New International Version
2 Samuel 18:33
33The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!”
2 Samuel 18:33 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
- English Standard Version (ESV)And the king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he went, he said, "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!"
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then the king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went, he said thus: “O my son Absalom—my son, my son Absalom—if only I had died in your place! O Absalom my son, my son!”
- New Living Translation (NLT)The king was overcome with emotion. He went up to the room over the gateway and burst into tears. And as he went, he cried, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! O Absalom, my son, my son.”
Context of 2 Samuel 18:33
31Then the Cushite arrived and said, “My lord the king, hear the good news! The Lord has vindicated you today by delivering you from the hand of all who rose up against you.” 32The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” The Cushite replied, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up to harm you be like that young man.” The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!”
Read all of 2 Samuel 182 Samuel 18:33 word by word
וַיִּרְגַּ֣ז הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וַיַּ֛עַל עַל־עֲלִיַּ֥ת הַשַּׁ֖עַר וַיֵּ֑בְךְּ וְכֹ֣ה׀ אָמַ֣ר בְּלֶכְתּ֗וֹ בְּנִ֤י אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ בְּנִ֣י בְנִ֣י אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם מִֽי־יִתֵּ֤ן מוּתִי֙ אֲנִ֣י תַחְתֶּ֔יךָ אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם בְּנִ֥י בְנִֽי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- was much movedרָגַזrâgaz · to trembleH7264
- and went upעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
- to the chamberעֲלִיָּה‛ălîyâh · upper roomH5944
- over the gateשַׁ֫עַרsha‛ar · gateH8179
- and weptבָּכָהbâkâh · to weepH1058
- and as he wentיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
- thus he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- O my sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- Absalomאֲבִישָׁלוֹם'ăbîyshâlôm 'abshâlôm · AbsalomH53
- would God I had diedמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
- for theeנָתַןnâthan · to give: if only!H5414
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 18:33
- 2 Samuel 19:4The king covered his face and cried aloud, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”
- 2 Samuel 12:10Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’
- Psalms 103:13As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
- Proverbs 10:1The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.
- Proverbs 17:25A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to the mother who bore him.
- James 5:17Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 18:33
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 33O my son Absalom - It is allowed by the most able critics that this lamentation is exceedingly pathetic. In what order the words were pronounced, for much depends on this, we cannot say. Perhaps it was the following: - בני אבשלום בני Beni Abshalom, beni ! My son Absalom! O my son! אבשלום בני Beni Abshalom ! O my son Absalom! תחתיך אני מותי יתן מי Mi yitten muthi ani thachteicha . O that I had died in thy stead! בני בני אבשלום Abshalom, beni ! beni ! O…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 33There is not in the whole of the Old Testament a passage of deeper pathos than this. Compare Luke 19:41. In the Hebrew Bible this verse commences the nineteenth chapter. The King James Version follows the Greek and Latin versions.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-33Verses 19-33 By directing David to give God thanks for his victory, Ahimaaz prepared him for the news of his son's death. The more our hearts are fixed and enlarged, in thanksgiving to God for our mercies, the better disposed we shall be to bear with patience the afflictions mixed with them. Some think David's wish arose from concern about Absalom's everlasting state; but he rather seems to have spoken without due thought. He is to be blamed for showing…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 33David was not afraid to show his emotions openly, whether filled with great joy (2 Samuel 6:14–19) or deep sadness. His feelings for Absalom were genuine, not fake.Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 18:33
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 18
- 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
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