2 Samuel 13:20 Meaning and Explanation
“And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Absalom takes Tamar in but urges her to stay silent, and she lives on desolate in his house.
What Does 2 Samuel 13:20 Mean?
Absalom guesses at once what Amnon has done. He receives his sister into his home, yet counsels her to keep quiet for now and not let the matter consume her. Whatever his motives, his counsel of silence leaves the wrong unaddressed, and Tamar remains in his house, desolate.
That single word "desolate" carries the whole weight of her loss — a life left empty and unhealed. Silence imposed on the wounded is not the same as comfort. Scripture lets her desolation stand on the page, refusing to tidy it away. The Lord does not. He is the One who restores the desolate, who promises that the barren and broken places will yet sing, and who carries the sorrows that this world leaves unanswered.
2 Samuel 13:20 in the Original Language
The word shamem (שָׁמֵם), 'desolate,' describes a place laid waste -- her life pictured as emptied and ruined.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 13:20
What does 2 Samuel 13:20 mean?
Absalom takes Tamar in but urges her to stay silent, and she lives on desolate in his house.