English Standard Version
2 Samuel 13:2
2And Amnon was so tormented that he made himself ill because of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed impossible to Amnon to do anything to her.
2 Samuel 13:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.
- New International Version (NIV)Amnon became so obsessed with his sister Tamar that he made himself ill. She was a virgin, and it seemed impossible for him to do anything to her.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Amnon was so distressed over his sister Tamar that he became sick; for she was a virgin. And it was improper for Amnon to do anything to her.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Amnon became so obsessed with Tamar that he became ill. She was a virgin, and Amnon thought he could never have her.
Context of 2 Samuel 13:2
1Now Absalom, David's son, had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar. And after a time Amnon, David's son, loved her. And Amnon was so tormented that he made himself ill because of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed impossible to Amnon to do anything to her. 3But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother. And Jonadab was a very crafty man. 4And he said to him, "O son of the king, why are you so haggard morning after morning? Will you not tell me?" Amnon said to him, "I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister."
Read all of 2 Samuel 132 Samuel 13:2 word by word
וַיֵּ֨צֶר לְאַמְנ֜וֹן לְהִתְחַלּ֗וֹת בַּֽעֲבוּר֙ תָּמָ֣ר אֲחֹת֔וֹ כִּ֥י בְתוּלָ֖ה הִ֑יא וַיִּפָּלֵא֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י אַמְנ֔וֹן לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת לָ֖הּ מְאֽוּמָה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Amnonאַמְנוֹן'amnôn 'ămîynôn · AmnonH550
- was so vexedיָצַרyâtsar · be distressedH3334
- that he fell sickחָלָהchâlâh · be weak: illH2470
- for his sisterאָחוֹת'âchôth · sisterH269
- Tamarתָּמָרtâmâr · TamarH8559
- a virginבְּתוּלָהbethûlâh · virginH1330
- thoughtעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: appearanceH5869
- it hardפָּלָאpâlâ' · to wonderH6381
- for him to doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- any thingמְא֫וּמָהme'ûmâh · anythingH3972
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 13:2
- 1 Kings 21:4And Ahab went into his house vexed and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him, for he had said, "I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers." And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food.
- 2 Corinthians 7:10For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 13:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Amnon was so vexed - for she was a virgin - It has been well remarked that "the passion of love is nowhere so wasting and vexatious, as where it is unlawful. A quick sense of guilt, especially where it is enormous, as in the present instance, strikes the soul with horror; and the impossibility of an innocent gratification loads that horror with desperation: a conflict too cruel and too dreadful for human bearing." - Delaney.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2sick with frustration: The story shows that Amnon's "love" for Tamar (2 Samuel 13:4) was not healthy love. It was an unhealthy sexual obsession that made him emotionally distressed. She was a virgin: Amnon’s fixation grew stronger because Tamar had not had sexual relations. it seemed implausible for him to do anything to her: The law forbade marriage between a brother and a sister (Leviticus 18:9, 11; 20:17; Deuteronomy 27:22). However, Amnon did not seek…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. for she was a virgin--Unmarried daughters were kept in close seclusion from the company of men; no strangers, nor even their relatives of the other sex, being permitted to see them without the presence of witnesses. Of course, Amnon must have seen Tamar, for he had conceived a violent passion for her, which, though forbidden by the law (Le 18:11), yet with the sanction of Abraham's example (Ge 20:12), and the common practice in neighboring countries…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 13:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries