Darby Bible
2 Samuel 4:4
4And Jonathan Saul's son had a son that was lame of [his] feet. He was five years old when the news came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jizreel; and his nurse took him up and fled. And it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.
2 Samuel 4:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.
- New International Version (NIV)(Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in both feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she hurried to leave, he fell and became disabled. His name was Mephibosheth.)
- English Standard Version (ESV)Jonathan, the son of Saul, had a son who was crippled in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel, and his nurse took him up and fled, and as she fled in her haste, he fell and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel; and his nurse took him up and fled. And it happened, as she made haste to flee, that he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.
Context of 2 Samuel 4:4
2And Saul's son had two men, captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin; for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin. 3And the Beerothites had fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day. And Jonathan Saul's son had a son that was lame of [his] feet. He was five years old when the news came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jizreel; and his nurse took him up and fled. And it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth. 5And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went and came in about the heat of the day into the house of Ishbosheth, who was taking his noonday rest. 6And they came thither into the midst of the house, [as though] they would fetch wheat; and they smote him in the belly; and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.
Read all of 2 Samuel 42 Samuel 4:4 word by word
וְלִיהֽוֹנָתָן֙ בֶּן־שָׁא֔וּל בֵּ֖ן נְכֵ֣ה רַגְלָ֑יִם בֶּן־חָמֵ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֣ים הָיָ֡ה בְּבֹ֣א שְׁמֻעַת֩ שָׁא֨וּל וִיהֽוֹנָתָ֜ן מִֽיִּזְרְעֶ֗אל וַתִּשָּׂאֵ֤הוּ אֹֽמַנְתּוֹ֙ וַתָּנֹ֔ס וַיְהִ֞י בְּחָפְזָ֥הּ לָנ֛וּס וַיִּפֹּ֥ל וַיִּפָּסֵ֖חַ וּשְׁמ֥וֹ מְפִיבֹֽשֶׁת׃Read the interlinear
- Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָןyehônâthân · JonathanH3083
- sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- feetרֶ֫גֶלregel · footH7272
- fiveחָמֵשׁchâmêsh chămishshâh · fiveH2568
- yearsשָׁנָהshâneh shânâh · yearH8141
- newsשְׁמוּעָהshemû‛âh · tidingsH8052
- cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
- nurseאָמַן'âman · be faithfulH539
- tookנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: raiseH5375
- fledנוּסnûs · to fleeH5127
- fellנָפַלnâphal · to fall: fallH5307
- becameהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
- nameשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
- Mephiboshethמְפִיבֹשֶׁתmephîybôsheth mephibôsheth · MephiboshethH4648
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 4:4
- 2 Samuel 9:3And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God to him? And Ziba said to the king, Jonathan has yet a son, who is lame on [his] feet.
- 1 Samuel 29:1And the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek; and Israel encamped by the spring that is in Jizreel.
- 1 Samuel 31:1And the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain on mount Gilboa.
- 1 Chronicles 8:34And the son of Jonathan was Merib-Baal; and Merib-Baal begot Micah.
- 1 Chronicles 9:40And the son of Jonathan was Merib-Baal; and Merib-Baal begot Micah.
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 4:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4He fell, and became lame - Dislocated his ankle, knee, or thigh; which was never after reduced; and thus he became lame. Lovely Jonathan! unfortunate in thy life, and in thy progeny.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4This mention of Mephibosheth seems to be inserted here partly to show that with the death of Ish-bosheth the cause of the house of Saul became hopeless, and partly to prepare the way for the subsequent mention of him 2 Samuel 9:1-13; 2 Samuel 16:1-4; 2 Samuel 19:25.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4This parenthetical note shows that Saul’s royal line could not continue after the death of Ish-bosheth (2 Samuel 4:5–7). The only remaining heir was a young child who was disabled (see also 2 Samuel 9:1–13). Mephibosheth may be a nickname that means “from the mouth of shame.” This name may reflect how people viewed his physical condition. Under the law of Moses, a disabled animal could not be offered to God. A priest with a physical defect could not stand…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 42Sa 4:1, 2. Baanah and Rechab Slay Ish-bosheth, and Bring His Head to Hebron. 4. Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet--This is mentioned as a reason why, according to Oriental notions, he was considered unfit for exercising the duties of sovereignty.Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 4:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
Darby Bible — 1889 — Public Domain
Commentaries