2 Samuel 16:21 Meaning and Explanation
“And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father’s concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Ahithophel advises Absalom to take David's concubines to make the breach irrevocable.
What Does 2 Samuel 16:21 Mean?
Ahithophel counsels Absalom to go in to the concubines his father left behind, a public act that would proclaim an unbridgeable breach with David and steel the resolve of all who had joined the revolt.
The advice is coldly calculated and deeply sinful, turning a household into a stage for ambition. It also, unknown to the schemers, fulfills the word once spoken against David's own hidden sin. The scene is heavy, showing how rebellion hardens into shamelessness, and how the seeds of secret wrong can ripen into public sorrow.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 16:21
What does 2 Samuel 16:21 mean?
Ahithophel advises Absalom to take David's concubines to make the breach irrevocable.