2 Samuel 13 22

2 Samuel 13:22 kjv

And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

2 Samuel 13:22 nkjv

And Absalom spoke to his brother Amnon neither good nor bad. For Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

2 Samuel 13:22 niv

And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad; he hated Amnon because he had disgraced his sister Tamar.

2 Samuel 13:22 esv

But Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad, for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had violated his sister Tamar.

2 Samuel 13:22 nlt

And though Absalom never spoke to Amnon about this, he hated Amnon deeply because of what he had done to his sister.

2 Samuel 13 verses

2 Samuel 13 22 Meaning

This verse dramatically reveals Absalom's seething and calculating hatred for his half-brother Amnon following Amnon's heinous violation of Absalom's full sister, Tamar. His deliberate silence, refusing to speak "neither good nor bad," was not indifference but a chilling, pre-meditated refusal to engage in any form of normal communication. This quiet, unbroken facade masked a deep, consuming rage and an unyielding desire for vengeance, signaling that he had moved beyond simple anger to a cold, deliberate plan for retribution, rooted in Amnon's severe act of shaming and destroying Tamar's life.

2 Samuel 13 22 Context

This verse is situated after Amnon's violent and treacherous rape of his half-sister Tamar and Absalom's immediate, anguished response to comfort her. David, the king and father, heard of the terrible act and "was very angry" (2 Sam 13:21) but failed to take any decisive punitive action against Amnon, his firstborn and likely heir. This grave lapse in justice from the patriarch left the deeply wronged Absalom with a sense of profound injustice and responsibility. The general context of 2 Samuel 11-12, following David's own adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah, includes Nathan's prophecy that "the sword shall never depart from your house" (2 Sam 12:10). The subsequent events involving Amnon, Tamar, and Absalom demonstrate the unfolding consequences of sin within David's own family, making this verse a critical point in the unraveling of peace and justice in the royal household.

2 Samuel 13 22 Word analysis

• Absalom: (אַבְשָׁלוֹם - Avshalom). Meaning "Father of Peace," which becomes ironic as he precipitates conflict and rebellion within David's household, driven by a desire for vengeance, not peace.
• spoke: (דִּבֶּר - dibber). Signifies an act of intentional communication. Here, the emphasis is on the absence of this action.
• to Amnon: The specific target of Absalom's suppressed anger and subsequent plotted retribution. Amnon, David's firstborn son, held a privileged position that likely contributed to David's inaction and Amnon's impunity, fueling Absalom's bitterness.
• neither good nor bad: (לְמֵרָעָה וְעַד-טוֹבָה - l'mera'ah v'ad tovah). This Hebrew idiom describes a complete cessation of all communication, indicating a deliberate, profound silence. It suggests that Absalom refused any form of discourse—whether amiable conversation or angry confrontation—which is often more unsettling and ominous than overt conflict. This isn't mere indifference but a calculated and cold withdrawal.
• for / because: (כִּי - ki). This conjunction introduces the direct and undeniable reason for Absalom's silence: the deep-seated hatred he harbored. It links cause directly to effect.
• Absalom hated: (שָׂנֵא אַבְשָׁלוֹם - sane' Avshalom). The verb sane' (שָׂנֵא) indicates a profound, enduring, and fixed animosity, not a momentary fit of rage. This hatred had settled in his heart, allowing for deliberate plotting. This deep loathing festered unseen for two years, pointing to a calculated rather than impulsive response.
• Amnon: The object of Absalom's consuming hatred.
• because he had raped: (עַל-דְּבַר תָּמָר אֲחֹתוֹ אֲשֶׁר עִנָּה - 'al-dvar Tamar achoto asher 'innah). This phrase explains the moral gravity of Amnon's sin.
  • raped / afflicted / humbled: (עִנָּה - 'innah). This powerful Hebrew verb conveys more than just sexual assault; it denotes deep humiliation, coercion, and profound oppression. It implies not just an act, but a destructive process that rendered Tamar desolate, shaming her publicly and destroying her future prospects for marriage and status in Israelite society (as a non-virgin widow/divorcee by an act of violation). It is the same word used for the brutal enslavement of Israel in Egypt, highlighting the severity of the deed.
  • Tamar his sister: Crucially identifies Tamar as Absalom's full sister (from the same mother), intensifying his protective instincts and obligation to defend her honor, especially given David's passivity. The violation of a full sister was a profound disgrace to the entire immediate family.

2 Samuel 13 22 Bonus section

The protracted two-year period during which Absalom maintained his silence demonstrates a calculated and patient determination that underscores his cunning and the depth of his settled grievance. This period contrasts sharply with Amnon's quick, lustful gratification and David's immediate but ultimately inactive anger. Absalom’s outwardly neutral behavior masked a deeply vengeful spirit, providing a cautionary tale about hidden malice. The narrative of Absalom here bears a striking resemblance in its vengeful outcome to the account of Simeon and Levi’s violent reprisal for the rape of their sister Dinah in Gen 34, highlighting a persistent cultural concern in Israel about protecting female family honor, especially in the absence of paternal or societal justice.

2 Samuel 13 22 Commentary

2 Samuel 13:22 presents a pivotal moment in the tragedy of David's house, revealing the depth of Absalom's calculated resolve for vengeance. His choice to communicate "neither good nor bad" with Amnon was not an expression of reconciliation or indifference, but a chilling manifestation of internal fury that had transitioned from hot anger into cold, pre-meditated hatred. This silence was more dangerous than open accusation, as it provided Amnon with no warning, fostering a false sense of security while Absalom secretly nurtured his plan.

The bedrock of Absalom's hatred was Amnon's heinous violation of Tamar. This act wasn't just sexual sin; it was a profound social and spiritual offense that brought disgrace upon Tamar and, by extension, upon Absalom and the entire royal family. David's subsequent failure to execute justice for Amnon's crime—due to his fondness for his firstborn son—compounded the wound. David’s inaction, a direct dereliction of his duty as king to uphold God's law (which prescribed death or severe consequences for such acts, especially involving a betrothed virgin), created a moral vacuum. Absalom, witnessing this injustice, stepped in to become the avenger himself. This verse vividly illustrates how unaddressed sin and neglected justice do not disappear; they fester, corrupt, and ultimately explode into further devastating consequences, fulfilling the prophetic judgment that the sword would never depart from David’s house (2 Sam 12:10).