2 Samuel 13 14

2 Samuel 13:14 kjv

Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.

2 Samuel 13:14 nkjv

However, he would not heed her voice; and being stronger than she, he forced her and lay with her.

2 Samuel 13:14 niv

But he refused to listen to her, and since he was stronger than she, he raped her.

2 Samuel 13:14 esv

But he would not listen to her, and being stronger than she, he violated her and lay with her.

2 Samuel 13:14 nlt

But Amnon wouldn't listen to her, and since he was stronger than she was, he raped her.

2 Samuel 13 verses

2 Samuel 13 14 Meaning

2 Samuel 13:14 describes Amnon's violent act against Tamar. Despite her desperate pleas, he refused to listen, overpowered her by physical force, violated her sexually, and then lay with her, an act of non-consensual sexual intercourse. This verse explicitly highlights the force, Amnon's lack of regard for her will, and the tragic fulfillment of his wicked intent.

2 Samuel 13 14 Context

This verse is at the tragic climax of Amnon's sin in 2 Samuel chapter 13. Amnon, David's firstborn, became consumed with lust for his half-sister, Tamar, a full sister to Absalom. Counselled by Jonadab, David's nephew, Amnon feigned illness to get Tamar to his chamber alone, intending to sexually assault her. The immediate context of 2 Samuel 13:14 details Tamar's desperate pleas, citing the great shame it would bring upon them both and her appeal to David (2 Sam 13:12-13), highlighting her awareness of the severe social and legal implications, as such an act was a "disgrace in Israel." Her words emphasize the profound defilement and ruin to her reputation. The broader chapter context reveals the profound consequences of this act, leading to Absalom's hatred for Amnon and, ultimately, Amnon's murder by Absalom two years later, destabilizing David's household and reign. Culturally, sexual violation of a virgin brought extreme shame upon the victim and her family, drastically reducing her marriage prospects.

2 Samuel 13 14 Word analysis

• וְלֹא אָבָה (və-lō ʾāḇāh): "But he would not."
  • אָבָה (ʾāḇāh): Hebrew verb meaning "to be willing, consent, yield, agree." The negation (לֹא) highlights Amnon's absolute and stubborn refusal to listen or comply with Tamar's pleas. This word underscores his premeditated and unyielding resolve to commit the sin, demonstrating a conscious choice against moral and social norms.
• לִשְׁמֹעַ בְּקוֹלָהּ (lišmōaʿ bəqōlāh): "to listen to her voice."
  • לִשְׁמֹעַ (lišmōaʿ): "to listen, obey." This emphasizes Tamar's verbal pleas and her appeal to reason and righteousness. Amnon's unwillingness to "listen" extends beyond mere auditory perception; it signifies a complete disregard for her will, her pleas for her dignity, and for the Law.
• וַיֶּחֱזַק מִמֶּנָּה (wayyeḥĕzaq mimmennāh): "for he was stronger than she."
  • חָזַק (ḥāzaq): "to be strong, firm, mighty, prevail, overcome." This highlights the physical imbalance of power. Amnon used his superior physical strength to overpower Tamar. This phrase legally defined the act as rape, as the victim was physically unable to resist.
• וַיְעַנֶּהָ (wayʿannehā): "and forced her," or "and humbled/violated her."
  • עָנָה (ʿānāh): This verb carries a wide range of meanings including "to humble, afflict, oppress, abuse, violate." In contexts of sexual violence, it specifically denotes the defilement, humiliation, and subjugation of the victim. It speaks to the brutalization and disgrace of the act. This word choice is highly significant, portraying not merely a sexual act but a violent and debasing violation.
• וַיִּשְׁכַּב אֹתָהּ (wayyiškav ʾōtāh): "and lay with her."
  • שָׁכַב (šāḵaḇ): "to lie down." When used with 'im (with) or, as here, a direct object ('otah), it is a euphemism for sexual intercourse. In this context, combined with the preceding verbs, it unequivocally means he had non-consensual sexual intercourse with her after overpowering and violating her.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "But he would not listen to her": This phrase emphasizes Amnon's absolute resolve and the absence of any consent. It portrays him as unyielding to Tamar's moral and emotional pleas, highlighting his cold determination and total disregard for her personhood. This establishes the act as purely coercive.
• "for he was stronger than she, and forced her": This grouping explicitly details the means and nature of the act. "Stronger than she" points to the physical coercion and overwhelming force used. "Forced her" (vay'anneha) goes beyond simple force to convey the deep humiliation, defilement, and abusive violation of Tamar. This legally and morally confirms the act as rape, leaving no ambiguity about the absence of consent and the presence of violent subjugation.
• "and lay with her": This concluding phrase succinctly states the outcome of Amnon's violent actions. It directly states the completion of the sexual act. The progression from refusing her pleas, to overpowering her physically, to defiling her, and finally to intercourse, depicts a horrifying and calculated sequence of violence that stripped Tamar of her dignity and innocence.

2 Samuel 13 14 Bonus section

The tragic event of 2 Samuel 13:14 can be seen as a direct consequence of David's own past moral failures, particularly his sin with Bathsheba and the subsequent murder of Uriah. Nathan's prophecy to David in 2 Samuel 12:10-11, "the sword shall never depart from your house," and "I will raise up evil against you from your own house," begins to find its grim fulfillment here. Amnon's sin, marked by treachery, deceit, and sexual violation, echoes themes from David's life. The story highlights the devastating ripple effect of sin, not merely on the individual but on the entire family and even the kingdom. Furthermore, David's initial passive response (2 Sam 13:21: "he was very angry, but he did not punish his son Amnon") underscores a crucial failure in his parental and kingly duties, contributing to the escalation of familial dysfunction that culminates in Absalom's rebellion and the civil war that follows. This verse also implicitly demonstrates the patriarchal shame-based culture of ancient Israel, where Tamar, as a rape victim, was stripped of honor and, consequently, marriageability and social standing.

2 Samuel 13 14 Commentary

2 Samuel 13:14 records one of the most heinous and heartbreaking acts in the Old Testament, Amnon's rape of his half-sister Tamar. The verse's concise brutality underscores several critical aspects: Amnon's determined refusal to acknowledge Tamar's humanity or her pleas (וְלֹא אָבָה לִשְׁמֹעַ בְּקוֹלָהּ), highlighting the intentionality of his evil. His reliance on brute physical superiority (וַיֶּחֱזַק מִמֶּנָּה) clearly identifies the act as one of overwhelming force, negating any semblance of consent. The choice of the verb עָנָה (vay'annaha) for "forced her" is profoundly significant; it speaks not just of physical coercion but of her profound humiliation, defilement, and the deliberate violation of her being. This act, perpetrated by a member of David's own royal household, represents a catastrophic breakdown of family trust and moral order. It shattered Tamar's life, brought indelible shame upon David's family, and became a catalyst for long-standing bitterness, division, and future violence within the dynasty, ultimately contributing to the erosion of David's kingship. The sin was premeditated lust turning into violent sexual assault, showcasing the destructive power of unchecked desires and abuse of power.