2 Samuel 14:27 kjv
And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.
2 Samuel 14:27 nkjv
To Absalom were born three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar. She was a woman of beautiful appearance.
2 Samuel 14:27 niv
Three sons and a daughter were born to Absalom. His daughter's name was Tamar, and she became a beautiful woman.
2 Samuel 14:27 esv
There were born to Absalom three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar. She was a beautiful woman.
2 Samuel 14:27 nlt
He had three sons and one daughter. His daughter's name was Tamar, and she was very beautiful.
2 Samuel 14 27 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sam 18:18 | Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken... saying, I have no son to keep my name... | Direct contradiction; Absalom's monument signifies his ultimate lack of a lasting male heir despite previous sons. |
| Gen 1:28 | And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply... | Emphasizes the divine blessing of procreation and offspring. |
| Gen 9:1 | And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply... | Reinforces the theme of fruitfulness as a divine command and blessing. |
| Gen 12:14 | And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair. | An example of "fair countenance" in relation to Sarah's beauty. |
| Gen 15:2-3 | And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless... | Highlights the importance and desire for male heirs in biblical times for lineage. |
| Gen 17:6 | And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. | God's promise of numerous offspring, emphasizing lineage and future leaders. |
| Gen 29:17 | Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. | Another example of physical beauty being noted in biblical figures. |
| Gen 35:11 | And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply... | Reiterates the blessing of fruitfulness to Jacob, linking it to nation-building. |
| Gen 38:6 | And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar. | Shows Tamar as a biblical name, often associated with a prominent figure. |
| Exo 1:7 | And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly... | Demonstrates the growth and increase of God's people as a sign of blessing. |
| Deut 25:5-10 | If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry... | Law concerning levirate marriage, highlighting the crucial importance of raising up an heir for the deceased. |
| 1 Sam 16:12 | ...Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. | Describes David's own beauty ("beautiful countenance") before he was anointed king. |
| 2 Sam 13:1 | And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar. | Relates to the tragedy of Absalom's full sister, sharing the same distinctive name. |
| Psa 127:3 | Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. | Views children as a gift and blessing from God, reinforcing the value of offspring. |
| Psa 127:4-5 | As arrows in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth... shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. | Continues the theme of sons as strength, defense, and honor for the family. |
| Psa 128:3-6 | Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine... thy children like olive plants... Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children... | Pictures a blessed man's prosperity through his family and long lineage. |
| Prov 16:9 | A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. | Implicitly suggests that despite human plans for progeny and legacy, divine sovereignty prevails. |
| Prov 19:21 | There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand. | Reinforces the theme that human plans, including those for a dynasty, are subject to God's ultimate will. |
| Prov 31:30 | Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. | Offers a contrast, warning about the superficiality of physical beauty in comparison to inner godliness. |
| Lam 3:37-38 | Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?... Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good? | Reflects on God's ultimate control over all outcomes, including life and death, and lineage. |
2 Samuel 14 verses
2 Samuel 14 27 Meaning
The verse states that Absalom, King David's son, had three sons and one daughter. His daughter was named Tamar and was noted for her beautiful appearance. This detail immediately precedes Absalom's bold move to reconcile with David, seemingly depicting him as a man blessed with a full lineage, critical for royal standing, creating a strong contrast with a later account of his ultimate legacy.
2 Samuel 14 27 Context
This verse occurs immediately following Absalom's return from a five-year exile in Geshur, engineered by Joab to facilitate reconciliation with King David after Absalom had murdered Amnon. Upon his return, David allowed Absalom to live in Jerusalem but refused to see him for two full years (2 Sam 14:28). Thus, 2 Samuel 14:27 provides a significant domestic detail about Absalom during this period of "house arrest" or royal isolation. In ancient Israelite culture, having multiple sons was paramount for ensuring a lasting family line, for inheritance, and for perpetuating one's name. The birth of three sons signified Absalom's potential for a strong legacy. The mention of a daughter, especially one named Tamar (like his sister who suffered a great wrong), and her noted beauty, further fills out the picture of Absalom as seemingly prosperous and blessed before he embarked on the path of open rebellion against his father, David. The seemingly robust lineage described here starkly contrasts with 2 Samuel 18:18, where Absalom explicitly states he has no son to preserve his name, highlighting the transient nature of earthly legacies when divorced from divine favor.
2 Samuel 14 27 Word analysis
- And unto Absalom (וּלְאַבְשָׁל֑וֹם - u'le'avshalom): "Absalom" (Avshalom) means "father of peace" or "my father is peace," a poignant and ironic name given his future rebellion and lack of peace within the royal family. The particle le indicates possession or belonging, establishing a direct connection to Absalom's family.
- there were born (יִוָּלְד֥וּ - yiwaldu): This is a Niphal (passive) form of the verb yalad (to give birth). The passive voice emphasizes that these children were born to Absalom, viewing their arrival as an event that happened to him, often implying a divine aspect, a gift or blessing.
- three sons (שְׁלֹשָׁה בָנִ֖ים - shlosha banim): "Sons" (banim) are male offspring, highly valued in patriarchal societies for carrying on the family name, inheritance, and lineage. The number three (three males using the masculine cardinal shlosha) implies a considerable number, suggesting a robust progeny and a strong foundation for a dynasty, crucial for an aspiring king.
- and one daughter (וְאֹֽנ־בַּת - ve'ah-bat): "Daughter" (bat). While daughters did not typically carry on the family name or inheritance in the same way as sons, they were cherished and could form important alliances through marriage. The naming of her in the next phrase elevates her significance.
- whose name was Tamar (וּשְׁמָ֥הּ תָּמָֽר - u'shemah Tamar): "Tamar" (תָּמָר) means "date palm," known for its beauty and fruitfulness. This name is profoundly significant due to its association with Absalom's own full sister, Tamar, who was raped by Amnon, an event that directly led to Absalom's exile (2 Sam 13). Naming his daughter Tamar could be an act of defiant memory, a protest against the injustice, or a commitment to reclaiming family honor, given its link to a painful part of his past. It is also a royal name in David's family, implying lineage.
- she was a woman of a fair countenance (הִיא הָיְתָה אִשָּׁה יְפַת מַרְאֶֽה - hi haytah ishshah yefat mar'eh): "Fair countenance" (yefat mar'eh) means "beautiful of appearance" or "pleasant to look at." This phrase is used repeatedly in the Old Testament to describe physically attractive women (e.g., Sarah, Rachel, Abigail, Esther). The emphasis on her beauty suggests her high regard and potentially her eligibility for a significant marriage, reflecting well on Absalom's status and perceived divine favor.
- "three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar": This grouping establishes Absalom's immediate family structure. The clear statement of "three sons" forms a crucial element of dramatic irony when later confronted with Absalom's assertion that he has "no son" (2 Sam 18:18). This phrase emphasizes Absalom's apparent prosperity and blessing in terms of lineage, which would have been highly valued in his cultural context.
- "whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance": This distinct group of words specifically identifies his daughter and immediately adds a descriptive note about her striking beauty. The name Tamar holds significant intertextual weight within Absalom's personal story and family trauma. The detail of her beauty adds a touch of honor or distinction to Absalom's immediate family.
2 Samuel 14 27 Bonus section
- The Enigma of Absalom's Sons: The explicit mention of Absalom having three sons here and his later claim in 2 Samuel 18:18 about having "no son" to carry on his name is a point of scholarly discussion. The most widely accepted understanding is that these three sons died in their youth, perhaps due to illness or accident, leaving Absalom without a living male heir at the time of his rebellion. This served as a profound blow to his legacy, aligning with a potential divine judgment against his rebellious heart and actions, highlighting the futility of even human blessing when one walks in disobedience.
- A Family Portrait before the Fall: This verse serves as a dramatic literary device, portraying Absalom as prosperous and divinely favored (in terms of progeny) right before he chooses a path of disloyalty and destruction. It magnifies the tragedy of his fall by showing what he seemingly had to lose and what ultimately crumbled because of his choices. It underlines that a blessed family life does not guarantee obedience or a righteous path.
- Tamar's Significance: The name "Tamar" given to his daughter not only serves as a link to his sister but also hints at the enduring pain and unresolved family trauma within David's royal household, which Absalom felt personally called to address through violence and, ultimately, rebellion. The beauty described for this Tamar continues a biblical pattern of beautiful women influencing significant narratives.
2 Samuel 14 27 Commentary
2 Samuel 14:27 provides a snapshot of Absalom's family life after his return from exile but before his rebellion. The birth of "three sons" would have been seen as a significant blessing from the Lord, confirming his male line and dynastic potential in an era where progeny, especially sons, determined a family's legacy. This blessing is notably juxtaposed with 2 Samuel 18:18, where Absalom declares he has "no son" to carry on his name, indicating that these sons must have died prematurely or before he began his final rebellion. This textual "discrepancy" underscores the transience of human aspirations and the fragility of even seemingly assured blessings. The mention of his daughter, Tamar, named after his beloved and wronged sister, is poignant, potentially indicating a continuation of his concern for family honor or a symbolic gesture of memorial within the royal lineage. Her "fair countenance" would further highlight her value and potential, reflecting a vibrant family life for Absalom at this crucial juncture in his narrative. The verse ultimately contributes to the tragic irony of Absalom's story: a man seemingly blessed with all the markers of a successful dynasty, yet whose ambition and rebellion lead to his ultimate failure and lack of a lasting heir.