2 Samuel 13:1 Meaning and Explanation
“And 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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →A new sorrow opens in David's house: his son Amnon fixes a desire on Tamar, the beautiful sister of his half-brother Absalom.
What Does 2 Samuel 13:1 Mean?
The chapter opens "after this" — after Nathan had told David that the sword would not depart from his house. Now the trouble moves indoors, among David's own grown children. Amnon, the firstborn, sets his heart on Tamar, full sister to Absalom and half-sister to himself.
Scripture names what Amnon felt "love," but the verses that follow will expose it as something else entirely. True love seeks the good of the beloved; what consumes Amnon seeks only itself. From the first line we are warned that desire wearing love's name can be a counterfeit, and that the heart must be tested by what it is willing to do to another.
2 Samuel 13:1 in the Original Language
The Hebrew here is ahav (אָהַב), 'loved' -- a broad word for love whose true character is shown only by the actions it produces.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 13:1
What does 2 Samuel 13:1 mean?
A new sorrow opens in David's house: his son Amnon fixes a desire on Tamar, the beautiful sister of his half-brother Absalom.