2 Samuel 9 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Each card keeps the independently rendered source readings above their shared comparison and reception notes. The badge records the source’s governing classification; disparate readings are marked in red. Each reading retains its original reference.
2 Samuel 9
Covenant kindness and a place at the king’s table
Editorial thematic comparison with Christ’s summons to merciful generosity [NT2]. Mephibosheth’s restored estate and table fellowship retain their specific covenant setting.
9:1–8 | The search for Jonathan’s son
Verse MT 9:1 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 9:1
David said, “Is anyone still left of Saul’s house, that I may show him steadfast kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 9:1
David said, “Is anyone still left of Saul’s house, that I may show him mercy for Jonathan’s sake?”
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both ground David’s inquiry in his relationship with Jonathan. Hebrew steadfast kindness and Greek mercy convey the corresponding act of loyal care in this context.
Verse MT 9:2 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 9:2
Saul’s house had a servant named Ziba, and they called him to David. The king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” He said, “Your servant.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 9:2
There was a servant from Saul’s house named Ziba, and they called him to David. The king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” He said, “I am your servant.”
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The household connection, summons, and identification agree. Greek expands the deferential answer into a full clause; the reply does not itself describe a new sale or transfer of ownership.
Verse MT 9:3 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 9:3
The king said, “Is there no one still left of Saul’s house, that I may show him God’s kindness?” Ziba said to the king, “Jonathan still has a son whose feet are impaired.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 9:3
The king said, “Is there still a man left of Saul’s house, that I may show him God’s mercy?” Ziba said to the king, “Jonathan still has a son whose feet have been injured.”
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Both preserve the explicit reference to God in the kindness expression. Greek’s injured-foot description is more directly physical; the earlier accident is narrated at 4:4. The differing question forms seek the same information.
Verse MT 9:4 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 9:4
The king said to him, “Where is he?” Ziba said to the king, “Look, he is in the house of Machir son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 9:4
The king said, “Where is he?” Ziba said to the king, “Look, in the house of Machir son of Ammiel, of Lo-debar.”
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The person, household, and place correspond. Greek Ladabar is represented by the familiar Lo-debar because the identification is secure in this context; no meaning based on the name’s spelling is imposed.
Verse MT 9:5 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 9:5
King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 9:5
King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The royal summons and repeated household location agree. The repetition is retained rather than shortened away.
Verse MT 9:6 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 9:6
Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David, fell on his face, and bowed down. David said, “Mephibosheth!” He said, “Here is your servant.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 9:6
Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to King David, fell on his face, and bowed down to him. David said to him, “Mephibosheth!” He said, “Here is your servant.”
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Greek adds David’s royal title and explicit recipients to corresponding actions. Both identify this Mephibosheth as Jonathan’s son, distinguishing him from Saul’s son called Mephibosheth in the Greek of chapters 3–4.
Verse MT 9:7 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 9:7
David said to him, “Do not fear. I will certainly show you steadfast kindness for the sake of Jonathan your father. I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you will eat bread at my table continually.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 9:7
David said to him, “Do not fear. I will certainly show you mercy because of Jonathan your father. I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father’s father, and you will eat bread at my table continually.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew calls Saul father in the broader ancestral sense; Greek explicitly says father’s father. Both promise the land’s restoration and continual provision at David’s table. The emphatic assurance is retained.
Verse MT 9:8 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 9:8
He bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you have turned toward a dead dog like me?”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 9:8
Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “Who am I, your servant, that you have looked toward a dead dog like me?”
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: Both preserve Mephibosheth’s self-abasing dead-dog comparison. Greek names him and expands the self-reference. The image belongs to his speech, not to the narrator’s assessment of a person with a disability.
9:9–13 | The estate, the servants, and the table
Verse MT 9:9 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 9:9
The king called Ziba, Saul’s attendant, and said to him, “Everything that belonged to Saul and his whole house I have given to your master’s son.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 9:9
The king called Ziba, Saul’s attendant, and said to him, “Everything that belongs to Saul and his whole house I have given to your master’s son.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Hebrew uses a past possession clause; Greek a present one. Both declare the same grant. Son continues the broader family language noted at verse 7, and attendant does not require Ziba to be a child.
Verse MT 9:10 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 9:10
You, your sons, and your servants shall work the ground for him and bring in its produce, so that your master’s son may have bread to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s son, shall eat bread continually at my table.” Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 9:10
You, your sons, and your servants shall work the land for him. You shall bring loaves to your master’s son, and he will eat them. But Mephibosheth, your master’s son, shall eat bread continually at my table.” Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew leaves the bringing-in object unstated, rendered contextually as produce, while Greek expressly gives loaves. Both retain the land provision alongside eating at David’s table, without removing the apparent overlap. Ziba’s fifteen sons and twenty servants agree.
Verse MT 9:11 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 9:11
Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do according to everything my lord the king commands his servant.” “Mephibosheth will eat at my table like one of the king’s sons.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 9:11
Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do according to everything my lord the king has commanded his servant.” Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew’s final my table clause has no explicit new speaker; it is presented as an unassigned statement after Ziba’s reply, with future force understood from the promise. Greek gives an unambiguous narrative statement about David’s table. No named speaker or corrected possessive is inserted into Hebrew.
Verse MT 9:12 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 9:12
Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. All who dwelt in Ziba’s house were Mephibosheth’s servants.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 9:12
Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. The whole household of Ziba were Mephibosheth’s servants.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The son and the household’s service correspond. Mica represents the matching name in both sources, without identifying him with another biblical person of that name.
Verse MT 9:13 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 9:13
Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. He was lame in both his feet.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 9:13
Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. He was lame in both his feet.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The residence, continuing table provision, and condition of both feet agree. The text reports his inclusion at the table without narrating a physical cure.