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מְפִיבֹשֶׁת

𐤌𐤐𐤉𐤁𐤔𐤕

Mefivoshet

H4648 noun

SILEX Entry

Root פאה, בשת to scatter, disperse, mouth, shame

Definition

Mephibosheth, a personal name borne by two individuals in the Hebrew Bible: (1) the son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul, and (2) the son of Saul's concubine Rizpah. The meaning of the name is likely 'from the mouth of shame' or 'scatterer of shame,' where 'shame' may serve as a euphemism for the Canaanite deity Baal, reflecting a later editorial tendency to avoid explicit theonyms. The lexical form does not occur outside of these personal names; thus, the term is best understood as an Israelite proper name with theological or polemical nuance.

Semantic Range

Mephibosheth (personal name), son of Jonathan, son of Saul, possible meaning "scatterer of shame" or "from the mouth of shame"; second individual son of Rizpah; an example of the removal of Baal theonyms from Israelite names.

Root / Etymology

The name is composed of two elements: מֵ (me-) or מְפִי (mephi, either 'from the mouth of' or 'scatterer/disperser'), and בֹשֶׁת (boshet, 'shame'). The second element replaces 'Baal' in parallel traditions (cf. Meribbaal), a scribal practice evident in various Israelite personal names to avoid invoking Baal. The root of the first element is debated, with possible connections to פָּאָה (to scatter/disperse), but the etymology is not certain. It is agreed the name is a compilation of elements constructed for personal naming rather than from a common noun or verb entry.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Samuel-Kings material, Mephibosheth designates Jonathan’s lame son, who is shown kindness by David. He is also named Meribbaal (מְרִיבַּעַל) in 1 Chronicles 8:34 and 9:40, suggesting that 'boshet' ('shame') later replaced 'Baal' in theophoric names associated with Israel's first royal family. This reflects a broader movement in the Deuteronomistic history to suppress Canaanite theonyms. The alternate Mephibosheth, son of Rizpah, is briefly mentioned as a royal relative, executed by the Gibeonites (2 Sam 21:8). No evidence exists for the common noun usage of this word; its meaning is bound to personal name tradition and theological polemic in the monarchic and exilic periods. English translations consistently render the name as 'Mephibosheth'; however, this obscures the original replacement of 'Baal' with 'boshet.' ','root':'פאה, בשת','core_meanings':'to scatter, disperse, mouth, shame','semantic_range':'Mephibosheth (personal name), son of Jonathan, son of Saul, possible meaning "scatterer of shame" or "from the mouth of shame"; second individual son of Rizpah; an example of the removal of Baal theonyms from Israelite names.'} Where strong lexical meanings are not accessible due to lack of non-personal usage, this is carefully noted. No speculative meanings are introduced.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or מְפִבֹשֶׁת; probably from פָּאָה and בֹּשֶׁת; dispeller of shame (i.e. of Baal); Mephibosheth, the name of two Israelites; Mephibosheth.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

פאה, בשת (p-ʾ-h; b-š-t) — scatter, disperse; mouth; shame

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4648-04 מְפִיבֹֽשֶׁת mefivoshet HNp Mephibosheth Scatterer of Shame 6
H4648-05 וּ/מְפִיבֹ֨שֶׁת֙ umefivoshet HC/Np And Mephibosheth Scatterer of Shame 4
H4648-07 בֹ֖שֶׁת voshet HNp of Mephibosheth Scatterer of Shame 2
H4648-03 מְפִי mefi HNp Mephibosheth Scatterer of Shame 2
H4648-02 לִ/מְפִיבֹֽשֶׁת limefivoshet HR/Np to Mephibosheth to Scatterer of Shame 1
H4648-01 לִ/מְפִי limefi HR/Np to Mephibosheth to Scatterer-of-Shame 1
H4648-06 וְ/לִ/מְפִיבֹ֥שֶׁת velimefivoshet HC/R/Np to Mephibosheth and to Scatterer-of-Shame 1

Occurrences in Scripture

17 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4648-04 2 Samuel 4:4 מְפִיבֹֽשֶׁת mefivoshet HNp [was] Mephibosheth Scatterer of Shame
H4648-04 2 Samuel 9:6 מְפִיבֹ֨שֶׁת mefivoshet HNp Mephibosheth Scatterer of Shame
H4648-04 2 Samuel 9:6 מְפִיבֹ֔שֶׁת mefivoshet-2 HNp Mephibosheth Scatterer of Shame
H4648-05 2 Samuel 9:10 וּ/מְפִיבֹ֨שֶׁת֙ umefivoshet HC/Np but Mephibosheth Scatterer of Shame
H4648-05 2 Samuel 9:11 וּ/מְפִיבֹ֗שֶׁת umefivoshet HC/Np And Mephibosheth Scatterer of Shame
H4648-06 2 Samuel 9:12 וְ/לִ/מְפִיבֹ֥שֶׁת velimefivoshet HC/R/Np to Mephibosheth and to Scatterer-of-Shame
H4648-02 2 Samuel 9:12 לִ/מְפִיבֹֽשֶׁת limefivoshet HR/Np to Mephibosheth to Scatterer of Shame
H4648-05 2 Samuel 9:13 וּ/מְפִיבֹ֗שֶׁת umefivoshet HC/Np And Mephibosheth Scatterer of Shame
H4648-03 2 Samuel 16:1 מְפִי mefi HNp of Mephibosheth Scatterer of Shame
H4648-07 2 Samuel 16:1 בֹ֖שֶׁת voshet HNp of Mephibosheth Scatterer of Shame
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