And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.
Parallel translations
- WEB Three sons were born to Absalom, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar. She was a woman with a beautiful face.
- BSB Three sons were born to Absalom, and a daughter named Tamar, who was a beautiful woman.
- NKJV To Absalom were born three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar. She was a woman of beautiful appearance.
- NASB And to Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar; she was a woman of beautiful appearance.
- NLT He had three sons and one daughter. His daughter’s name was Tamar, and she was very beautiful.
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 fathers three sons and a beautiful daughter named Tamar. The daughter's name honors his violated sister.
Overview
The naming of his daughter Tamar memorializes Absalom's sister, whose rape by Amnon set the family tragedy in motion. The mention of his children rounds out the portrait of Absalom at the height of his standing. Yet his sons evidently die young (compare 18:18), hinting at the futility that attends his rebellion against God's anointed king.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- 2 Sam 18:18Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king’s dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom’s place.
- 2 Sam 13:1And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.
- Jer 22:30Thus saith the LORD, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.
- Isa 14:22For I will rise up against them, saith the LORD of hosts, and cut off from Babylon the name, and remnant, and son, and nephew, saith the LORD.
- Job 18:16–19His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut off.
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 14:27 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.