2 Samuel 14:26

2 Samuel 14:26 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year’s end that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king’s weight.
• New International Version (NIV)Whenever he cut the hair of his head—he used to cut his hair once a year because it became too heavy for him—he would weigh it, and its weight was two hundred shekels by the royal standard.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And when he cut the hair of his head (for at the end of every year he used to cut it; when it was heavy on him, he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head, two hundred shekels by the king's weight.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And when he cut the hair of his head—at the end of every year he cut it because it was heavy on him—when he cut it, he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels according to the king’s standard.

Context of 2 Samuel 14:26

24However, the king said, “He may go directly to his own house, but he may not see my face.” So Absalom went directly to his own house and did not see the king’s face. 25Now in all Israel there was none as handsome as Absalom—so highly praised. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. When he cut the hair of his head—at the end of every year he would cut it because the hair got so heavy on him that he had to cut it. The weight of the hair from his head was 200 shekels by the royal weight. 27To Absalom were born three sons and one daughter, whose name was Tamar—she was a beautiful woman. 28Now Absalom had lived two full years in Jerusalem but he never saw the king’s face.

2 Samuel 14:26 word by word

וּֽבְגַלְּחוֹ֮ אֶת־רֹאשׁוֹ֒ וְֽ֠הָיָה מִקֵּ֨ץ יָמִ֤ים׀ לַיָּמִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יְגַלֵּ֔חַ כִּֽי־כָבֵ֥ד עָלָ֖יו וְגִלְּח֑וֹ וְשָׁקַל֙ אֶת־שְׂעַ֣ר רֹאשׁ֔וֹ מָאתַ֥יִם שְׁקָלִ֖ים בְּאֶ֥בֶן הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And when he polledגָּלַחgâlach · to shaveH1548
• his headרֹאשׁrô'sh · headH7218
• for it was at every year’sיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• endקֵץqêts · endH7093
• was heavyכָּבֵדkâbad kâbêd · to honor: honourH3513
• it:) he weighedשָׁקַלshâqal · to weighH8254
• the hairשֵׂעָרώê‛âr ώa‛ar · hairH8181
• at two hundredמֵאָהmê'âh mê'yâh · hundredH3967
• shekelsשֶׁ֫קֶלsheqel · shekelH8255
• after the king’sמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• weightאֶ֫בֶן'eben · stone: weightH68

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 14:26

• 2 Samuel 18:9Now Absalom encountered some of David’s servants. When Absalom was riding on his mule, the mule went under the thick branches of the great oak, and his head got caught in the oak, so that he was left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on.
• Isaiah 3:24Now it will come to pass: Instead of sweet spices there will be rottenness; instead of a sash, rags; instead of curled hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty.
• 1 Corinthians 11:14Doesn’t the natural order of things teach you—if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace for him;
• Genesis 23:16Abraham heard Ephron. So Abraham weighed out to Ephron the silver that he had spoken of in the ears of the sons of Heth—400 shekels of silver at the merchant’s rate.
• Leviticus 19:36You are to have honest balances, honest weights, honest bushel-measure and an honest gallon. I am Adonai your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.
• Ezekiel 45:9Thus says Adonai Elohim: “Let it be enough for you, princes of Israel. Get rid of violence and destruction, execute justice and righteousness, take away your oppression from My people”—it is a declaration of Adonai.

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 14:26

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 26When he polled his head - Not at any particular period, but when the hair became too heavy for him. On this account of the extraordinary weight of Absalom's hair, see the observations at the end of this chapter, 2 Samuel 14:30; (note).Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 26Two hundred shekels … - The exact weight cannot be determined. If these “shekels after the king‘s weight” were the same as “shekels of the sanctuary,” the weight would be about 6 lbs., which is incredible; “twenty” shekels is more probable.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 25-27Verses 25-27 Nothing is said of Absalom's wisdom and piety. All here said of him is, that he was very handsome. A poor commendation for a man that had nothing else in him valuable. Many a polluted, deformed soul dwells in a fair and comely body. And we read that he had a very fine head of hair. It was a burden to him, but he would not cut it as long as he could bear the weight. That which feeds and gratifies pride, is not complained of, though uneasy. May…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 26he shaved it every year: Absalom's hair, which made him attractive, became a deadly trap for him (see 2 Samuel 18:9–15).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 25-2625-26. But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty--This extraordinary popularity arose not only from his high spirit and courtly manners, but from his uncommonly handsome appearance. One distinguishing feature, seemingly an object of great admiration, was a profusion of beautiful hair. Its extraordinary luxuriance compelled him to cut it "at every year's end;" lit., "at times," "from time to time," when it was found…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 14:26

• Shekel

In the dictionaries

• Absalom
• Comfortable
• David
• Discern
• Feign
• Hair
• Heart
• Poll
• Respect
• Thank

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 14

• 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