2 Samuel 9:2
New International Version
Now there was a servant of Saul’s household named Ziba. They summoned him to appear before David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” “At your service,” he replied.

New Living Translation
He summoned a man named Ziba, who had been one of Saul’s servants. “Are you Ziba?” the king asked. “Yes sir, I am,” Ziba replied.

English Standard Version
Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David. And the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.”

Berean Standard Bible
And there was a servant of the house of Saul named Ziba. They summoned him to David, and the king inquired, “Are you Ziba?” “I am your servant,” he replied.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba. So when they had called him to David, the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” He said, “At your service!”

New American Standard Bible
Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they summoned him to David; and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.”

NASB 1995
Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.”

NASB 1977
Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.”

Amplified Bible
There was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, so they called him to David. And the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” He said, “I am your servant.”

Christian Standard Bible
There was a servant of Saul’s family named Ziba. They summoned him to David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba? ” “I am your servant,” he replied.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
There was a servant of Saul’s family named Ziba. They summoned him to David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?"” I am your servant,” he replied.

American Standard Version
And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba, and they called him unto David; and the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he.

Contemporary English Version
David called in Ziba, one of the servants of Saul's family. David said, "So you are Ziba." "Yes, Your Majesty, I am."

English Revised Version
And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba, and they called him unto David; and the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Now, Saul's family had a servant whose name was Ziba. He was summoned to [come to] David. "Are you Ziba?" the king asked him. "[Yes,] I am," he answered.

Good News Translation
There was a servant of Saul's family named Ziba, and he was told to go to David. "Are you Ziba?" the king asked. "At your service, sir," he answered.

International Standard Version
A household servant of Saul named Ziba was called to appear before David, and the king asked him, "Are you Ziba?" "I am your servant," Ziba replied.

Majority Standard Bible
And there was a servant of the house of Saul named Ziba. They summoned him to David, and the king inquired, ?Are you Ziba?? ?I am your servant,? he replied.

NET Bible
Now there was a servant from Saul's house named Ziba, so he was summoned to David. The king asked him, "Are you Ziba?" He replied, "At your service."

New Heart English Bible
There was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, "Are you Ziba?" He said, "Your servant is he."

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

World English Bible
There was of Saul’s house a servant whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” He said, “I am your servant.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the house of Saul has a servant, and his name [is] Ziba, and they call for him to David; and the king says to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he says, “Your servant.”

Young's Literal Translation
And the house of Saul hath a servant, and his name is Ziba, and they call for him unto David; and the king saith unto him, 'Art thou Ziba?' and he saith, 'Thy servant.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And to the house of Saul a servant and his name Ziba. And they will call for him to David, and the king will say to him, Thou Ziba? and he will say, Thy servant.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now there was of the house of Saul, a servant named Siba: and when the king had called him to him, he said to him: Art thou Siba? And he answered: I am Siba thy servant.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now there was, from the house of Saul, a servant named Ziba. And when the king had called him to himself, he said to him, “Are you not Ziba?” And he responded, “I am your servant.”

New American Bible
Now there was an official of the house of Saul named Ziba. He was summoned to David, and the king asked him, “Are you Ziba?” He replied, “Your servant.”

New Revised Standard Version
Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and he was summoned to David. The king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “At your service!”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Now there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And they called him to David, and the king said to him, Are you Ziba? And he said, I am your servant.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And to the household of Shaul there was a Servant, and his name was Tsiba, and they called him to David and the King said to him: “Are you Tsiba?” And he said: “I am your Servant!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Now there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba, and they called him unto David; and the king said unto him: 'Art thou Ziba?' And he said: 'Thy servant is he.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And there was a servant of the house of Saul, and his name was Siba: and they call him to David; and the king said to him, Art thou Siba? and he said, I am thy servant.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David and Mephibosheth
1Then David asked, “Is there anyone left from the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for the sake of Jonathan?” 2And there was a servant of Saul’s family named Ziba. They summoned him to David, and the king inquired, “Are you Ziba?” “I am your servant,” he replied. 3So the king asked, “Is there anyone left of Saul’s family to whom I can show the kindness of God?” Ziba answered, “There is still Jonathan’s son, who is lame in both feet.”…

Cross References
1 Samuel 20:14-17
And as long as I live, treat me with the LORD’s loving devotion, that I may not die, / and do not ever cut off your loving devotion from my household—not even when the LORD cuts off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.” / So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the LORD hold David’s enemies accountable.” ...

1 Samuel 18:3
Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.

1 Samuel 20:42
And Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for the two of us have sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘May the LORD be a witness between you and me, and between your descendants and mine forever.’” Then David got up and departed, and Jonathan went back into the city.

1 Samuel 23:18
So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.

2 Samuel 4:4
And Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the report about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she was hurrying to escape, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.

1 Samuel 9:3-5
One day the donkeys of Saul’s father Kish wandered off, and Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants and go look for the donkeys.” / So Saul passed through the hill country of Ephraim and then through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find the donkeys. He and the servant went through the region of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they went through the land of Benjamin, and still they did not find them. / When they reached the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant, “Come, let us go back, or my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about us.”

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.

Genesis 24:2-9
So Abraham instructed the chief servant of his household, who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh, / and I will have you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I am dwelling, / but will go to my country and my kindred to take a wife for my son Isaac.” ...

Genesis 47:29-31
When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise to show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt, / but when I lie down with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me with them.” Joseph answered, “I will do as you have requested.” / “Swear to me,” Jacob said. So Joseph swore to him, and Israel bowed in worship at the head of his bed.

Ruth 2:1
Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, a prominent man of noble character from the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.

1 Chronicles 17:13
I will be his Father, and he will be My son. And I will never remove My loving devotion from him as I removed it from your predecessor.

Matthew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Luke 6:36
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Matthew 25:34-40
Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. / For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, / I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’ ...

Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.


Treasury of Scripture

And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him to David, the king said to him, Are you Ziba? And he said, Your servant is he.

a servant

Genesis 15:2,3
And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? …

Genesis 24:2
And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:

Genesis 39:6
And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.

was Ziba

2 Samuel 16:1-4
And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine…

2 Samuel 19:17,27-29
And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king…

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2 Samuel 9
1. David by Ziba sends for Mephibosheth
7. For Jonathan's sake he restores to him all that was Saul's
9. He makes Ziba his farmer














And there was a servant of the house of Saul
This phrase introduces us to Ziba, a servant from the lineage of Saul. The term "servant" in Hebrew is "עֶבֶד" (eved), which can denote a range of roles from a slave to a high-ranking official. In the context of ancient Israel, servants often held significant responsibilities and were integral to the household's functioning. The "house of Saul" refers to the former royal family, indicating that Ziba was likely a trusted and knowledgeable member of Saul's household, familiar with its affairs and history.

whose name was Ziba
The name "Ziba" in Hebrew (צִיבָא) means "statue" or "pillar," suggesting a person of stability or support. Names in the Bible often carry significant meaning, reflecting the character or destiny of the individual. Ziba's role as a servant to Saul's house and later interactions with King David highlight his position as a pivotal figure in the narrative, bridging the past reign of Saul with David's current rule.

They summoned him to David
The act of summoning Ziba to David indicates the king's authority and the importance of the task at hand. In ancient Near Eastern culture, a king's summons was not to be taken lightly, reflecting the gravity of the situation. This summoning also underscores David's intention to honor his covenant with Jonathan, Saul's son, by seeking out any remaining members of Saul's family to show kindness for Jonathan's sake.

and the king asked, 'Are you Ziba?'
David's direct question to Ziba demonstrates his personal involvement and interest in the matter. The use of the title "king" (מֶלֶךְ, melek) emphasizes David's royal authority and his role as a just and compassionate leader. This inquiry sets the stage for the unfolding of David's covenant loyalty, a key theme in his reign, as he seeks to extend kindness and fulfill his promises.

'I am your servant,' he replied
Ziba's response, "I am your servant," reflects humility and readiness to serve. The phrase "your servant" (עַבְדֶּךָ, avdecha) is a common expression of submission and respect in the Hebrew Bible. It indicates Ziba's acknowledgment of David's authority and his willingness to assist in the king's endeavors. This interaction highlights the dynamics of power and service, as Ziba positions himself as a loyal subject to the new king, despite his previous allegiance to Saul's house.

Verse 2. - A servant whose name was Ziba. It is evident from this that David was not certain that Jonathan had left behind him a son; but not because of the change of name from Meribbaal (1 Chronicles 8:34); for Baal retained its innocent meaning of "lord" until the time of Jezebel. It then became the title of the Phoenician sun god; and Jezebel's shameless worship of this deity, and her cruelty to Jehovah's prophets, made the people henceforth change the name Baal into Bosheth, "the shameful thing" (see note on 2 Samuel 2:8). Mephibosheth had not changed his name, but had lived in obscurity in the wild region beyond Mahanaim. Meanwhile Ziba had probably taken care of Saul's property in the tribe of Benjamin. There is no reason to doubt that he had been steward there for Saul, and after his master's death had continued in possession of the estate. David, we may feel sure, would not interfere with it, and Ziba would hold it for Saul's heirs, who could not themselves take possession. To him David now sends, not because he expected to hear of a son of his dear friend Jonathan, but because he was ready to show kindness to any representative of the fallen monarch.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And there was a servant
עֶ֙בֶד֙ (‘e·ḇeḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

of Saul’s
שָׁא֥וּל (šā·’ūl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites

family
וּלְבֵ֨ית (ū·lə·ḇêṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

named
וּשְׁמ֣וֹ (ū·šə·mōw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8034: A name

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

They summoned
וַיִּקְרְאוּ־ (way·yiq·rə·’ū-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

him
ל֖וֹ (lōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

David,
דָּוִ֑ד (dā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

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

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

“Are you
הַאַתָּ֥ה (ha·’at·tāh)
Article | Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

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

“I am your servant,”
עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃ (‘aḇ·de·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

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


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OT History: 2 Samuel 9:2 There was of the house of Saul (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 9:1
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