But Absalom did not speak with Amnon either good or bad; for Absalom hated Amnon because he had violated his sister Tamar.
Parallel translations
- WEB Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.
- KJV And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.
- BSB And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad, because he hated Amnon for disgracing his sister Tamar.
- NKJV And Absalom spoke to his brother Amnon neither good nor bad. For Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.
- NLT And though Absalom never spoke to Amnon about this, he hated Amnon deeply because of what he had done to his sister.
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
Absalom says nothing to Amnon, good or bad, while secretly hating him for violating Tamar. His silence masks a calculated plan for revenge.
Overview
Absalom's outward neutrality conceals a deep, smoldering hatred that he will nurse for two years. His refusal to confront Amnon openly, while plotting in secret, reveals a heart given to vengeance rather than justice through proper means. The verse foreshadows the murder to come and the further unraveling of David's household.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Lev 19:17–18“‘You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.
- Gen 31:24God came to Laban, the Syrian, in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Be careful that you don’t speak to Jacob either good or bad.”
- Gen 24:50Then Laban and Bethuel answered, “The thing proceeds from Yahweh. We can’t speak to you bad or good.
- 1 Jn 2:11But he who hates his brother is in the darkness, and walks in the darkness, and doesn’t know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
- 1 Jn 3:15Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him.
- Eph 4:26“Be angry, and don’t sin.” Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath,
- Prov 27:4–6Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; but who is able to stand before jealousy?
- Matt 18:15“If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother.
- Prov 26:24A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart.
- Eph 4:31Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice.
- 1 Jn 2:9He who says he is in the light and hates his brother, is in the darkness even until now.
- Prov 25:9Debate your case with your neighbor, and don’t betray the confidence of another;
- Gen 31:29It is in the power of my hand to hurt you, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful that you don’t speak to Jacob either good or bad.’
- Prov 10:18He who hides hatred has lying lips. He who utters a slander is a fool.
- Eccl 7:9Don’t be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 13:22 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.