2 Samuel 13 20

2 Samuel 13:20 kjv

And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.

2 Samuel 13:20 nkjv

And Absalom her brother said to her, "Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother; do not take this thing to heart." So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.

2 Samuel 13:20 niv

Her brother Absalom said to her, "Has that Amnon, your brother, been with you? Be quiet for now, my sister; he is your brother. Don't take this thing to heart." And Tamar lived in her brother Absalom's house, a desolate woman.

2 Samuel 13:20 esv

And her brother Absalom said to her, "Has Amnon your brother been with you? Now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother; do not take this to heart." So Tamar lived, a desolate woman, in her brother Absalom's house.

2 Samuel 13:20 nlt

Her brother Absalom saw her and asked, "Is it true that Amnon has been with you? Well, my sister, keep quiet for now, since he's your brother. Don't you worry about it." So Tamar lived as a desolate woman in her brother Absalom's house.

2 Samuel 13 verses

2 Samuel 13 20 Meaning

This verse details Absalom's immediate, seemingly calm, reaction to his half-sister Tamar's rape by their half-brother Amnon, and Tamar's subsequent desolate state. Absalom confirms the traumatic event and advises Tamar to remain silent and not dwell on the matter due to the family relationship, while inwardly beginning to harbor a deep-seated vengeful resentment. Tamar, socially disgraced and emotionally broken, finds refuge but also prolonged isolation within Absalom's house.

2 Samuel 13 20 Context

This verse occurs immediately after Tamar, violated by Amnon, tears her royal robe and places ashes on her head, publicly lamenting her disgrace. Her desperate cry, visible to Absalom, confirms the unspeakable crime. The historical context is an honor-shame society where a woman's sexual purity was paramount, and defilement by a close family member was an unparalleled shame that rendered her unmarriageable and socially outcast. This act of violence is part of the unfolding judgment on David's house, prophesied by Nathan in 2 Samuel 12:10-12, where the "sword shall never depart" from his house, and evil would be raised up against him from within his own family. David's subsequent inaction and failure to execute justice against Amnon profoundly impact Absalom's future actions and rebellion.

2 Samuel 13 20 Word analysis

• And Absalom her brother:
  • Absalom (אַבְשָׁלוֹם, Avshalom): Meaning "father of peace," which is tragically ironic given his violent nature and the turmoil he brings to David's house. His direct identification as Tamar's brother emphasizes the betrayal of kinship bonds.
• said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee?
  • This is not a question seeking information, but confirmation of a horrifying suspicion. Absalom's use of "thy brother" twice within the question stresses the egregious nature of the violation by a close relative, highlighting the incestuous aspect and family betrayal. The implied "been with thee" (literally, "lain with thee" in the Hebrew: הֶיִקָּם אַמְנוֹן אָחִיךְ) clearly denotes sexual assault.
• hold now thy peace, my sister:
  • hold now thy peace (הַחֲרִישִׁי, hacharishi): An imperative, commanding silence. This is a critical instruction from Absalom. It signifies a desire to keep the scandal from becoming widely public, perhaps to protect the family's honor or, more ominously, to buy time for his own plans for vengeance without immediate intervention.
  • my sister: A term of endearment and shared familial bond, yet it serves to underscore the shared tragedy and possibly manipulate Tamar into compliance with his command for silence.
• he is thy brother; regard not this thing.
  • he is thy brother: Repeats the kinship connection, perhaps subtly implying a need for silence to preserve family unity (even if false) or to acknowledge the irreversible damage and prevent further strife. It could also imply an attempt to rationalize or mitigate the severity of the act for Tamar's sake, which is cruel in its dismissiveness of her pain.
  • regard not this thing (אַל-תָּשִׁיתִי אֶת-לִבֵּךְ לַדָּבָר הַזֶּה, al-tashiti et-libech la-davar ha-zeh): Literally "do not set your heart upon this matter." This phrase urges Tamar not to dwell on the incident, to ignore it, or not to let it consume her emotionally. While seemingly a word of comfort, it is also a directive for quiet suppression, allowing Absalom to control the narrative and time for his own dark intentions. It effectively discourages Tamar from seeking public justice.
• So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.
  • remained desolate (וַתֵּשֶׁב תָּמָר שֹׁמֵמָה, vatteshev Tamar shomema): "Shomema" is a powerful term. It means "desolate," "laid waste," "ravaged," "stunned," or "forlorn." It captures Tamar's profound emotional, psychological, and social ruin. Her virginity, honor, and marriage prospects were destroyed, leaving her in a state of living death, alienated from society and condemned to isolation.
  • in her brother Absalom's house: This was ostensibly a place of protection and refuge from the outside world after her defilement. However, it also signifies her confinement and prolonged isolation. While saved from deeper public humiliation, she was also sequestered and forgotten, her pain privately borne while the larger political implications unfolded around her. This detail shows that Absalom harbored her, concealing her plight, which gave him power over the situation and fuel for his long-planned vengeance.

2 Samuel 13 20 Bonus section

This verse powerfully illustrates the deep dysfunction within David's royal family, highlighting David's culpability by omission and a pervasive failure to establish justice and discipline among his children. Absalom's instruction for Tamar to keep silent, combined with David's later inaction (only being "very wroth" but not punishing Amnon, 2 Sam 13:21), effectively silenced Tamar's suffering and denied her the justice she deserved according to the Law. This lack of justice for Tamar became a central catalyst for Absalom's simmering hatred, leading to his eventual murder of Amnon and subsequent rebellion against his father, unraveling the very fabric of David's kingdom. The verse is a testament to how unaddressed sin, particularly injustice within powerful families, can lead to devastating long-term consequences, illustrating that what begins in the hidden chambers of family sin eventually spills over into public chaos and national tragedy.

2 Samuel 13 20 Commentary

2 Samuel 13:20 presents a pivotal moment, shifting from the horrifying act to its profound aftermath and consequences. Absalom's seemingly controlled and understated response conceals a deeply calculated rage, foretelling his brutal vengeance two years later. His command for Tamar's silence is not primarily for her peace, but to strategically manage the family disgrace, allowing his anger to fester and grow into a deadly plot against Amnon. Tamar's subsequent state of "desolation" vividly portrays the devastating impact of the rape, signifying not just emotional despair but a profound social death. She is stripped of honor, prospects, and voice, confined to a life of hidden shame in a society that valued female purity above all. This verse encapsulates the severe personal trauma inflicted by sin and foreshadows the further decay of David's royal household as a direct fulfillment of God's judgment against him.