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What the Bible Says About Ziba

Overview

The Bible addresses ziba across 22 verses, drawn from the Old Testament. These passages cluster most in 2 Samuel. Closely related themes include Kings, Servants, Summer and Micah. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Saul, Mephibosheth, David and Jonathan.

Key Bible verses about ziba

Old Testament

2 Samuel

2 Samuel 9:1

And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?

2 Samuel 9:2

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.

2 Samuel 9:3

And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.

2 Samuel 9:4

And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.

2 Samuel 9:5

Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.

2 Samuel 9:6

Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!

2 Samuel 9:7

And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.

2 Samuel 9:8

And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?

2 Samuel 9:9

Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house.

2 Samuel 9:10

Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

2 Samuel 9:11

Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king's sons.

2 Samuel 9:12

And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth.

2 Samuel 9:13

So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet.

2 Samuel 16:1

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 16:2

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.

2 Samuel 16:3

And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.

2 Samuel 16:4

Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king. I humbly: Heb. I do obeisance

2 Samuel 19:17

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.

2 Samuel 19:26

And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant is lame.

2 Samuel 19:27

And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes.

2 Samuel 19:28

For all of my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king? dead: Heb. men of death

2 Samuel 19:29

And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.

People in the Bible and ziba

Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.

In the Bible dictionary

Studying ziba for yourself

  • Begin with 2 Samuel 9:1, then read the passages below in canonical order.
  • Consider the lives of Saul, Mephibosheth and David and how their stories intersect with it.
  • Widen the study to related themes: Kings, Servants, Summer and Micah.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about ziba?

The Bible addresses ziba across 22 verses, drawn from the Old Testament. These passages cluster most in 2 Samuel. Closely related themes include Kings, Servants, Summer and Micah. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Saul, Mephibosheth, David and Jonathan.

How many Bible verses are about ziba?

The Bible references ziba in 22 verses (King James Version).

Where does the Bible first mention ziba?

In canonical order, the first of these passages is 2 Samuel 9:1: “And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?”

Which people in the Bible are associated with ziba?

Saul, Mephibosheth, David and Jonathan.

Preach & teach

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