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Mephibosheth

Jonathan’s Son Shown Kindness by David

United Kingdom (David’s reign)

Name Information

Meaning
"From the mouth of shame" (or “dispeller of shame”)
Language of Origin
Hebrew
Gender Usage
Masculine

Mephibosheth, the disabled son of Jonathan, received unexpected kindness from David, who restored Saul’s land to him and seated him at the king’s table.

Roles

Royal Descendant

Relationships

Father
Jonathan
Grandfather
Saul
Son
Micah (2 Samuel 9:12)

Story

In childhood, Mephibosheth was injured and became lame (2 Samuel 4:4).

David sought to show kindness to Saul’s house and restored Mephibosheth’s inheritance, granting him a permanent place at the king’s table (2 Samuel 9).

During Absalom’s revolt, Ziba slandered Mephibosheth; the matter was revisited when David returned (2 Samuel 16; 19).

Spiritual Significance

  1. 1Recipient of David’s covenant kindness for Jonathan’s sake (2 Samuel 9:1, 7).
  2. 2A figure in the tensions during Absalom’s revolt, later vindicated before David (2 Samuel 16; 19).

What We Can Learn

  1. 1God honors covenant faithfulness.
  2. 2Kindness to the vulnerable reflects God’s heart.
  3. 3Let truth, not slander, shape judgments.

Memory Verses

Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan.

2 Samuel 9:7

Key Passages

2 Samuel 4:42 Samuel 92 Samuel 16:1–42 Samuel 19:24–30

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