2 Samuel 16:2
<< 2 Samuel 16:2 >>
New International Version (©1984)
The king asked Ziba, "Why have you brought these?" Ziba answered, "The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on, the bread and fruit are for the men to eat, and the wine is to refresh those who become exhausted in the desert."

New Living Translation (©2007)
"What are these for?" the king asked Ziba. Ziba replied, "The donkeys are for the king's people to ride on, and the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat. The wine is for those who become exhausted in the wilderness."

English Standard Version (©2001)
And the king said to Ziba, “Why have you brought these?” Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who faint in the wilderness to drink.”

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
The king said to Ziba, "Why do you have these?" And Ziba said, "The donkeys are for the king's household to ride, and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine, for whoever is faint in the wilderness to drink."

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
"Why did you bring these?" David asked Ziba. "The donkeys are for the king's family to ride on," Ziba answered. "The bread and the ripe fruit are for [your] servants to eat. The wine is for those who become tired and thirsty in the desert."

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And the king said unto Ziba, What mean you by these? And Ziba said, The donkeys are 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.

American King James Version
And the king said to Ziba, What mean you 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.

American Standard Version
And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses are 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 are faint in the wilderness may drink.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the king said to Siba: What mean these things? And Siba answered: The asses are for the king's household to sit on: and the loaves and the figs for thy servants to eat, and the wine to drink if any man be faint in the desert.

Darby Bible Translation
And the king said to Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses are for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruits for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as are faint in the wilderness may drink.

English Revised Version
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.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the king said to Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses are 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 are faint in the wilderness may drink.

World English Bible
The king said to Ziba, What do you mean by these? Ziba said, The donkeys are 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 are faint in the wilderness may drink.

Young's Literal Translation
And the king saith unto Ziba, 'What -- these to thee?' and Ziba saith, 'The asses for the household of the king to ride on, and the bread and the summer-fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for the wearied to drink in the wilderness.'

Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

The asses be for the king's household - This is the Eastern method of speaking when any thing is presented to a great man: "This and this is for the slaves of the servants of your majesty," when at the same time the presents are intended for the sovereign himself, and are so understood. It is a high Eastern compliment: These presents are not worthy of your acceptance; they are only fit for the slaves of your slaves.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And the king said unto Ziba, what meanest thou by these?.... Are they to be said, or are they presents?

and Ziba said, the asses be for the king's household to ride on; for himself, his wives, and children, his courtiers, and the principal officers of his house; it being usual in those times and countries for great personages to ride on asses, see Judges 5:10,

and the bread and summer fruits for the young men to eat; the king's menial servants, his guards and his soldiers:

and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink; where no water was to be had, that their fainting spirits might be revived, and they be able whether to fight or march.


Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

When the king asked him, "What are these for thee?" i.e., what art thou going to do with them? Ziba replied, "The asses are for the king's family to ride upon (to ride upon in turn), the bread and summer fruits for the young men (the king's servants) to eat, and the wine for those that are faint in the desert to drink" (see at 2 Samuel 15:23). The Chethib ולהלחם is evidently a copyist's error for והלּחם.


Geneva Study Bible

And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The {b} 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.

(b) Commonly there are no viler traitors than they, who under the pretence of friendship accuse others.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

2. The asses be for the king's household to ride on-The royal fugitives were moving on foot, not from inability to procure conveyances, but as being suitable to their present state of humiliation and penitence.


Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

16:1-4 Ziba belied Mephibosheth. Great men ought always to be jealous of flatterers, and to be careful that they hear both sides.


Judges 10:4 He had thirty sons, who rode thirty donkeys. They controlled thirty towns in Gilead, which to this day are called Havvoth Jair.
2 Samuel 15:23 The whole countryside wept aloud as all the people passed by. The king also crossed the Kidron Valley, and all the people moved on toward the desert.
2 Samuel 17:29 honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows' milk for David and his people to eat. For they said, "The people have become hungry and tired and thirsty in the desert."

Asses Bread Donkeys Drink Eat Faint Fruit Household King's Mean Meanest Ride Summer Wilderness Wine Young Ziba


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.

What meanest Ge 21:29 Eze 37:18 The asses. This is the eastern mode of speaking when presenting any thing to a great man: `This is for the slaves of the servants of your majesty;' when at the same time the presents are intended for the sovereign himself, and it is so understood. 2Sa 15:1 19:26 Jud 5:10 10:4

for the young 1Sa 25:27

that such 2Sa 15:23 17:29 Jud 8:4,5 1Sa 14:28 Pr 31:6,7

2 Samuel Chapter 16 Verse 2

Alphabetical: and answered are asked become bread brought desert do donkeys drink eat exhausted faint for fruit have household in is king king's men on refresh ride said summer The these those to who whoever Why wilderness wine you young Ziba

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright ;© 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.All Rights Reserved.

The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission. Copyright 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved.

OT History: 2 Samuel 16:2 The king said to Ziba What do (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam) Christian Bible Study Resources, Dictionary, Concordance and Search Tools

2 Samuel 16:2 Bible Software
2 Samuel 16:2 Biblia Paralela
2 Samuel 16:2 Chinese Bible
2 Samuel 16:2 French Bible
2 Samuel 16:2 German Bible
2 Samuel 16:2 Danish Bible
2 Samuel 16:2 Swedish Bible
2 Samuel 16:2 Norwegian Bible
2 Samuel 16:2 Multilingual Bible

Online Bible