מְפִיבֹשֶׁת
Mephibosheth, the name of two Israelites
Definition
Mephibosheth is the name of two individuals in the Old Testament. The first and most prominent is the son of Jonathan and grandson of King Saul, who became lame in both feet after a childhood accident (2 Samuel 4:4). King David later showed him kindness for the sake of his father Jonathan, restoring his family lands and granting him a permanent place at the king's table (2 Samuel 9:7, 2 Samuel 9:13). The second Mephibosheth is a son of Saul by his concubine Rizpah, who was handed over to the Gibeonites for execution (2 Samuel 21:8).
Biblical Usage
The name Mephibosheth appears exclusively in the historical books of Samuel. It is used 13 times, primarily in 2 Samuel chapters 9, 16, 19, and 21. The usage centers on the narrative of David's covenant loyalty to Jonathan's house, focusing on Jonathan's son. The name identifies the character in key episodes of loyalty, accusation, and inheritance (e.g., 2 Samuel 9:6, 2 Samuel 16:3, 2 Samuel 19:24-30). The other Mephibosheth appears only in the list of Saul's executed sons in 2 Samuel 21:8.
Etymology
The name מְפִיבֹשֶׁת (Mᵉphîybôsheth) is a compound, likely derived from the root פָּאָה (pā'â, H6284), meaning 'to blow, scatter,' and בֹּשֶׁת (bōsheth, H1322), meaning 'shame.' A common interpretation is 'dispeller of shame.' Some scholars suggest it may have originally been 'Merib-baal' (1 Chronicles 8:34), with 'baal' (lord) later replaced by the pejorative 'bosheth' (shame), a practice seen in other Israelite names (e.g., Ish-bosheth for Eshbaal).
Semantic Range
The story of Mephibosheth is a powerful illustration of hesed—covenant loyalty and steadfast love—rooted in David's oath to Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:14-17). David's grace toward a physically weak descendant of a rival king prefigures God's unmerited kindness. Mephibosheth's lameness and restoration symbolize how God's covenant faithfulness reaches the broken and powerless. His place at the king's table is a vivid picture of adoption into the royal family by grace alone, enriching our understanding of redemption and divine promise.
In ancient Israel, a physical disability like lameness could bar someone from religious service (Leviticus 21:18) and was often seen as a weakness. For a royal descendant, it would have been a profound social and political liability, making him unfit for kingship. David's act of bringing such a person to his table was counter-cultural, demonstrating that covenant loyalty transcended political calculation and social norms. The name change from a 'Baal' element to 'Bosheth' reflects the religious polemic against Canaanite deities during the monarchy period.
Ish-bosheth (ʼÎysh-bôsheth, H378) — Another son of Saul whose name also substitutes 'bosheth' (shame) for 'baal.' Eshbaal (ʼEshbaʻal, H792) — The original name of Ish-bosheth, meaning 'man of Baal' (1 Chronicles 8:33). Merib-baal (Mᵉrîyb-Baʻal, H4807) — The original name of Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan, meaning 'contender of Baal' (1 Chronicles 8:34).
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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