2 Samuel 9 · Verse 1

2 Samuel 9:1

And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?
2 Samuel 9:1, King James Version

2 Samuel 9:1 in other translations

BSBThen David asked, “Is there anyone left from the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for the sake of Jonathan?”
WEBDavid said, “Is there yet any who is left of Saul’s house, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
ASVAnd David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?
YLTAnd David saith, ‘Is there yet any left to the house of Saul, and I do with him kindness because of Jonathan?'
DARBYAnd David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?
BBEAnd David said, Is there still anyone of Saul's family living, so that I may be a friend to him, because of Jonathan?
WebsterAnd David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?

What does 2 Samuel 9:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Samuel 9:1-7
2Sa 9:1-12. David Sends for Mephibosheth. 1-7. David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul--On inquiry, Saul's land steward was found, who gave information that there still survived Mephibosheth, a son of Jonathan who was five years old at his father's death, and whom David, then wandering in exile, had never seen. His lameness (2Sa 4:4) had prevented him from taking any part in the public contests of the time. Besides, according to Oriental notions, the younger son of a crowned monarch has a preferable claim to the succession over the son of a mere heir-apparent; and hence his name was never heard of as the rival of his uncle Ish-bosheth. His insignificance had led to his being lost sight of, and it was only through Ziba that David learned of his existence, and the retired life he passed with one of the great families in trans-jordanic Canaan who remained attached to the fallen dynasty. Mephibosheth was invited to court, and a place at the royal table on public days was assigned him, as is still the custom with Eastern monarchs. Saul's family estate, which had fallen to David in right of his wife (Nu 27:8), or been forfeited to the crown by Ish-bosheth's rebellion (2Sa 12:8), was provided (2Sa 9:11; also 2Sa 19:28), for enabling Mephibosheth to maintain an establishment suitable to his rank, and Ziba appointed steward to manage it, on the condition of receiving one-half of the produce in remuneration for his labor and expense, while the other moiety was to be paid as rent to the owner of the land (2Sa 19:29).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

David inquires after the family of Jonathan, and is informed of Mephibosheth his son, 2Sam 9:1-4. He sends for him and gives him all the land of Saul, 2Sam 9:5-8; and appoints Ziba the servant of Saul, and his family, to till the ground for Mephibosheth, 2Sam 9:9-13. Verse 1 Is there yet any that is left - David recollecting the covenant made with his friend Jonathan, now inquires after his family. It is supposed that political considerations prevented him from doing this sooner. Reasons of state often destroy all the charities of life.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Samuel 9:1-8
Amidst numerous affairs we are apt to forget the gratitude we owe, and the engagements we are under, not only to our friends, but to God himself. Yet persons of real godliness will have no rest till they have discharged them. And the most proper objects of kindness and charity, frequently will not be found without inquiry. Jonathan was David's sworn friend, therefore he shows kindness to his son Mephibosheth. God is faithful to us; let us not be unfaithful to one another. If Providence has raised us, and our friends and their families are brought low, we must look upon that as giving us the fairer opportunity of being kind to them.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

2 Samuel 9:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
דָּוִ֔דda.VidDavidH1732
הֲכִ֣יha.Khi¿ forH3588
יֶשׁ\־yesh-[is] thereH3426
ע֔וֹדodstillH5750
אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.Sher[one] whoH834
נוֹתַ֖רno.Tarhe is leftH3498
לְבֵ֣יתle.Veitto [the] house ofH1004
שָׁא֑וּלsha.'UlSaulH7586
וְאֶעֱשֶׂ֤הve.'e.'e.Sehso I may doH6213
עִמּוֹ֙i.Mowith himH5973
חֶ֔סֶדChe.sedcovenant loyaltyH2617
בַּעֲב֖וּרba.'a.Vurfor sake ofH5668
יְהוֹנָתָֽן\׃ye.ho.na.TanJonathanH3083

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Samuel 9:1

  • 1 Samuel 20:42

    And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.

  • Mark 9:41

    For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

  • Matthew 25:40

    And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

  • 1 Peter 3:8

    Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

  • 2 Samuel 1:26

    I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

  • 1 Kings 2:7

    But shew kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at thy table: for so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother.

  • Matthew 10:42

    And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

  • John 19:26-27

    When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

  • Proverbs 27:10

    Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.

  • 1 Samuel 20:14-17

    And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the Lord, that I die not: But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the Lord hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth. So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the Lord even require it at the hand of David’s enemies. And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

  • 1 Samuel 23:16-18

    And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God. And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth. And they two made a covenant before the Lord: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.

  • 1 Samuel 18:1-4

    And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 David by Ziba sends for Mephibosheth.
7 For Jonathan's sake he entertains him at his table, and restores him all that was Saul's.
9 He makes Ziba his farmer.

shew him.
1:26; 1Sa 18:1-4; 20:14-17,42; 23:16-18; 1Ki 2:7; Pr 27:10
Mt 10:42; 25:40; Mr 9:41; Joh 19:26,27; Phm 1:9-12; 1Pe 3:8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Samuel 9:1

    And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?

  • 2 Samuel 9:2

    And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he.

Read all of 2 Samuel 9

2 Samuel 9:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y DIJO David: ¿Ha quedado alguno de la casa de Saúl, á quien haga yo misericordia por amor de Jonathán?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
*Et David dit: Y a-t-il encore quelqu’un qui soit demeuré de reste de la maison de Saül? et j’userai de bonté envers lui à cause de Jonathan.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und David sprach: Ist noch jemand da, der vom Hause Sauls übriggeblieben ist, daß ich Güte an ihm erweise um Jonathans willen?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et dixit David: Putasne est aliquis qui remanserit de domo Saul, ut faciam cum eo misericordiam propter Jonathan?