EasyEnglish Bible 2018
2 Samuel 4:4
4Saul's son Jonathan had a son called Mephibosheth. Since he was five years old he had not been able to walk. At that time someone had come from Jezreel to say that Saul and Jonathan had died. So Mephibosheth's nurse picked him up to escape with him. But as she ran in a hurry, he fell to the ground. It hurt his feet very badly.
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
2Ish-Bosheth had two officers called Baanah and Recab. They were leaders of small groups of soldiers. Their father was Rimmon from Beeroth. He belonged to Benjamin's tribe. At that time, Beeroth was part of Benjamin's land. 3The people from Beeroth had run away to Gittaim. So Beeroth's people still live there as strangers. Saul's son Jonathan had a son called Mephibosheth. Since he was five years old he had not been able to walk. At that time someone had come from Jezreel to say that Saul and Jonathan had died. So Mephibosheth's nurse picked him up to escape with him. But as she ran in a hurry, he fell to the ground. It hurt his feet very badly. 5Rimmon's sons, Recab and Baanah, left their home and they went to Ish-Bosheth's house. They arrived in the middle of the day when it was very hot. Ish-Bosheth was resting on his bed. 6They went into the house as if they wanted to get some wheat. But they pushed knives into Ish-Bosheth's stomach. Then Recab and his brother Baanah 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
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָןyehônâthân · JonathanH3083
- Saul’sשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
- sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- lameנָכֵהnâkeh · crippledH5223
- feetרֶ֫גֶלregel · footH7272
- He was fiveחָמֵשׁchâmêsh chămishshâh · fiveH2568
- yearsשָׁנָהshâneh shânâh · yearH8141
- oldבֵּןbên · son: agedH1121
- when the tidingsשְׁמוּעָהshemû‛âh · tidingsH8052
- cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- out of Jezreelיִזְרְעֶאלyizre‛ê'l · JezreelH3157
- and his nurseאָמַן'âman · be faithfulH539
- took him upנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: bearH5375
- and fledנוּסnûs · to fleeH5127
- and it came to pass, as she made hasteחָפַזchâphaz · to hurryH2648
- that he fellנָפַלnâphal · to fall: fallH5307
- and became lameפָּסַחpâsach · to limpH6452
- And his nameשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
- Mephiboshethמְפִיבֹשֶׁתmephîybôsheth mephibôsheth · MephiboshethH4648
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 4:4
- 2 Samuel 9:3The king asked him, ‘Is there anyone from Saul's family who is still alive? I want to be kind to them because of God's faithful love for his people.’ Ziba replied, ‘One of Jonathan's sons still lives. But both his feet are weak so that he cannot walk properly.’
- 1 Samuel 29:1The Philistine army put up their tents at Aphek. The Israelites made their camp near the spring of water at Jezreel.
- 1 Samuel 31:1The Philistines fought against the Israelites. The Israelites ran away, and the Philistines killed many of them on Gilboa mountain.
- 1 Chronicles 8:34Jonathan's son was Merib-Baal. Merib-Baal became the father of Micah.
- 1 Chronicles 9:40Jonathan's son was Merib-Baal. Merib-Baal became the father of 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
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