְלִמְפִיבֹ֥שֶׁת וּמְפִבֹ֙שֶׁת֙ וּמְפִיבֹ֗שֶׁת וּמְפִיבֹ֙שֶׁת֙ ולמפיבשת ומפבשת ומפיבשת לִמְפִיבֹֽשֶׁת׃ למפיבשת׃ מְפִבֹ֑שֶׁת מְפִי־ מְפִיבֹ֔שֶׁת מְפִיבֹ֙שֶׁת֙ מְפִיבֹ֨שֶׁת מְפִיבֹֽשֶׁת׃ מפבשת מפי־ מפיבשת מפיבשת׃ ḇō·šeṯ ḇōšeṯ lim·p̄î·ḇō·šeṯ limfiVoshet limp̄îḇōšeṯ mə·p̄î- mə·p̄i·ḇō·šeṯ mə·p̄î·ḇō·šeṯ mefi mefiVoshet məp̄î- məp̄iḇōšeṯ məp̄îḇōšeṯ ū·mə·p̄i·ḇō·šeṯ ū·mə·p̄î·ḇō·šeṯ umefiVoshet ūməp̄iḇōšeṯ ūməp̄îḇōšeṯ velimfiVoshet Voshet wə·lim·p̄î·ḇō·šeṯ wəlimp̄îḇōšeṯInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts