2 Samuel 14:26 kjv
And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year's end that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king's weight.
2 Samuel 14:26 nkjv
And when he cut the hair of his head?at the end of every year he cut it because it was heavy on him?when he cut it, he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels according to the king's standard.
2 Samuel 14:26 niv
Whenever he cut the hair of his head?he used to cut his hair once a year because it became too heavy for him?he would weigh it, and its weight was two hundred shekels by the royal standard.
2 Samuel 14:26 esv
And when he cut the hair of his head (for at the end of every year he used to cut it; when it was heavy on him, he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head, two hundred shekels by the king's weight.
2 Samuel 14:26 nlt
He cut his hair only once a year, and then only because it was so heavy. When he weighed it out, it came to five pounds!
2 Samuel 14 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference ||-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|| 2 Sam 14:25 | But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. | Absalom's exceptional physical beauty is introduced, making his hair's description consistent with his overall appearance. || 2 Sam 18:9 | And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught in the oak... | Absalom's renowned hair ironically becomes the instrument of his capture and subsequent death. || Judg 16:17-20 | Samson revealed all his heart to her... said, "If I be shaven, then my strength will go from me." ... | Hair as a source of power and significance; contrasting Absalom's hair as a symbol of vanity. || Lam 4:7 | Her Nazirites were purer than snow; they were whiter than milk; they were more ruddy in body than rubies; their polishing was of sapphire: Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets... | Compares beauty to physical characteristics like hair/skin purity. || Prov 16:18 | Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. | Absalom's excessive pride in his appearance and status eventually leads to his downfall. || Prov 11:1 | A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight. | "King's weight" emphasizes accuracy and divine standard of justice in measurements. || Lev 19:36 | Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt. | God commands the use of honest weights, highlighting the importance of the "king's weight" as a standard. || Deut 25:15 | But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have: that thy days may be lengthened... | Further reinforces divine commandment for accurate and fair measurements. || Isa 3:24 | And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty. | Losing beautiful hair is depicted as a sign of judgment and disgrace. || Mic 1:16 | Make thee bald, and poll thee for thy delicate children; enlarge thy baldness as the eagle; for they are gone into captivity from thee. | Pollen or baldness as a sign of mourning and judgment, contrasting with Absalom's meticulous grooming. || Matt 6:28-29 | And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. | A reminder against excessive focus on outward appearance or material splendor. || 1 Pet 3:3-4 | Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit... | Emphasizes inner beauty over outward adornment, cautioning against the kind of vanity Absalom displayed. || Ps 20:7 | Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. | Illustrates misplaced trust in earthly attributes (like physical strength or appearance) rather than in God. || 1 Sam 16:7 | But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature... for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. | Directly opposes judging based on outward beauty, a quality Absalom exemplified. || 2 Sam 15:1-6 | And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses... Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. | Absalom's vanity and popularity (partly due to his looks) were used to subtly gain power and undermine his father's rule. || 2 Sam 18:18 | Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar... for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance... | Absalom's desire for lasting fame and remembrance, a manifestation of his self-absorption. || Ezek 28:17 | Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground... | A prophetic word against a king (Tyre) whose pride was tied to his beauty, mirroring Absalom's trajectory. || Dan 4:30 | The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? | King Nebuchadnezzar's pride in his achievements and glory, a parallel to Absalom's self-glorification. || 1 Cor 11:14 | Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? | Contrasts common societal/cultural view of male hair with Absalom's exceptional growth. || Gen 27:11 | And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man. | Mentions hair as a defining physical characteristic. || Isa 5:14 | Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. | Those who delight in their glory and pomp are destined for destruction, reflecting Absalom's fate. || Hos 13:6 | According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me. | Fullness or abundance leading to pride and forgetting God. |
2 Samuel 14 verses
2 Samuel 14 26 Meaning
2 Samuel 14:26 describes a remarkable physical attribute of Absalom, King David's son. It states that when he cut his hair, which he did annually because its great weight caused him discomfort, the collected hair weighed two hundred shekels according to the official royal standard of weight. This verse highlights Absalom's exceptional beauty and vanity, specifically focusing on the impressive quantity and density of his hair.
2 Samuel 14 26 Context
This verse is situated within the narrative of Absalom's return to Jerusalem after being in exile for three years due to his murder of Amnon (2 Sam 13). Joab orchestrates his return, but Absalom remains confined to his own house and does not see King David's face for two more years. During this period, Absalom is described as an extraordinarily handsome man (2 Sam 14:25). Verse 26 elaborates on this beauty, specifically highlighting his luxurious and unusually heavy hair, which required annual trimming and weighed a significant amount. This detail about his hair, following the description of his general beauty, further emphasizes Absalom's outward allure and sets the stage for his charismatic rise and eventual rebellion. His attention to and prominence given to his hair foreshadows the irony of his demise, where his very hair would lead to his entrapment.
2 Samuel 14 26 Word analysis
- And when he polled his head: The verb "polled" (כָּסַס, kasas) means to cut, shear, or clip. It implies a deliberate, clean cut, often used for sheep or the hair on the head. This indicates a regular, meticulous grooming ritual for Absalom, highlighting his attention to his appearance.
- (for it was at every year's end that he polled it: This parenthetical explanation emphasizes the annual, ritualistic nature of his hair cutting. "Every year's end" indicates a consistent schedule.
- because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:): "Heavy" (כָּבֵד, kaved) here literally means weighty or burdensome. It underscores the exceptional volume and density of Absalom's hair, so much so that it caused physical discomfort if left uncut. Kaved can also imply glory, honor, or significance, adding a subtle layer to the description of something physically "heavy" but also a source of pride or renown.
- he weighed the hair of his head: The act of weighing (שָׁקַל, shaqal) suggests a deliberate assessment of its quantity. It implies that the weight was so extraordinary that it was deemed worthy of formal measurement, turning a personal grooming act into an event. This also reinforces the idea of Absalom's meticulousness or vanity in documenting this impressive feature.
- at two hundred shekels: A "shekel" (שֶׁקֶל, sheqel) was a unit of weight in ancient Israel, which also functioned as currency. While the exact modern equivalent varies across different periods and standards, two hundred shekels typically equate to about 5-6 pounds (approximately 2.3-2.7 kg). This is an exceptionally large amount of hair to grow and cut annually, reinforcing the description of Absalom's remarkable hair. Some scholars suggest this may be an example of hyperbole, commonly used in ancient texts to describe extraordinary features, to underscore Absalom's unique, almost superhuman, physical attribute.
- after the king's weight: The phrase "king's weight" (אַבֶן הַמֶּלֶךְ, even ha-melech - literally "stone of the king") refers to the official, standardized weight maintained by the royal authority. This was a common practice in ancient Near Eastern kingdoms to ensure fairness and accuracy in commerce, trade, and even taxation or religious offerings. Its inclusion here lends authenticity and verifiable fact to the incredible claim about the hair's weight. It implies the measurement was not casual but verified against a royal standard, further testifying to the objective impressiveness of Absalom's hair.
Words-group analysis
- "And when he polled his head... because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:": This entire parenthetical explanation highlights a pragmatic necessity turned into a personal custom, drawing attention to Absalom's unique physical endowment. It sets the stage for the revelation of the hair's extraordinary weight.
- "he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king's weight.": This concluding phrase provides the striking quantifiable detail. The combination of "two hundred shekels" and "king's weight" makes the claim emphatic, not merely anecdotal, emphasizing the magnitude and verifiable nature of Absalom's most famous physical characteristic. This remarkable detail serves to impress the reader with Absalom's unparalleled physical glory, which aligns with his vanity and sets him apart.
2 Samuel 14 26 Bonus section
The significant weight of Absalom's hair has been interpreted by some as either a hyperbole used by the author to magnify his unique physical glory, or as evidence of Absalom's extraordinary physique (perhaps an incredibly thick scalp of hair or the measurement including moisture/oil content in his hair at the time of weighing). In ancient Near Eastern cultures, long, luxuriant hair was often a sign of beauty, strength, virility, and even royal splendor. For Absalom, a man noted for his beauty and ambition, this lavish hair was a crown unto itself, contributing to the charisma he later used to draw the people of Israel to himself. The act of weighing it by "king's weight" might suggest a subtle claim or emulation of royal status, indicating he was already seen or saw himself as someone destined for the throne. Furthermore, the detailed account of Absalom's appearance, wealth, and popularity directly precedes his successful usurpation of David's throne, subtly connecting his personal vanity and impressive image with his rebellious agenda.
2 Samuel 14 26 Commentary
2 Samuel 14:26 serves as a key detail in building the character profile of Absalom. Beyond simply stating his good looks, this verse provides a specific, astonishing detail about his hair that solidifies his exceptional, almost unbelievable, physical appeal. His yearly custom of weighing his trimmed hair demonstrates a profound level of self-awareness and perhaps vanity, implying he took pride in this remarkable feature. The reference to the "king's weight" adds a layer of verifiability and official importance to this otherwise personal detail, signifying that even his hair was a matter of considerable public note or estimation. This extreme physical glory, particularly in his hair, becomes ironically tragic, as it is the very feature that ensnares him and leads to his demise later in the narrative (2 Sam 18). Thus, the verse implicitly sets up the "pride before a fall" motif that characterizes Absalom's story. It is a detail not merely for admiration, but to underscore his self-absorption, which contrasts sharply with the humility often required of a true leader in God's sight.