And to Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar; she was a woman of beautiful appearance.
Parallel translations
- WEB Three sons were born to Absalom, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar. She was a woman with a beautiful face.
- KJV And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.
- 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.
- 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 the pillar which is in the king’s valley, for he said, “I have no son to keep my name in memory.” He called the pillar after his own name. It is called Absalom’s monument, to this day.
- 2 Sam 13:1After this, Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.
- Jer 22:30Yahweh says, “Record this man as childless, a man who will not prosper in his days; for no more shall a man of his offspring prosper, sitting on David’s throne, and ruling in Judah.”
- Isa 14:22“I will rise up against them,” says Yahweh of Armies, “and cut off from Babylon name and remnant, and son and son’s son,” says Yahweh.
- Job 18:16–19His roots shall be dried up beneath. Above shall his branch be cut off.
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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 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
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