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Mephibosheth

Biblical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Lame son of Jonathan whom David showed kindness for Jonathan’s sake

Detailed Definition
Mephibosheth, crippled in childhood, was restored to Saul’s estate and dined at David’s table as a sign of covenant loyalty (2 Samuel 9). In poetry, Mephibosheth symbolizes grace to the disabled and disinherited, the honoring of past friendships, and how kingship reflects divine mercy through unexpected inclusion.
Example
Example in poetry:
Mephibosheth’s story in 2 Samuel 9 inspires devotional poetry about grace given to the disabled; 17th-century verse portrays Mephibosheth eating at David’s table as symbol of restored dignity; Contemporary poems explore his lameness as metaphor for spiritual brokenness healed by covenant love; In poems about hospitality, Mephibosheth embodies inclusion of the marginalized; Some liturgical litanies honor him as recipient of unexpected mercy; Educational poems contrast Mephibosheth’s humility with Absalom’s ambition.
Additional Notes
Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul, was lame and later shown kindness by David; his story explores themes of covenant loyalty, disability, and royal grace; poets may use him to reflect on the dignity of the marginalized or the enduring bonds of friendship across generations.
Also Known As
Mephibosheth son of Jonathan Mephibosheth the Lame
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