New King James Version
2 Samuel 16:2
2And the king said to Ziba, “What do you mean to do with these?” So Ziba said, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who are faint in the wilderness to drink.”
2 Samuel 16:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king’s household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.
- New International Version (NIV)The king asked Ziba, “Why have you brought these?” Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and fruit are for the men to eat, and the wine is to refresh those who become exhausted in the wilderness.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And the king said to Ziba, "Why have you brought these?" Ziba answered, "The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who faint in the wilderness to drink."
- New Living Translation (NLT)“What are these for?” the king asked Ziba. Ziba replied, “The donkeys are for the king’s people to ride on, and the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat. The wine is for those who become exhausted in the wilderness.”
Context of 2 Samuel 16:2
1When David was a little past the top of the mountain, there was Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth, who met him with a couple of saddled donkeys, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred clusters of raisins, one hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine. And the king said to Ziba, “What do you mean to do with these?” So Ziba said, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who are faint in the wilderness to drink.” 3Then the king said, “And where is your master’s son?” And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.’ ” 4So 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!”
Read all of 2 Samuel 162 Samuel 16:2 word by word
וַיֹּ֧אמֶר הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ אֶל־צִיבָ֖א מָה־אֵ֣לֶּה לָּ֑ךְ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר צִ֠יבָא הַחֲמוֹרִ֨ים לְבֵית־הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ לִרְכֹּ֗ב וְהַלֶּ֤חֶם וְהַקַּ֙יִץ֙ לֶאֱכ֣וֹל הַנְּעָרִ֔ים וְהַיַּ֕יִן לִשְׁתּ֥וֹת הַיָּעֵ֖ף בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto Zibaצִיבָאtsîybâ' · ZibaH6717
- The assesחֲמוֹרchămôr chămôr · donkeyH2543
- householdבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: householdH1004
- to ride onרָכַבrâkab · to rideH7392
- and the breadלֶ֫חֶםlechem · food: breadH3899
- and summer fruitקַ֫יִץqayits · summerH7019
- for the young menנַ֫עַרna‛ar · youthH5288
- to eatאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
- and the wineיַ֫יִןyayin · wineH3196
- that such as be faintיָעֵףyâ‛êph · wearyH3287
- in the wildernessמִדְבָּרmidbâr · wildernessH4057
- may drinkשָׁתָהshâthâh · to drinkH8354
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 16:2
- Genesis 21:29Then Abimelech asked Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs which you have set by themselves?”
- Ezekiel 37:18“And when the children of your people speak to you, saying, ‘Will you not show us what you mean by these?’—
- 2 Samuel 15:1After this it happened that Absalom provided himself with chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
- 2 Samuel 19:26And he answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go to the king,’ because your servant is lame.
- Judges 5:10“Speak, you who ride on white donkeys, Who sit in judges’ attire, And who walk along the road.
- Judges 10:4Now he had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys; they also had thirty towns, which are called “Havoth Jair” to this day, which are in the land of Gilead.
- 1 Samuel 25:27And now this present which your maidservant has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men who follow my lord.
- 2 Samuel 15:23And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people crossed over. The king himself also crossed over the Brook Kidron, and all the people crossed over toward the way of the wilderness.
- 2 Samuel 17:29honey and curds, sheep and cheese of the herd, for David and the people who were with him to eat. For they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.”
- Judges 8:4When Gideon came to the Jordan, he and the three hundred men who were with him crossed over, exhausted but still in pursuit.
- 1 Samuel 14:28Then one of the people said, “Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats food this day.’ ” And the people were faint.
- Proverbs 31:6Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to those who are bitter of heart.
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 16:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2The asses be for the king's household - This is the Eastern method of speaking when any thing is presented to a great man: "This and this is for the slaves of the servants of your majesty," when at the same time the presents are intended for the sovereign himself, and are so understood. It is a high Eastern compliment: These presents are not worthy of your acceptance; they are only fit for the slaves of your slaves.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. The asses be for the king's household to ride on--The royal fugitives were moving on foot, not from inability to procure conveyances, but as being suitable to their present state of humiliation and penitence.Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 16:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 16
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries