2 Samuel 13:4 so he asked Amnon, "Why are you, the son of the king, so depressed morning after morning? Won't you tell me?" Amnon replied, "I am in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister."

◄ 2 Samuel 13:4 ►

New International Version
He asked Amnon, “Why do you, the king’s son, look so haggard morning after morning? Won’t you tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I’m in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”

New Living Translation
One day Jonadab said to Amnon, “What’s the trouble? Why should the son of a king look so dejected morning after morning?” So Amnon told him, “I am in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”

English Standard Version
And he said to him, “O son of the king, why are you so haggard morning after morning? Will you not tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”

Berean Standard Bible
so he asked Amnon, “Why are you, the son of the king, so depressed morning after morning? Won’t you tell me?” Amnon replied, “I am in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
And he said to him, “Why are you, the king’s son, becoming thinner day after day? Will you not tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”

New American Standard Bible
And he said to him, “Why are you, the king’s son, so depressed morning after morning? Will you not tell me?” So Amnon said to him, “I am in love with Tamar, the sister of my brother Absalom.”

NASB 1995
He said to him, “O son of the king, why are you so depressed morning after morning? Will you not tell me?” Then Amnon said to him, “I am in love with Tamar, the sister of my brother Absalom.”

NASB 1977
And he said to him, “O son of the king, why are you so depressed morning after morning? Will you not tell me?” Then Amnon said to him, “I am in love with Tamar, the sister of my brother Absalom.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And he said to him, “O son of the king, why are you so depressed morning after morning? Will you not tell me?” Then Amnon said to him, “I am in love with Tamar, the sister of my brother Absalom.”

Amplified Bible
He said to Amnon, “Why are you, the king’s son, so depressed morning after morning? Will you not tell me?” And Amnon said to him, “I am in love with Tamar, my [half-] brother Absalom’s sister.”

Christian Standard Bible
and he asked Amnon, “Why are you, the king’s son, so miserable every morning? Won’t you tell me? ” Amnon replied, “I’m in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and he asked Amnon, “Why are you, the king’s son, so miserable every morning? Won’t you tell me?” Amnon replied, “I’m in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”

American Standard Version
And he said unto him, Why, O son of the king, art thou thus lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.

Contemporary English Version
and he said to Amnon, "What's the matter? You're the king's son! You shouldn't have to go around feeling sorry for yourself every morning." Amnon said, "I'm in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister."

English Revised Version
And he said unto him, Why, O son of the king, art thou thus lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He asked Amnon, "Why are you, the king's son, so worn out morning after morning? Won't you tell me?" "I'm in love with Absalom's sister Tamar," he answered.

Good News Translation
Jonadab said to Amnon, "You are the king's son, yet day after day I see you looking sad. What's the matter?" "I'm in love with Tamar, the sister of my half brother Absalom," he answered.

International Standard Version
"Why are you so depressed these past few mornings," Jonadab asked Amnon, "since you're a son of the king? Why not tell me?" Amnon replied, "I'm in love with my brother Absalom's sister Tamar."

Majority Standard Bible
so he asked Amnon, “Why are you, the son of the king, so depressed morning after morning? Won’t you tell me?” Amnon replied, “I am in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”

NET Bible
He asked Amnon, "Why are you, the king's son, so depressed every morning? Can't you tell me?" So Amnon said to him, "I'm in love with Tamar the sister of my brother Absalom."

New Heart English Bible
He said to him, "Why, son of the king, are you so sad from day to day? Won't you tell me?" Amnon said to him, "I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister."

Webster's Bible Translation
And he said to him, Why art thou, being the king's son, pining from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said to him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.

World English Bible
He said to him, “Why, son of the king, are you so sad from day to day? Won’t you tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and says to him, “Why [are] you thus lean, O king’s son, morning by morning? Do you not declare [it] to me?” And Amnon says to him, “Tamar—sister of my brother Absalom—I am loving.”

Young's Literal Translation
and saith to him, 'Wherefore art thou thus lean, O king's son, morning by morning? dost thou not declare to me?' And Amnon saith to him, 'Tamar -- sister of Absalom my brother -- I am loving.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will say to him, Wherefore thou so weak, son of the king, in morning by morning? wilt thou not announce to me? and Amnon will say to him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said to him: Why dost thou grow so lean from day to day, O son of the king? why dost thou not tell me the reason of it? And Amnon said to him: I am in love with Thamar the sister of my brother Absalom.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he said to him: “Why are you becoming so thin from day to day, O son of the king? Why won’t you tell me?” And Amnon said to him, “I am in love with Tamar, the sister of my brother Absalom.”

New American Bible
He asked him, “Prince, why are you so dejected morning after morning? Why not tell me?” So Amnon said to him, “I am in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”

New Revised Standard Version
He said to him, “O son of the king, why are you so haggard morning after morning? Will you not tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And he said to Amnon, O son of the king why are you so losing weight from day to day? Will you not tell me? And Amnon said to him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
He said to Khamnun, son of the King: “Why do you go thus from dawn to dawn? Will you not tell me? Khamnun said to him: “I love Tamar the sister of Abishlum my brother”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And he said unto him: 'Why, O son of the king, art thou thus becoming leaner from day to day? wilt thou not tell me?' And Amnon said unto him: 'I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he said to him, What ails thee that thou art thus weak? O son of the king, morning by morning? wilt thou not tell me? and Ammon said, I love Themar the sister of my brother Abessalom.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Amnon and Tamar
…3Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very shrewd man, 4so he asked Amnon, “Why are you, the son of the king, so depressed morning after morning? Won’t you tell me?” Amnon replied, “I am in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.” 5Jonadab told him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend you are ill. When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare it in my sight so I may watch her and eat it from her hand.’ ”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Genesis 34:1-7
Now Dinah, the daughter Leah had borne to Jacob, went out to visit the daughters of the land. / When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the region, saw her, he took her and lay with her by force. / And his soul was drawn to Dinah, the daughter of Jacob. He loved the young girl and spoke to her tenderly. ...

Judges 14:1-3
One day Samson went down to Timnah, where he saw a young Philistine woman. / So he returned and told his father and mother, “I have seen a daughter of the Philistines in Timnah. Now get her for me as a wife.” / But his father and mother replied, “Can’t you find a young woman among your relatives or among any of our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?” But Samson told his father, “Get her for me, for she is pleasing to my eyes.”

1 Kings 21:1-4
Some time after these events, Naboth the Jezreelite owned a vineyard in Jezreel next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. / So Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard to use as a vegetable garden, since it is next to my palace. I will give you a better vineyard in its place—or if you prefer, I will give you its value in silver.” / But Naboth replied, “The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.” ...

Genesis 39:7-12
and after some time his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph and said, “Sleep with me.” / But he refused. “Look,” he said to his master’s wife, “with me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in his house, and he has entrusted everything he owns to my care. / No one in this house is greater than I am. He has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. So how could I do such a great evil and sin against God?” ...

Proverbs 7:6-23
For at the window of my house I looked through the lattice. / I saw among the simple, I noticed among the youths, a young man lacking judgment, / crossing the street near her corner, strolling down the road to her house, ...

1 Corinthians 5:1-2
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife. / And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been stricken with grief and have removed from your fellowship the man who did this?

Matthew 5:28
But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

James 1:14-15
But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. / Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Romans 13:13-14
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. / Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.

Galatians 5:19-21
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; / idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, / and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Ephesians 5:3-5
But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed. / Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving. / For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Colossians 3:5-6
Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry. / Because of these, the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality; / each of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, / not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God;

1 John 2:16
For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world.

Proverbs 6:32
He who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.

Treasury of Scripture

And he said to him, Why are you, being the king's son, lean from day to day? will you not tell me? And Amnon said to him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.

Why art

1 Kings 21:7
And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.

Esther 5:13,14
Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate…

Luke 12:32
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

lean [heb] thin

Isaiah 3:9
The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.

Jeremiah 8:12
Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.

Micah 7:3
That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.

my brother

Leviticus 18:9
The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or daughter of thy mother, whether she be born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover.

Leviticus 20:17
And if a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a wicked thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he hath uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.

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2 Samuel 13

1. Amnon loving Tamar, by Jonadab's counsel feigning himself sick, ravishes her.
15. He hates her, and shamefully turns her away
19. Absalom entertains her, and conceals his purpose
23. At a sheep-shearing among all the king's sons, he kills Amnon
31. David grieving at the news, is comforted by Jonadab
37. Absalom flies to Talmai at Geshur

Berean Study Bible

He asked Amnon
The phrase introduces Jonadab, a cousin and friend of Amnon, who plays a pivotal role in the unfolding events. The Hebrew root for "asked" (שָׁאַל, sha'al) implies a seeking of understanding or inquiry, often used in contexts where guidance or counsel is sought. This sets the stage for Jonadab's influence, highlighting the importance of the company one keeps and the counsel one receives, a theme echoed throughout Proverbs.

Why are you, the son of the king
This phrase emphasizes Amnon's royal status, which comes with privilege and responsibility. The Hebrew word for "son" (בֵּן, ben) signifies not just lineage but also identity and expectation. As the son of King David, Amnon's actions carry weight and consequence, reminding us of the biblical principle that to whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48).

so depressed morning after morning
The repetition of "morning after morning" underscores the persistent nature of Amnon's condition. The Hebrew word for "depressed" (דַּל, dal) can also mean weak or thin, suggesting a depletion of spirit or vitality. This reflects the spiritual and emotional toll of harboring sinful desires, a warning of the corrosive nature of unchecked lust and obsession.

Won’t you tell me?
Jonadab's question is probing, yet it also reveals a lack of discernment. The Hebrew root for "tell" (נָגַד, nagad) means to declare or make known, often used in contexts of revelation or confession. This moment is pivotal, as it opens the door for Amnon to voice his illicit desire, illustrating the power of words to bring hidden sin into the light.

Amnon replied
The act of replying signifies a moment of decision. The Hebrew root (עָנָה, anah) for "replied" can also mean to answer or respond, indicating a turning point where Amnon chooses to reveal his heart. This highlights the biblical truth that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34).

I am in love with Tamar
The phrase "in love" is a tragic misnomer in this context. The Hebrew word for love (אָהַב, ahav) is often used to describe deep affection or covenantal love, yet here it is twisted into lust. Tamar, whose name means "palm tree," symbolizes beauty and righteousness, yet she becomes the object of Amnon's sinful desire, a stark reminder of the distortion of true love by sin.

my brother Absalom’s sister
This phrase underscores the familial relationships that should have been protective and sacred. The Hebrew word for "brother" (אָח, ach) and "sister" (אָחוֹת, achot) emphasize kinship and loyalty. The violation of these bonds foreshadows the ensuing tragedy and division within David's family, illustrating the destructive ripple effects of sin within a community.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 4. - Why art thou, being the king's son, lean? The Hebrew is, Why, O son of the king, dost thou pine away morning by morning? There was probably a gathering of friends every morning at the young prince's house, and his cousin, attending this levee, noticed Amnon's melancholy, and, having forced a confession from him, is unscrupulous enough to suggest a plan that would make Tamar her brother's victim.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

so he asked Amnon,
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Why
מַדּ֣וּעַ (mad·dū·a‘)
Interrogative
Strong's 4069: Why? for what reason?

are you,
אַ֠תָּה (’at·tāh)
Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

the son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of the king,
הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

so
כָּ֣כָה (kā·ḵāh)
Adverb
Strong's 3602: Just so

depressed
דַּ֤ל (dal)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 1800: Dangling, weak, thin

morning
בַּבֹּ֣קֶר (bab·bō·qer)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1242: Dawn, morning

after morning?
בַּבֹּ֔קֶר (bab·bō·qer)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1242: Dawn, morning

Won't
הֲל֖וֹא (hă·lō·w)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

you tell
תַּגִּ֣יד (tag·gîḏ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5046: To be conspicuous

me?”
לִ֑י (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

Amnon
אַמְנ֔וֹן (’am·nō·wn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 550: Amnon -- 'faithful', two Israelites

replied,
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“I am
אֲנִ֥י (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

in love
אֹהֵֽב׃ (’ō·hêḇ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 157: To have affection f

with Tamar,
תָּמָ֗ר (tā·mār)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 8559: Tamar -- daughter-in-law of Judah, also two Israelite women, also a place South of the Dead Sea

my brother
אָחִ֖י (’ā·ḥî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

Absalom’s
אַבְשָׁלֹ֥ם (’aḇ·šā·lōm)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 53: Absalom -- 'my father is peace', two Israelites

sister.”
אֲח֛וֹת (’ă·ḥō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 269: Sister -- a sister

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OT History: 2 Samuel 13:4 He said to him Why son (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)