What Does 2 Samuel 16:4 Mean in the King James?
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.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The word translated “grace” is חֵן (chen, favor), sought in the king’s eyes at the same moment his word transfers Mephibosheth’s whole estate to Ziba.
THE MEANING
Here, you meet the reality that authority can place a person’s entire estate in someone else’s hands with a sentence. Ziba bows before the king and asks to find favor in his eyes. The verse holds the transfer and the petitioner’s dependence in the same moment.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The belief that rightful possession alone protects what is yours dissolves here: the king’s declaration can still transfer it to someone else.
THE ROOT
חֵן
chen
GROWS FROM
חנן
ḥ-n-n
To show favor; to be gracious.
The root makes “grace” concrete as favor granted by someone who can receive or refuse a petitioner. Ziba asks to find a place in the king’s regard.
ALSO GROWS
ḥānan: To show favor; to be gracious.
חָנַן
This verb names the act behind chen: Ziba asks the king to regard him favorably.
teḥinnāh: A plea or supplication for favor.
תְּחִנָּה
This related word shows how the same root can name the request made by someone seeking favor.
ḥannûn: Gracious; one who shows favor.
חַנּוּן
This form describes the character of the one from whom favor is sought.
אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶה
ʾeštaḥăweh
GROWS FROM
שחה
To bow down; to prostrate oneself.
The Hebrew behind “humbly beseech” is a form of “bow down.” The plea for favor is framed as a bodily posture before the king, not only as words.
ALSO GROWS
shachah: To bow down; to prostrate oneself.
שָׁחָה
This is the verb at the root of Ziba’s posture before the king.
mishtaḥăweh: One who is bowing down.
מִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה
This related form keeps the act visible and bodily: the petitioner lowers himself before the authority he addresses.
THE PATTERN
Favor is pictured as being found with the one who receives the petitioner.
But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.THE THREAD
Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.Exodus uses the same חֵן (chen, favor) and the same “in your sight” language. Here Moses joins that favor to being shown God’s way, revealing that chen concerns being received into the regard of the one addressed.
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