2 Samuel 19:4

2 Samuel 19:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!
• New International Version (NIV)The king covered his face and cried aloud, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”
• English Standard Version (ESV)The king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, "O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!"
• New King James Version (NKJV)But the king covered his face, and the king cried out with a loud voice, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”

Context of 2 Samuel 19:4

2As all the people heard of the king’s deep grief for his son, the joy of that day’s victory was turned into deep sadness. 3They crept back into the town that day as though they were ashamed and had deserted in battle. The king covered his face with his hands and kept on crying, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!” 5Then Joab went to the king’s room and said to him, “We saved your life today and the lives of your sons, your daughters, and your wives and concubines. Yet you act like this, making us feel ashamed of ourselves. 6You seem to love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that your commanders and troops mean nothing to you. It seems that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died, you would be pleased.

2 Samuel 19:4 word by word

וְהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ לָאַ֣ט אֶת־פָּנָ֔יו וַיִּזְעַ֥ק הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ ק֣וֹל גָּד֑וֹל בְּנִי֙ אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם בְּנִ֥י בְנִֽי׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• But the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• coveredלָאַטlâ'aţ · to coverH3813
• his faceפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
• criedזָעַקzâ‛aq · to cry outH2199
• with a loudגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: largeH1419
• voiceקוֹלqôl qôl · voiceH6963
• O my sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• Absalomאֲבִישָׁלוֹם'ăbîyshâlôm 'abshâlôm · AbsalomH53

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 19:4

• 2 Samuel 15:30David walked up the road to the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went. His head was covered and his feet were bare as a sign of mourning. And the people who were with him covered their heads and wept as they climbed the hill.
• 2 Samuel 18:33The 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.”

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 19:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4The king covered his face - This was the custom of mourners. O my son Absalom - Calmet has properly remarked that the frequent repetition of the name of the defunct, is common in the language of lamentation. Thus Virgil, act. v., ver. 51: - - Daphnin que team tollemus ad astra; Daphnin ad astra feremus: amavit nos quoque Daphnis. "With yours, my song I cheerfully shall join, To raise your Daphnis to the powers Divine. Daphnis I'll raise unto the powers…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. the king covered his face--one of the usual signs of mourning (see on 2Sa 15:30).Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 19:4

• Absalom
• Bereavement
• David
• Joab
• Mourning
• Parents
• Reproof
• Sorrow

In the dictionaries

• Absalom
• Conduct
• Cost
• Lord
• Benjamin
• Bible, the
• Cover; Covering
• David
• Face
• Israel, History of

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 19

• 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