2 Samuel 13:14 Meaning and Explanation
“Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Ignoring her pleas, Amnon overpowers Tamar and violates her.
What Does 2 Samuel 13:14 Mean?
Amnon refuses to listen. Using his greater strength, he forces Tamar and commits the assault. The verse is brief and unsparing: her voice was right, but he would not hear it, and power overruled righteousness in that room. Scripture states the crime without disguise.
The Bible does not look away from this evil, and neither should we pretend it is anything less. The wrong is entirely Amnon's; Tamar bears no guilt. God's Word names violence as violence and stands as advocate for the violated. The same Lord who lets the deed be recorded also promises that no oppressor escapes His justice, and that the broken-hearted are near to Him, held by a love that no cruelty can take away.
2 Samuel 13:14 in the Original Language
The verb anah (עָנָה), 'forced,' carries the sense of being violated and humbled -- the language Scripture uses for the grave wrong done against her.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 13:14
What does 2 Samuel 13:14 mean?
Ignoring her pleas, Amnon overpowers Tamar and violates her.