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2 Samuel 13:4

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 2 Samuel 13:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And he said unto him, Why, O son of the king, art thou thus lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom`s sister.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And he said unto him, Why, O son of the king, art thou thus lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom`s sister.
2 Samuel 13:4 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Samuel 13

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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.
2And Amnon was so vexed that he fell sick because of his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything unto her.
3But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David`s brother; and Jonadab was a very subtle man.
4And he said unto him, Why, O son of the king, art thou thus lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom`s sister.
5And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and feign thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, Let my sister Tamar come, I pray thee, and give me bread to eat, and dress the food in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it from her hand.
6So Amnon lay down, and feigned himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, Let her sister Tamar come, I pray thee, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.
7Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon`s house, and dress him food.
← 2 Samuel 13:32 Samuel 13:5 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And he said unto him, why [art] thou, [being] the king’s son, lean from day today? etc.] Or “morning by morning”, f214; he was the king’s eldest son, heir to the crown, fed at his table, had everything to make him gay and cheerful, and yet pined away; his flesh wasted f215, his countenance waxed wan and pale, and especially in the mornings; in the daytime he met with diversions which, in some measure, took off his thoughts from the object his mind was impressed with, but in the night season they were continually employed about it; so that he could have no rest and sleep, which made him look ruefully in the morning; and this man had a suspicion of his case, and therefore put this and the…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“my brother Absalom's sister--In Eastern countries, where polygamy prevails, the girls are considered to be under the special care and protection of their uterine brother, who is the guardian of their interests and their honor, even more than their father himself (see on Gen. 34:6-25).”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“13:4 morning after morning: Amnon’s obsession was all-consuming and ongoing.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Why art: Kg1 21:7; Est 5:13, Est 5:14; Luk 12:32 lean: Heb. thin from day to day: Heb. morning by morning, I love. Isa 3:9; Jer 8:12; Mic 7:3 my brother: Lev 18:9, Lev 20:17 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 13:5”
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Related study paths

Read 2 Samuel 13 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification