Then it was reported to Joab, “Behold, the king is weeping and he mourns for Absalom.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Joab was told, “Behold, the king weeps and mourns for Absalom.”
- KJV And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.
- BSB Then it was reported to Joab, “The king is weeping and mourning over Absalom.”
- NKJV And Joab was told, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.”
- NLT Word soon reached Joab that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom.
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
Word reaches Joab that the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom. David's grief begins to overshadow the army's victory.
Overview
News of David's mourning over Absalom comes to Joab, setting up the coming confrontation in which Joab rebukes the king for shaming his loyal soldiers (19:5-7). The verse marks the tension between David's private grief and his public duty as king. It opens a chapter on the costly, complicated work of leading and restoring a kingdom after rebellion.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- 2 Sam 18:14Then Joab said, “I’m not going to wait like this with you.” He took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the middle of the oak.
- 2 Sam 18:5The king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom.” All the people heard when the king commanded all the captains concerning Absalom.
- 2 Sam 18:12The man said to Joab, “Though I should receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I still wouldn’t stretch out my hand against the king’s son; for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Beware that no one touch the young man Absalom.’
- 2 Sam 18:20Joab said to him, “You must not be the bearer of news today, but you must carry news another day. But today you must carry no news, because the king’s son is dead.”
- Prov 17:25A foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.
- 2 Sam 18:33The king was much moved, and went up to the room over the gate, and wept. As he went, he said, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died for you, Absalom, my son, my son!”
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 19:1 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.