2 Samuel 14:32 kjv
And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent unto thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say, Wherefore am I come from Geshur? it had been good for me to have been there still: now therefore let me see the king's face; and if there be any iniquity in me, let him kill me.
2 Samuel 14:32 nkjv
And Absalom answered Joab, "Look, I sent to you, saying, 'Come here, so that I may send you to the king, to say, "Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to be there still." ' Now therefore, let me see the king's face; but if there is iniquity in me, let him execute me."
2 Samuel 14:32 niv
Absalom said to Joab, "Look, I sent word to you and said, 'Come here so I can send you to the king to ask, "Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me if I were still there!"?' Now then, I want to see the king's face, and if I am guilty of anything, let him put me to death."
2 Samuel 14:32 esv
Absalom answered Joab, "Behold, I sent word to you, 'Come here, that I may send you to the king, to ask, "Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to be there still." Now therefore let me go into the presence of the king, and if there is guilt in me, let him put me to death.'"
2 Samuel 14:32 nlt
And Absalom replied, "Because I wanted you to ask the king why he brought me back from Geshur if he didn't intend to see me. I might as well have stayed there. Let me see the king; if he finds me guilty of anything, then let him kill me."
2 Samuel 14 32 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 4:14 | "Indeed, You have driven me...from Your face I shall be hidden..." | Cain's banishment from God's presence. |
| Lev 26:33 | "I will scatter you among the nations..." | Consequences of disobedience, national exile. |
| Ps 27:8 | "Your face, LORD, I will seek." | Longing for God's presence and favor. |
| Ps 42:2 | "My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet...?" | Longing for God amidst distress/separation. |
| Ps 51:1-4 | "Have mercy upon me, O God...for I acknowledge my transgressions..." | Contrast with Absalom's lack of true repentance. |
| Est 4:11 | "...unless the king holds out to him the golden scepter..." | Royal protocol, gaining audience with the king. |
| Prov 22:29 | "Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings..." | Gaining access and favor. |
| Isa 59:2 | "...your iniquities have separated you from your God..." | Sin causes separation from divine presence. |
| Jer 20:18 | "Why did I come from the womb...?" | Similar lament over pointlessness of birth/life. |
| Lam 1:3 | "Judah has gone into captivity...She dwells among the nations..." | Israel's exile as a consequence of sin. |
| Matt 15:19 | "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries..." | True source of Absalom's heart issues. |
| Matt 18:10 | "...their angels always see the face of My Father..." | Divine access and continuous presence. |
| Rom 6:23 | "For the wages of sin is death..." | Consequence of unaddressed iniquity. |
| Rom 8:1-2 | "There is therefore now no condemnation..." | No condemnation for those in Christ. |
| Heb 12:14 | "...and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord." | Purity required to see God's face. |
| 1 Pet 4:17 | "...what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel...?" | Divine judgment upon those who are iniquity. |
| Rev 22:4 | "They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads." | Ultimate reconciliation and intimacy with God. |
| Ps 101:7 | "No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house..." | Against Absalom's underlying manipulation. |
| Num 5:19-21 | Oath taken in cases of suspected iniquity/guilt. | Absalom's challenge has a legalistic tone. |
| Deut 19:18-19 | Penalty for false witness. | Implications of Absalom's defiant challenge. |
| Ps 106:17-18 | "The earth opened...swallowed Dathan, and covered...Abiram." | Immediate divine judgment for rebellion. |
| Ps 143:7 | "Do not hide Your face from me..." | A plea for divine favor and non-hiding. |
2 Samuel 14 verses
2 Samuel 14 32 Meaning
This verse reveals Absalom's deep frustration and impatience with his prolonged, partial exile in Jerusalem, where he was denied access to King David. He expresses that his return from Geshur was pointless if it did not lead to full restoration and reconciliation with his father. Absalom demands to see the king's face, a symbolic plea for full reinstatement and acceptance. His challenge, "if there is iniquity in me, let him put me to death," serves not as a confession but as a defiant statement, daring David to act against him, thereby forcing David's hand either to forgive or to execute him, thus resolving his ambiguous status.
2 Samuel 14 32 Context
This verse occurs after Absalom's three-year exile in Geshur following his murder of Amnon. Joab, through the wise woman of Tekoa, orchestrated Absalom's return to Jerusalem. However, King David commanded that Absalom return to his own house and "not see his face." Absalom remained in this state of suspended animation for two full years, a partial exile within Jerusalem itself, forbidden from entering the royal court or gaining access to his father. Frustrated by this limbo, Absalom attempts to summon Joab to mediate with David, even resorting to burning Joab's fields when his messengers are ignored. When Joab finally comes, 2 Samuel 14:32 records Absalom's passionate and impatient declaration, revealing his core grievance and strategic demand for full restoration. It sets the stage for David's eventual capitulation and Absalom's subsequent full-fledged rebellion.
2 Samuel 14 32 Word analysis
- And Absalom answered Joab: Indicates the direct, frank nature of their conversation after Absalom's attempts to gain Joab's attention.
- 'Look, I sent to you': Emphasizes Absalom's initiative and frustration over Joab's initial unresponsiveness. It reveals Absalom's determined personality.
- 'saying, "Come here, that I may send you to the king"': Shows Absalom's strategy; he sought to use Joab as a mediator or a messenger to David, just as Joab had earlier mediated his return.
- 'to say, "Why have I come from Geshur?''':
- Geshur (גְשׁוּר - Geshur): A small Aramean kingdom east of the Jordan River, ruled by Talmai, Absalom's maternal grandfather (2 Sam 3:3). It was the place of his three-year exile after killing Amnon. The question highlights the apparent futility of his return if he was to remain alienated from his father. It expresses his sense of aimlessness and dissatisfaction with his current state.
- 'It would be better for me to have been there still.':
- Expresses deep regret and frustration with his current, unresolved state. The period of "partial restoration" was unbearable. His preference for exile over current situation underlines his sense of continued punishment without reconciliation.
- 'Now therefore, let me see the king’s face':
- see the king’s face (רְאֵה אֶת־פְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ - re'eh et-p'ney ha-melekh): A powerful idiomatic expression signifying audience, favor, reconciliation, full acceptance, and restoration of position and status. It implies moving from exclusion to inclusion. For Absalom, this was crucial for his public image and political ambition. It contrasts with being 'hidden from the king's face' (v.24).
- 'and if there is iniquity in me, let him put me to death.':
- iniquity (עָוֹן - `avon): Means sin, guilt, transgression, perversity, or moral crookedness. This term specifically highlights deviation from moral law or what is right. Absalom, despite committing murder, strategically challenges David to find `avon in him now, in his current behavior or standing.
- put me to death (הֲמִיתֵנִי - hamitenu): A strong, defiant challenge. It frames the issue in terms of legal innocence or guilt and death as the ultimate penalty. Absalom, rather than confessing his sin, demands the ultimate consequence if he is found currently guilty, implicitly proclaiming his innocence or demanding resolution. This is not genuine contrition, but a manipulative play for vindication or a decisive outcome.
2 Samuel 14 32 Bonus section
The motif of "seeing the face" appears throughout the Bible with profound theological implications. While Absalom seeks the king's face for political gain and perceived vindication, other passages emphasize longing to see God's face as the ultimate blessing, representing communion, favor, and ultimate salvation. For example, Psalmists yearn for God's presence, while in the New Testament, believers are promised they will one day see God's face (Rev 22:4). Absalom's self-justifying and demanding approach starkly contrasts with the humility and dependence necessary to approach true divine authority. His statement about `avon implies a lack of genuine self-awareness or a cynical attempt to exploit legal nuances, underscoring that his heart was not toward humble submission but rather impatient self-promotion.
2 Samuel 14 32 Commentary
Absalom's declaration in 2 Samuel 14:32 serves as a pivotal moment, exposing his underlying motivations. It reveals a manipulative pride rather than true repentance. His desire to "see the king's face" is primarily for political and social restoration, not spiritual reconciliation with his father or God. By demanding execution if `avon is found in him, Absalom strategically puts David in an impossible position: to kill him would make David appear unjust and cruel given Absalom's plea for resolution, while not doing so grants Absalom unspoken victory and validates his return without genuine accountability. This calculated gamble foreshadows his future rebellion, illustrating that his forced idleness did not breed humility, but resentment and ambition for power. His sense of victimhood overshadows any acknowledgment of his crime against Amnon, setting a dangerous precedent for the stability of David's kingdom.