2 Samuel 16:4
New International Version
Then the king said to Ziba, “All that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.” “I humbly bow,” Ziba said. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king.”

New Living Translation
“In that case,” the king told Ziba, “I give you everything Mephibosheth owns.” “I bow before you,” Ziba replied. “May I always be pleasing to you, my lord the king.”

English Standard Version
Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.” And Ziba said, “I pay homage; let me ever find favor in your sight, my lord the king.”

Berean Standard Bible
So the king said to Ziba, “All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!” “I humbly bow before you,” said Ziba. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king!”

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
So the king said to Ziba, “Here, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” And Ziba said, “I humbly bow before you, that I may find favor in your sight, my lord, O king!”

New American Standard Bible
So the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” And Ziba said, “I prostrate myself; may I find favor in your sight, my lord, the king!”

NASB 1995
So the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” And Ziba said, “I prostrate myself; let me find favor in your sight, O my lord, the king!”

NASB 1977
So the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” And Ziba said, “I prostrate myself; let me find favor in your sight, O my lord, the king!”

Legacy Standard Bible
So the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” And Ziba said, “I prostrate myself; let me find favor in your sight, O my lord, the king!”

Amplified Bible
Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, everything that belonged to Mephibosheth is [now] yours.” Ziba said, “I bow down [in honor and gratitude]; let me find favor in your sight, O my lord the king.”

Christian Standard Bible
The king said to Ziba, “All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours! ” “I bow before you,” Ziba said. “May I find favor with you, my lord the king! ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The king said to Ziba, “All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!"” I bow before you,” Ziba said. “May you look favorably on me, my lord the king!”

American Standard Version
Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine is all that pertaineth unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I do obeisance; let me find favor in thy sight, my lord, O king.

Contemporary English Version
David then told him, "Everything that used to belong to Mephibosheth is now yours." Ziba said, "Your Majesty, I am your humble servant, and I hope you will be pleased with me."

English Revised Version
Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine is all that pertaineth unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I do obeisance; let me find favour in thy sight, my lord, O king.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The king told Ziba, "In that case everything that belonged to Mephibosheth now belongs to you." "I sincerely thank you," said Ziba. "I hope to remain in your good graces, Your Majesty."

Good News Translation
The king said to Ziba, "Everything that belonged to Mephibosheth is yours." "I am your servant," Ziba replied. "May I always please Your Majesty!"

International Standard Version
So the king told Ziba, "Pay attention! Everything that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!" In response Ziba said, "I'm submitting to you. Let me find favor in your sight, your majesty the king!"

Majority Standard Bible
So the king said to Ziba, ?All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!? ?I humbly bow before you,? said Ziba. ?May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king!?

NET Bible
The king said to Ziba, "Everything that was Mephibosheth's now belongs to you." Ziba replied, "I bow before you. May I find favor in your sight, my lord the king."

New Heart English Bible
Then the king said to Ziba, "Look, all that pertains to Mippibaal is yours." And Ziba replied, "I humbly bow. May I find favor in the sight of my lord the king."

Webster's Bible Translation
Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained to Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.

World English Bible
Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” Ziba said, “I bow down. Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, O king.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the king says to Ziba, “Behold, all that Mephibosheth has [is] for you”; and Ziba says, “I have bowed myself—I find grace in your eyes, my lord, O king.”

Young's Literal Translation
And the king saith to Ziba, 'Lo, thine are all that Mephibosheth hath;' and Ziba saith, 'I have bowed myself -- I find grace in thine eyes, my lord, O king.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the king will say to Ziba, Behold, to thee all which was to Mephibosheth. And Ziba will say, I worshiped; shall I find grace in the eyes of my lord the king?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the king said to Siba: I give thee all that belonged to Miphiboseth. And Siba said: I beseech thee let me find grace before thee, my lord, O king.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the king said to Ziba, “All the things which were for Mephibosheth are now yours.” And Ziba said, “I beg you that I may find grace before you, my lord the king.”

New American Bible
The king therefore said to Ziba, “So! Everything Meribbaal had is yours.” Then Ziba said: “I pay you homage, my lord the king. May I find favor with you!”

New Revised Standard Version
Then the king said to Ziba, “All that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.” Ziba said, “I do obeisance; let me find favor in your sight, my lord the king.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then David said to Ziba, Behold, all that belonged to Mephibosheth is given to you. And Ziba said to him, I have plenty, and I have found grace in your sight, my lord, O king.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
David said to Tsiba: “Everything is given to you that was Maphibshath’s.” And Tsiba said to him: “I have much and I have found kindness in your eyes my Lord, oh King!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then said the king to Ziba: 'Behold, thine is all that pertaineth unto Mephibosheth.' And Ziba said: 'I prostrate myself; let me find favour in thy sight, my lord, O king.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the king said to Siba, Behold, all Memphibosthe's property is thine. And Siba did obeisance and said, My lord, O king, let me find grace in thine eyes.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David and Ziba
3“Where is your master’s grandson?” asked the king. And Ziba answered, “Indeed, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he has said, ‘Today, the house of Israel will restore to me the kingdom of my grandfather.’ ” 4So the king said to Ziba, “All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!” “I humbly bow before you,” said Ziba. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king!”

Cross References
2 Samuel 9:9-10
Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said to him, “I have given to your master’s grandson all that belonged to Saul and to all his house. / You and your sons and servants are to work the ground for him and bring in the harvest, so that your master’s grandson may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, is always to eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

1 Samuel 9:1-2
Now there was a Benjamite, a powerful man, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin. / And he had a son named Saul, choice and handsome, without equal among the Israelites—a head taller than any of the people.

1 Kings 2:7
But show loving devotion to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, because they stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom.

2 Samuel 19:29
The king replied, “Why say any more? I hereby declare that you and Ziba are to divide the land.”

1 Samuel 22:7
Then Saul said to his servants, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Is the son of Jesse giving all of you fields and vineyards and making you commanders of thousands or hundreds?

1 Samuel 18:17-19
Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “I need not raise my hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” / And David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family or my father’s clan in Israel, that I should become the son-in-law of the king?” / So when it was time to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah.

1 Kings 21:7-16
But his wife Jezebel said to him, “Do you not reign over Israel? Get up, eat some food, and be cheerful, for I will get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.” / Then Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. / In the letters she wrote: “Proclaim a fast and give Naboth a seat of honor among the people. ...

2 Samuel 9:11-13
And Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do all that my lord the king has commanded.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s own sons. / And Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica, and all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth. / So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table, and he was lame in both feet.

2 Samuel 19:24-30
Then Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, went down to meet the king. He had not cared for his feet or trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes from the day the king had left until the day he returned safely. / And he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, who asked him, “Mephibosheth, why did you not go with me?” / “My lord the king,” he replied, “because I am lame, I said, ‘I will have my donkey saddled so that I may ride on it and go with the king.’ But my servant Ziba deceived me, ...

1 Samuel 25:30-31
When the LORD has done for my lord all the good He promised, and when He has appointed you ruler over Israel, / then my lord will have no remorse or guilt of conscience over needless bloodshed and revenge. And when the LORD has dealt well with my lord, may you remember your servant.”

1 Kings 2:36-46
Then the king summoned Shimei and said to him, “Build a house for yourself in Jerusalem and live there, but do not go anywhere else. / On the day you go out and cross the Kidron Valley, know for sure that you will die; your blood will be on your own head.” / “The sentence is fair,” Shimei replied. “Your servant will do as my lord the king has spoken.” And Shimei lived in Jerusalem for a long time. ...

Matthew 25:29
For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

Luke 19:24-26
Then he told those standing by, ‘Take the mina from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’ / ‘Master,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’ / He replied, ‘I tell you that everyone who has will be given more; but the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

Matthew 13:12
Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

Mark 4:25
For whoever has will be given more. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”


Treasury of Scripture

Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, your are all that pertained to Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech you that I may find grace in your sight, my lord, O king.

Behold

2 Samuel 14:10,11
And the king said, Whosoever saith ought unto thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more…

Exodus 23:8
And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.

Deuteronomy 19:15
One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

I humbly beseech thee.

2 Samuel 14:4,22
And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king…

Jump to Previous
Belonged Belongs Beseech Bow Bowed Favor Favour Find Grace Honour Humbly Mephibosheth Mephib'osheth Obeisance Pertained Pertaineth Pertains Prostrate Sight Ziba
Jump to Next
Belonged Belongs Beseech Bow Bowed Favor Favour Find Grace Honour Humbly Mephibosheth Mephib'osheth Obeisance Pertained Pertaineth Pertains Prostrate Sight Ziba
2 Samuel 16
1. Ziba, by presents and false suggestions, obtains his master's inheritance
5. At Bahurim, Shimei curses David
9. David with patience abstains, and restrains others, from revenge
15. Hushai insinuates himself into Absalom's counsel
20. Ahithophel's counsel














So the king said to Ziba,
This phrase refers to King David, who is in a period of turmoil due to Absalom's rebellion. Ziba is the servant of Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul. The context is David's flight from Jerusalem, where Ziba meets him with provisions. This encounter is significant as it highlights the political maneuvering during David's reign and the loyalty dynamics within the royal household.

“All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!”
David's declaration to Ziba is a transfer of property and status. Mephibosheth, being the son of Jonathan, had been shown kindness by David earlier (2 Samuel 9) due to David's covenant with Jonathan. This sudden transfer of Mephibosheth's estate to Ziba reflects the precarious nature of property rights and loyalty in ancient Israel. It also raises questions about Ziba's integrity, as later passages (2 Samuel 19:24-30) suggest that Ziba may have misrepresented Mephibosheth's loyalty to David.

“I humbly bow before you,” said Ziba.
Ziba's response is one of submission and gratitude, typical of a servant acknowledging the favor of a king. Bowing was a common gesture of respect and acknowledgment of authority in the ancient Near East. This act can be seen as Ziba's acceptance of the king's decision and his alignment with David during a time of political uncertainty.

“May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king!”
Ziba's plea for favor is a request for continued grace and protection under David's rule. This phrase echoes the biblical theme of seeking favor from those in authority, reminiscent of Esther's plea to King Xerxes (Esther 5:2). It underscores the importance of favor and grace in relationships between subjects and rulers, a theme that is also spiritually significant in the believer's relationship with God.

Persons / Places / Events
1. King David
The reigning king of Israel, who is dealing with the rebellion of his son Absalom. In this verse, he makes a decision regarding the property of Mephibosheth.

2. Ziba
The servant of Mephibosheth, who brings news to David and receives all of Mephibosheth's possessions as a reward.

3. Mephibosheth
The son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul, who had previously been shown kindness by David. He is not present in this scene but is central to the events as his possessions are transferred to Ziba.

4. Absalom's Rebellion
The broader context of this event is the rebellion led by David's son Absalom, which causes David to flee Jerusalem.
Teaching Points
The Danger of Hasty Decisions
David's quick decision to transfer Mephibosheth's property to Ziba without further investigation serves as a cautionary tale about making judgments without all the facts.

The Importance of Integrity
Ziba's actions remind us of the importance of integrity and honesty. His report to David may have been self-serving, highlighting the need for truthfulness in our dealings.

God's Sovereignty in Human Affairs
Despite human failings and manipulations, God's sovereign plan prevails. This event is part of the larger account of God's unfolding plan for Israel.

The Role of Servanthood
Ziba's response to David, "I humbly bow," reflects a posture of servanthood. As Christians, we are called to serve with humility, even when circumstances are challenging.(4) I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace.--Literally, I bow myself down; let me find favour.

Verse 4. - I humbly beseech thee that, etc. The words are really a form of grateful acceptance. "I do obeisance" (see margin), that is, "I make my humble bow: may I find favour," etc.; may the king continue to look favourably upon me.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So the king
הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

said
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to Ziba,
לְצִבָ֔א (lə·ṣi·ḇā)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6717: Ziba -- a servant in Saul's house

“All
כֹּ֖ל (kōl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

that [belongs]
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

to Mephibosheth
בֹ֑שֶׁת (ḇō·šeṯ)
Preposition | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4648: Mephibosheth -- 'dispeller of shame'

is now yours!”
הִנֵּ֣ה (hin·nêh)
Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

“I humbly bow before you,”
הִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֵ֔יתִי (hiš·ta·ḥă·wê·ṯî)
Verb - Hitpael - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7812: To depress, prostrate

said
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

Ziba.
צִיבָא֙ (ṣî·ḇā)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6717: Ziba -- a servant in Saul's house

“May I find
אֶמְצָא־ (’em·ṣā-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular
Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present

favor
חֵ֥ן (ḥên)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2580: Graciousness, subjective, objective

in your eyes,
בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָ (bə·‘ê·ne·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

my lord
אֲדֹנִ֥י (’ă·ḏō·nî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 113: Sovereign, controller

the king!”
הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king


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OT History: 2 Samuel 16:4 Then said the king to Ziba Behold (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 16:3
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