2 Samuel 14 33

2 Samuel 14:33 kjv

So Joab came to the king, and told him: and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed Absalom.

2 Samuel 14:33 nkjv

So Joab went to the king and told him. And when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king. Then the king kissed Absalom.

2 Samuel 14:33 niv

So Joab went to the king and told him this. Then the king summoned Absalom, and he came in and bowed down with his face to the ground before the king. And the king kissed Absalom.

2 Samuel 14:33 esv

Then Joab went to the king and told him, and he summoned Absalom. So he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king, and the king kissed Absalom.

2 Samuel 14:33 nlt

So Joab told the king what Absalom had said. Then at last David summoned Absalom, who came and bowed low before the king, and the king kissed him.

2 Samuel 14 verses

2 Samuel 14 33 Meaning

This verse marks the formal and outwardly complete reconciliation between King David and his son Absalom, after Absalom's exile for the murder of his half-brother Amnon. Following a period of non-contact in Jerusalem, Joab's persistent intercession prompts David to fully receive Absalom. Absalom's act of bowing low to the ground demonstrates submission and reverence, and David's subsequent kiss signifies his forgiveness, acceptance, and the restoration of Absalom to the royal presence.

2 Samuel 14 33 Context

This verse concludes a critical phase in Absalom's troubled relationship with King David. In 2 Samuel chapter 13, Absalom murders his half-brother Amnon to avenge the rape of his sister Tamar, and then flees into exile in Geshur, where he remains for three years (2 Sam 13:37-38). Chapter 14 details Joab's intricate plan to bring Absalom back to Jerusalem using the wise woman of Tekoa, playing on David's evident longing for his son. David grants permission for Absalom to return but forbids him from entering the king's presence (2 Sam 14:24). This intermediate state lasts two years, during which Absalom is physically present in Jerusalem but still spiritually and officially separated from his father and his court. Frustrated by this partial reconciliation, Absalom forces Joab to intervene again (2 Sam 14:28-32), leading directly to this verse, which describes the climactic meeting and outward full reconciliation between father and son.

2 Samuel 14 33 Word analysis

• "So Joab went to the king and told him": Joab (יוֹאָב, Yo'av), David's commander-in-chief, demonstrates his continued influence and pragmatic approach. He is David's primary agent in resolving the Absalom situation, even after Absalom's frustration and manipulation of Joab himself (v.30-32). His action signifies the direct result of Absalom's persistence.
• "and when he had called for Absalom": This phrase signifies David's active initiation of the meeting. The prior restriction for Absalom not to see the king's face (v.24) is now formally lifted by royal command, marking a pivotal step in his restoration to David's presence.
• "he came to the king": Absalom's immediate obedience to the royal summons. It indicates his willingness to appear before David, demonstrating acceptance of the king's authority at this point.
• "and bowed himself on his face to the ground": (וַיִּקֹּד עַל־אַפָּיו אַרְצָה, wayyiqqod al-appayv artsah) This is a deep bow, touching the nose to the earth. It is a profound gesture of complete submission, humility, reverence, and sometimes, desperate supplication before a king or superior (cf. Gen 42:6, 1 Sam 20:41). In this context, it signals Absalom's formal acknowledgement of David's authority and, outwardly at least, his penitence or seeking of favor.
• "before the king": (לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ, lipnei hammelekh) This emphasizes the formality and public nature of the meeting. Absalom is now officially in David's sight and presence once more, reversing the previous exclusion.
• "And the king kissed Absalom": (וַיִּשַּׁק הַמֶּלֶךְ לְאַבְשָׁלוֹם, wayyishshaq hammelekh le'avshalom) The act of kissing (נָשַׁק, nashaq) here is a profound sign of affection, reconciliation, and full acceptance. It is a symbolic act, particularly potent between a father and son (Gen 33:4; Lk 15:20). For David, it conveys his profound desire for reconciliation and the depth of his fatherly love, despite Absalom's heinous crime.

2 Samuel 14 33 Bonus section

• The reconciliation portrayed here is external and political rather than internal and spiritual. The text doesn't explicitly state Absalom's repentance or regret for Amnon's murder, suggesting a potential superficiality to this reconciliation which would bear bitter fruit later in his rebellion.
• David's willingness to kiss Absalom reflects the longing heart of a father, echoing divine grace. However, David's failure to apply proper justice or discipline to Absalom, a pattern seen with other children as well, ultimately contributed to the breakdown of his household and kingdom.
• The elaborate steps taken to bring Absalom back (the wise woman of Tekoa, Absalom's manipulation of Joab, then Joab's mediation) underscore the significant rupture caused by Amnon's death and David's complex emotional state concerning Absalom.
• This verse represents a peak moment of what appears to be restored harmony, but it serves as dramatic irony when viewed against Absalom's subsequent conspiracy to usurp David's throne. The kiss of reconciliation precedes a monumental betrayal, mirroring in a sense, a perverted form, Judas's kiss of betrayal later in scripture.

2 Samuel 14 33 Commentary

2 Samuel 14:33 provides the climatic scene of Absalom's return to King David's favor after his extended exile. It details a formal act of reconciliation: Absalom's submission marked by bowing on his face, and David's acceptance shown through a kiss. While outwardly demonstrating forgiveness and the restoration of familial bonds, this moment is laden with ambiguity. Absalom's elaborate show of humility might be genuine or calculated, as his later actions suggest a superficial rather than sincere repentance. David's kiss, a deep expression of paternal love and desire for peace, overlooks the profound spiritual and judicial issues—Absalom's murder of Amnon was not truly judged or atoned for, nor does Absalom seem to have truly repented. This flawed, primarily emotional reconciliation, initiated and maneuvered by Joab rather than rooted in divine justice or deep introspection by Absalom, ultimately sets the stage for future betrayal and rebellion, fulfilling the prophecy of the sword never departing from David's house. It highlights David's characteristic leniency, particularly with his children, a trait that often led to personal and national distress.