2 Samuel 13:15 Meaning and Explanation
“Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Amnon's craving collapses instantly into violent hatred, and he orders Tamar away.
What Does 2 Samuel 13:15 Mean?
The moment the sin is done, what Amnon called love curdles into hatred — hatred greater, the text says, than his former desire. He coldly orders her to get up and leave. The swiftness of the change exposes what his feeling truly was all along.
Selfish desire and genuine love are opposites, and here the mask drops completely. Lust, once satisfied, often despises its object, because it never loved the person but only craved the self's gratification. Scripture lays this bare as a warning. True love, the love God shows and commands, grows in tenderness and commitment; counterfeit love consumes and then discards. By their fruits the two are known, and Amnon's fruit is exposed as rotten.
2 Samuel 13:15 in the Original Language
The contrast turns on sane' (שָׂנֵא), 'hated' -- set against the 'love' of verse 1, it shows the earlier feeling was never true love at all.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 13:15
What does 2 Samuel 13:15 mean?
Amnon's craving collapses instantly into violent hatred, and he orders Tamar away.