2 Samuel 13:4 Meaning and Explanation
“And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king's son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jonadab draws out Amnon's secret, and Amnon confesses his obsession with Tamar.
What Does 2 Samuel 13:4 Mean?
Noticing the prince wasting away day by day, Jonadab presses him to speak. Amnon names his fixation aloud: he wants Tamar, naming her pointedly as Absalom's sister. The confession is honest about the craving but blind to its evil.
Sin spoken without sorrow is not confession but planning. Amnon tells his secret not to be turned from it but to find a way through. There is a telling of our hearts that heals and a telling that only conspires. Scripture invites us to open our struggles to those who will lift us toward holiness, not to those who will help us rationalize the very thing we should flee.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 13:4
What does 2 Samuel 13:4 mean?
Jonadab draws out Amnon's secret, and Amnon confesses his obsession with Tamar.