She said to him, “Not so, because this great wrong in sending me away is worse than the other that you did to me!” But he would not listen to her.
Parallel translations
- KJV And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her.
- BSB “No,” she replied, “sending me away is worse than this great wrong you have already done to me!” But he refused to listen to her.
- NKJV So she said to him, “No, indeed! This evil of sending me away is worse than the other that you did to me.” But he would not listen to her.
- NASB But she said to him, “No, because this wrong in sending me away is greater than the other that you have done to me!” Yet he would not listen to her.
- NLT “No, no!” Tamar cried. “Sending me away now is worse than what you’ve already done to me.” But Amnon wouldn’t listen to her.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Tamar protests that sending her away is an even greater wrong than the assault, but Amnon refuses to listen. To expel her unmarried adds public disgrace to private violation.
Overview
In her culture, being cast out as a violated, unmarried woman left Tamar with permanent shame and ruined prospects, which she rightly calls a greater wrong. Amnon's refusal to listen shows the hardness of a heart wholly given over to sin. Her righteous protest stands as a lasting indictment of his callous cruelty.
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Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 13:16 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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