2 Samuel 13 21

2 Samuel 13:21 kjv

But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.

2 Samuel 13:21 nkjv

But when King David heard of all these things, he was very angry.

2 Samuel 13:21 niv

When King David heard all this, he was furious.

2 Samuel 13:21 esv

When King David heard of all these things, he was very angry.

2 Samuel 13:21 nlt

When King David heard what had happened, he was very angry.

2 Samuel 13 verses

2 Samuel 13 21 Meaning

When King David received news of the violent sexual assault of his daughter Tamar by his son Amnon, including all the degrading details that followed, he reacted with intense anger. This verse captures his immediate emotional response to the heinous crime within his own royal household, highlighting his deep displeasure at the horrific act committed by his firstborn son against his vulnerable half-sister.

2 Samuel 13 21 Context

This verse is set within a tumultuous period of King David's reign, immediately following a grievous sin committed within his own family. Chapter 13 of 2 Samuel chronicles Amnon's incestuous rape of his half-sister Tamar, despite her pleas for him to take her legitimately. Following the assault, Amnon, out of disgust, forcibly sends Tamar away, leaving her desolate and disgraced. Absalom, Tamar's full brother, receives her into his home, full of hatred for Amnon, but keeps his vengeance silent. Against this backdrop of heinous crime and quiet brooding, verse 21 describes King David's internal response to learning "of all these things," which refers to the full account of Amnon's betrayal, his deceptive plot, the violent rape, and Tamar's subsequent isolation and profound dishonor. This incident is a direct consequence of Nathan the prophet's earlier pronouncements in 2 Samuel 12:10-11, foretelling that the "sword shall never depart from David's house" and that evil would be raised against him "from his own house" because of his own sins involving Bathsheba and Uriah. David's reaction of "very angry" is poignant as it contrasts with his lack of action that precipitates the continued tragic chain of events in his family, ultimately leading to Absalom's revenge and rebellion.

2 Samuel 13 21 Word analysis

• When King David: This emphasizes David's supreme authority and ultimate responsibility as the sovereign of Israel and the head of his family. His position makes his subsequent inaction all the more significant and tragic.
• heard (שָׁמַע - shama’): This Hebrew verb means to hear, listen, understand, or obey. In this context, it primarily indicates that David received the report or learned the information about Amnon's crime. While shama' can imply heeding or obeying, here it seems limited to the act of reception, as his subsequent lack of action suggests a failure to "obey" the demands of justice inherent in the horrific situation.
• of all these things: This refers to the entirety of the terrible events: Amnon's deceit, the rape of Tamar, her defilement, his cruel dismissal of her, and her living desolate as a shamed woman in Absalom's house. The comprehensive nature of "all these things" underlines the full horror and outrage David absorbed.
• he was very angry (וַיִּחַר לוֹ מְאֹד - wa-yichar lo me’od): The phrase yichar lo literally means "it burned to him" or "it became hot for him," signifying a strong, intense anger, often righteous indignation. The addition of me’od ("very" or "exceedingly") amplifies the degree of his wrath. This precise Hebrew phrase is frequently used to describe intense anger, including that of God (e.g., Exod 32:10, Num 11:10), of Saul (1 Sam 18:8), and other figures in the Bible. While David's anger here is justifiable given the abhorrent nature of Amnon's crime against his daughter, the critical point of the narrative is not his emotional state but his subsequent lack of punitive action. His "very angry" reaction appears to be internal and impotent in addressing the gross injustice and defilement within his royal family, setting the stage for Absalom's violent reprisal.

2 Samuel 13 21 Bonus section

The passage implicitly highlights the cultural significance of virginity and honor within ancient Israelite society; Tamar's defilement meant irreparable social shame. David's inaction might be rooted in a combination of factors: perhaps his love for Amnon as his firstborn and heir, a desire to avoid scandal within the royal family, or even a sense of divine judgment incapacitating him due to his own sin with Bathsheba, rendering him unable to act against similar moral failures in his children. This event reveals a tragic pattern of passivity in David's later reign regarding internal family dysfunctions, contrasting sharply with his earlier decisiveness as a warrior and king. The narrative underscores that while God forgives sin, its earthly consequences can ripple through generations, impacting personal relationships and national stability, especially within a divinely appointed kingship.

2 Samuel 13 21 Commentary

David's immediate reaction to the news of Tamar's rape was profound anger, a natural and righteous response to such a horrific act of injustice within his own family. The intensity of his anger is emphasized by the biblical language, suggesting deep internal turmoil. However, the tragic irony lies not in his emotion, but in the glaring absence of any subsequent, decisive action. As king and father, David held the ultimate authority to dispense justice and punish such a heinous crime. His failure to confront Amnon, exact legal consequences, or even acknowledge Tamar's suffering through official channels is a critical moral and leadership failure. This inaction can be seen as both a personal shortcoming and a direct fulfillment of Nathan's prophecy regarding the ongoing trouble within David's house, a chain reaction stemming from David's own past sins. His impotent anger allowed the wound in his family to fester, ultimately paving the way for Absalom's simmering hatred and a future, violent revenge that would further destabilize his kingdom.