2 Samuel 13:8 kjv
So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.
2 Samuel 13:8 nkjv
So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was lying down. Then she took flour and kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes.
2 Samuel 13:8 niv
So Tamar went to the house of her brother Amnon, who was lying down. She took some dough, kneaded it, made the bread in his sight and baked it.
2 Samuel 13:8 esv
So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house, where he was lying down. And she took dough and kneaded it and made cakes in his sight and baked the cakes.
2 Samuel 13:8 nlt
When Tamar arrived at Amnon's house, she went to the place where he was lying down so he could watch her mix some dough. Then she baked his favorite dish for him.
2 Samuel 13 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sam 13:1 | Now Absalom…had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar... | Introduces Tamar as beautiful. |
| 2 Sam 13:4 | Jonadab asked him, "Why are you, the king's son, so drawn?" | Amnon's distressed love and Jonadab's role. |
| 2 Sam 13:5 | Jonadab said, "Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill." | Jonadab's cunning counsel to Amnon. |
| 2 Sam 13:6 | So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill...let my sister Tamar come... | Amnon initiates the deception based on advice. |
| 2 Sam 13:7 | David sent home to Tamar, "Go to your brother Amnon's house..." | David unknowingly facilitates the deception. |
| 2 Sam 13:9 | He refused to eat. And Amnon said, "Send everyone away from me." | Amnon clears the room for his assault. |
| 2 Sam 13:10 | Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the food into the bedroom so I may eat..." | Amnon isolates Tamar further. |
| 2 Sam 13:14 | But he would not listen...he overpowered her and raped her. | The wicked culmination of Amnon's plan. |
| Gen 34:2-3 | And when Shechem saw her, he seized her and lay with her and disgraced her. | Similar theme of sexual violence against a woman. |
| Lev 18:9 | You shall not uncover the nakedness of your sister, your father’s daughter. | Incest forbidden by divine law. |
| Deut 27:22 | "Cursed be anyone who lies with his sister, whether his father’s daughter." | A curse upon incest. |
| Prov 6:27-28 | Can a man carry fire next to his bosom and his clothes not be burned? | Warnings against enticement and impurity. |
| Prov 26:24-26 | One who hates dissembles with his lips and stores up deceit within him. | Speaking of concealed malice and treachery. |
| Ps 55:20-21 | My companion stretched out his hand against his friends...smooth as butter. | Betrayal by those close, appearing kind but violent. |
| Jer 9:8 | Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceitfully. | The danger of deceitful words and intentions. |
| Jas 1:14-15 | Each person is tempted when he is lured...lust gives birth to sin. | Explains the progression from lust to sin. |
| Rom 1:24-27 | Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity... | Consequences of unchecked passions. |
| Luke 11:39 | The Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup..." | Contrasting outward appearance with inward corruption. |
| Gen 4:8 | Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field...killed him. | Sibling betrayal leading to violence. |
| 2 Sam 12:10 | Therefore the sword shall never depart from your house... | Nathan's prophecy against David, fulfilled in his family's chaos. |
| Prov 7:13-21 | She catches him and kisses him and with impudent face says to him... | Woman's deceptive enticement, contrasting Amnon's. |
| Judg 19:24 | Here are my virgin daughter and his concubine. Let me bring them out now. | Host's offering women to a crowd (rape), highlighting societal dangers. |
| Ps 7:14 | Behold, the one who is pregnant with evil and conceives trouble... | Evil conceived, leading to disaster. |
| Matt 26:49 | And immediately he came up to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" | Judas's deceptive kiss preceding betrayal. |
2 Samuel 13 verses
2 Samuel 13 8 Meaning
2 Samuel 13:8 describes Tamar's dutiful and unsuspecting act of going to Amnon's house, preparing, baking, and serving food (cakes) for him while he feigned illness. This seemingly simple domestic scene is, in truth, a chilling setup orchestrated by Amnon, under the advice of Jonadab, to lure Tamar into a vulnerable position for his wicked intent. It highlights Tamar's innocent compliance and familial care, starkly contrasted with the brother's malicious deception hidden beneath the guise of affliction.
2 Samuel 13 8 Context
2 Samuel chapter 13 plunges David's household into a period of severe internal turmoil, fulfilling aspects of Nathan's prophecy regarding the sword never departing from his house due to his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah. The chapter details Amnon's "love" for his half-sister Tamar, a passion that quickly turns into obsession. Advised by his cunning cousin Jonadab, Amnon devises a plan to feign illness, requesting David to send Tamar to his room to prepare food. Verse 8 marks the initial, innocent fulfillment of this request. Unaware of Amnon's true intentions, Tamar acts out of dutiful family affection and care, entering the private space where the trap has been set. This act of hospitality and familial concern is then brutally violated, leading to Tamar's rape (2 Sam 13:14) and, subsequently, Absalom's patient, calculating revenge against Amnon, culminating in Amnon's murder (2 Sam 13:28-29). The verse therefore sets the stage for a tragic sequence of events that unravels David's family and monarchy.
2 Samuel 13 8 Word analysis
- Then (וַתֵּלֶךְ, va-tte·lek): This conjunction and verb immediately follow David's command (v. 7), signifying Tamar's swift and unquestioning obedience. It indicates a direct cause-and-effect in the narrative flow.
- Tamar (תָּמָר, ta·mar): Daughter of David and Maacah, Absalom's full sister. Her name means "palm tree," often a symbol of uprightness and beauty. Her character in this narrative is marked by innocence and vulnerability.
- went (תֵּלֶךְ, te·lek): Reinforces Tamar's action. Her going to Amnon's house underscores her compliance and the immediate execution of David's word.
- to Amnon’s house: Establishes the setting, transitioning from the royal court to a private, potentially compromising space. This shift in location is critical for Amnon's plot to unfold without public scrutiny.
- Now he was lying down (וְהוּא שֹׁכֵב, v'hu sho·khev): This phrase paints a picture of Amnon feigning illness, creating an illusion of weakness and vulnerability designed to elicit sympathy and care, and to put Tamar off guard.
- And she took (וַתִּקַּח, va-tikkach): An active verb indicating Tamar's direct engagement with the preparation process.
- dough (בָּצֵק, batzetz): More accurately "meal" or "flour" in a broader sense from which to knead dough. It refers to the raw material for baking. It symbolizes domesticity, nurture, and common sustenance.
- and kneaded it (וַתָּלוֹשׁ, va-talosh): A verb describing the physical act of preparing the dough by hand. This detail emphasizes her hands-on care and the labor of love she extends to her seemingly sick brother.
- and made cakes (וַתְּלַבֵּב לְעֵינָיו לְבִבוֹת, va-t'labbev l'ei·nav l'vi·vot): The term
lĕbîḇōth(cakes) suggests a certain type of pastry, often described as heart-shaped or small cakes, typically made with fine flour and oil. These were perhaps regarded as delicacies or restorative food for the sick. The act of "making" (from rootlabav,לבב, meaning 'heart' or 'courage') implies a painstaking preparation, reinforcing her deep care. - in his sight (לְעֵינָיו, l'ei·nav): This crucial detail highlights the open and transparent nature of Tamar's actions. She prepared the food directly before Amnon, completely unaware of his sinister intentions. It contrasts her openness with Amnon's hidden wickedness, serving as a bitter irony: Amnon watches her perform this act of love, knowing he is about to betray her trust in the most horrific way. This visibility underscores the premeditation and the moral perversion of the act he is planning.
- and baked them (וַתְּבַשֵּׁל אֶת־הַלְּבִבֹת, va-t'vashel et ha-l'vi·vot): The final stage of preparation, showing the completion of her sisterly service.
2 Samuel 13 8 Bonus section
The seemingly minor detail of Tamar preparing the food "in his sight" carries significant dramatic irony. Culturally, preparing food was a demonstration of honor, hospitality, and care, often reserved for significant guests or beloved family members. For Tamar to do this personally, and under Amnon's watchful eye, underscored her status as a cherished sister acting dutifully. However, Amnon’s "sight" was not one of appreciation or affection but of calculation and lust, objectifying her while she innocently performed an act of love. This scene is often paralleled with other instances of deceptive hospitality or feigned illness leading to grave harm in ancient narratives. The domestic setting provided the illusion of safety, which made the subsequent violation even more horrific, breaking both physical and social boundaries that should have protected her.
2 Samuel 13 8 Commentary
2 Samuel 13:8 tragically showcases Tamar's pure-hearted service contrasted with Amnon's insidious deceit. Her unquestioning obedience to her father's command and her meticulous preparation of food "in his sight" underline her innocence and the familial trust she extends. The choice of making lĕbîḇōth—a type of cake often associated with comfort or restoration—symbolizes her tender care for Amnon, reinforcing the profound betrayal he is about to commit. This domestic act, normally signifying care and safety, is here subverted into a critical component of a premeditated assault, setting the stage for a chain of devastating events that ripple throughout David's house. The verse exemplifies how an outward appearance of normalcy and intimacy can hide profound evil and how vulnerability can be preyed upon under the guise of compassion. It's a somber reminder of how sin distorts human relationships and the sacred bonds of family.