However, the king said, “He shall return to his own house, but he shall not see my face.” So Absalom returned to his own house and did not see the king’s face.
Parallel translations
- WEB The king said, “Let him return to his own house, but let him not see my face.” So Absalom returned to his own house, and didn’t see the king’s face.
- KJV And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king’s face.
- BSB But the king added, “He may return to his house, but he must not see my face.” So Absalom returned to his own house, but he did not see the king.
- NKJV And the king said, “Let him return to his own house, but do not let him see my face.” So Absalom returned to his own house, but did not see the king’s face.
- NLT But the king gave this order: “Absalom may go to his own house, but he must never come into my presence.” So Absalom did not see the king.
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
David allows Absalom to live in Jerusalem but forbids him to see the king's face. This half-reconciliation leaves Absalom dishonored and bitter.
Overview
David's order keeps Absalom at arm's length, restored geographically but not relationally. The refusal to grant an audience reflects David's unresolved anger over Amnon's death and his failure to deal decisively with sin and justice. This cold middle ground breeds the resentment that fuels Absalom's later rebellion, showing the danger of reconciliation without true restoration.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Rev 22:4They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
- Exod 10:28Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me! Be careful to see my face no more; for in the day you see my face you shall die!”
- 2 Sam 3:13He said, “Good. I will make a treaty with you, but one thing I require of you. That is, you will not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.”
- 2 Sam 14:28Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, and he didn’t see the king’s face.
- Gen 43:3Judah spoke to him, saying, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.’
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 14:24 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.