Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!” New Living Translation The king was overcome with emotion. He went up to the room over the gateway and burst into tears. And as he went, he cried, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! O Absalom, my son, my son.” English Standard Version And the king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he went, he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!” Berean Standard Bible The king was shaken and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he walked, he cried out, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!” Berean Literal Bible And the king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he went, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Oh that I was given to die in your place, O Absalom, my son, my son!” King James Bible And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son! New King James Version Then the king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went, he said thus: “O my son Absalom—my son, my son Absalom—if only I had died in your place! O Absalom my son, my son!” New American Standard Bible Then the king trembled and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And this is what he said as he walked: “My son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!” NASB 1995 The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!” NASB 1977 And the king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!” Legacy Standard Bible Then the king trembled and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!” Amplified Bible The king was deeply moved and went to the upper room over the gate and wept [in sorrow]. And this is what he said as he walked: “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! How I wish that I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!” Berean Annotated Bible The king was shaken and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he walked, he cried out, “O my son Absalom (my father is peace)! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son! Christian Standard Bible The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber above the city gate and wept. As he walked, he cried, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son! ” Holman Christian Standard Bible The king was deeply moved and went up to the gate chamber and wept. As he walked, he cried, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!” American Standard Version And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son! Contemporary English Version David started trembling. Then he went up to the room above the city gate to cry. As he went, he kept saying, "My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I could have died instead of you! Absalom, my son, my son!" English Revised Version And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son! GOD'S WORD® Translation The king was shaken [by the news]. He went to the room above the gate and cried. "My son Absalom!" he said as he went. "My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died in your place! Absalom, my son, my son!" Good News Translation The king was overcome with grief. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he cried, "O my son! My son Absalom! Absalom, my son! If only I had died in your place, my son! Absalom, my son!" International Standard Version Deeply shaken, the king went up to the chamber overlooking the city gate, weeping bitterly and crying out as he went along, "My son Absalom! My son! My son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you, Absalom my son, my son!" NET Bible The king then became very upset. He went up to the upper room over the gate and wept. As he went he said, "My son, Absalom! My son, my son, Absalom! If only I could have died in your place! Absalom, my son, my son!" New Heart English Bible And the king was shaken, and went up to the room over the gate and wept. And as he wept he said, “My son Absalom. My son, my son Absalom. If only I had died in your place, Absalom, my son, my son." Webster's Bible Translation And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! O that I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son! Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThe king was shaken and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he walked, he cried out, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!” World English Bible The king was much moved, and went up to the room over the gate and wept. As he went, he said, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd the king trembles, and goes up on the upper chamber of the gate, and weeps, and thus he has said in his going, “My son Absalom! My son! My son Absalom! Oh that I had died for you, Absalom, my son, my son!” Berean Literal Bible And the king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he went, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Oh that I was given to die in your place, O Absalom, my son, my son!” Young's Literal Translation And the king trembleth, and goeth up on the upper chamber of the gate, and weepeth, and thus he hath said in his going, 'My son! Absalom my son; my son Absalom; oh that I had died for thee, Absalom, my son, my son.' Smith's Literal Translation And the king will be moved, and he will go up into the upper chamber of the gate and weep: and thus he said in his going, My son Absalom! my son, my son Absalom I who will give my death, me for thee, Absalom my son, my son! Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThe king therefore being much moved, went up to the high chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went he spoke in this manner: My son Absalom, Absalom my son: would to God that I might die for thee, Absalom my son, my son Absalom. Catholic Public Domain Version And so the king, being greatly saddened, ascended to the upper room of the gate, and he wept. And as he went, he was speaking in this manner: “My son Absalom! Absalom my son! Who can grant to me that I may die on your behalf? Absalom, my son! My son, Absalom!” New American Bible The king was shaken, and went up to the room over the city gate and wept. He said as he wept, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!” New Revised Standard Version The king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept; and as he went, he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd the king was overcome, and went up to his bedchamber and wept; and as he wept, he said, O my son Absalom. my son, my son Absalom! Would that I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son! Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And he wept and when he wept, he was saying thus:”Oh my son, Abishlum, my son! my son, Abishlum! But truly I would die for your sake, Abishlum my son!” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept; and as he went, thus he said: 'O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!' Brenton Septuagint Translation And the king was troubled, and went to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and thus he said as he went, My son Abessalom, my son, my son Abessalom; would God I had died for thee, even I had died for thee, Abessalom, my son, my son! Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context David Mourns for Absalom…32The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom all right?” And the Cushite replied, “May what has become of the young man happen to the enemies of my lord the king and to all who rise up against you to harm you.” 33The king was shaken and went up to the gate chamber and wept. And as he walked, he cried out, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!” Cross References The king was shaken 2 Samuel 19:1 Then it was reported to Joab, “The king is weeping and mourning over Absalom.” John 11:33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. Isaiah 38:3 saying, “Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before You faithfully and with wholehearted devotion; I have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. 2 Samuel 15:30 But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went up. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. And all the people with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went. Nehemiah 1:4 When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven. Ezra 10:1 While Ezra prayed and made this confession, weeping and falling facedown before the house of God, a very large assembly of Israelites—men, women, and children—gathered around him, and the people wept bitterly as well. And as he walked, he cried out, Psalm 77:1-2 For the choirmaster. According to Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph. I cried out to God; I cried aloud to God to hear me. / In the day of trouble I sought the Lord; through the night my outstretched hands did not grow weary; my soul refused to be comforted. Psalm 38:6 I am bent and brought low; all day long I go about mourning. Job 30:28 I go about blackened, but not by the sun. I stand up in the assembly and cry for help. “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! 2 Samuel 19:4 But the king covered his face and cried out at the top of his voice, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!” Genesis 37:34-35 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist, and mourned for his son many days. / All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said. “I will go down to Sheol mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him. Jeremiah 31:15 This is what the LORD says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” If only I had died instead of you, Genesis 44:33-34 Now please let your servant stay here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy. Let him return with his brothers. / For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the misery that would overwhelm him.” Romans 9:3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my own flesh and blood, Exodus 32:32 Yet now, if You would only forgive their sin.... But if not, please blot me out of the book that You have written.” O Absalom, my son, my son!” 1 Kings 17:18-24 “O man of God,” said the woman to Elijah, “what have you done to me? Have you come to remind me of my iniquity and cause the death of my son?” / But Elijah said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. / Then he cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, have You also brought tragedy on this widow who has opened her home to me, by causing her son to die?” … Treasury of Scripture And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for you, O Absalom, my son, my son! O my son 2 Samuel 19:4 But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son! would God 2 Samuel 12:10-23 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife… Psalm 103:13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. Proverbs 10:1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. Jump to Previous Absalom Ab'salom Chamber Deeply Died Door Gate Moved Room Shaken Weeping WeptJump to Next Absalom Ab'salom Chamber Deeply Died Door Gate Moved Room Shaken Weeping Wept2 Samuel 18 1. David viewing the armies in their march gives them charge of Absalom6. The Israelites are sorely smitten in the wood of ephraim 9. Absalom, hanging in an oak is slain by Joab, and cast into a pit 18. Absalom's place 19. Ahimaaz and Cushi bring tidings to David 33. David mourns for Absalom The king was shaken David, the king, is deeply affected by the news of his son Absalom's death. This emotional turmoil reflects the complex relationship between David and Absalom, marked by rebellion and familial strife. David's reaction is not just as a king but as a father, highlighting the personal loss and grief that transcends his royal duties. and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he walked, he cried out, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!” Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidThe King of Israel, a man after God's own heart, who is deeply grieved by the death of his son Absalom. 2. Absalom David's son, who rebelled against his father, leading to a civil war in Israel. His death is the cause of David's mourning. 3. The Chamber over the Gate A private place where David retreats to express his grief, symbolizing a place of solitude and reflection. 4. The Battle The conflict between David's forces and Absalom's, which results in Absalom's death. 5. Joab David's military commander, who plays a crucial role in the events leading to Absalom's death. Teaching Points The Depth of Parental LoveDavid's grief highlights the profound love and bond between a parent and child, even when the child has gone astray. Consequences of Sin Absalom's rebellion and its tragic end serve as a reminder of the destructive nature of sin and rebellion against God's order. The Cost of Leadership David's experience illustrates the heavy burden and personal cost that often accompany leadership, especially when dealing with family and national crises. The Need for Forgiveness and Reconciliation David's lament points to the importance of seeking reconciliation and forgiveness before it's too late. God's Sovereignty in Tragedy Despite the personal and national turmoil, God's sovereign plan is at work, reminding us to trust Him in times of grief and loss. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 2 Samuel 18:33?2. How does David's grief in 2 Samuel 18:33 reflect parental love and loss? 3. What can we learn from David's response to Absalom's death about forgiveness? 4. How does David's lament connect to Jesus' compassion in the New Testament? 5. How should we handle grief and loss according to biblical principles? 6. What does David's cry teach us about expressing emotions in prayer to God? 7. Why does David mourn Absalom despite his rebellion in 2 Samuel 18:33? 8. How does 2 Samuel 18:33 reflect the complexity of parental love and forgiveness? 9. What does David's lament in 2 Samuel 18:33 reveal about his character and leadership? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Samuel 18? 11. Do archaeological findings or historical records outside the Bible provide evidence confirming or contradicting the events described in 2 Samuel 18? 12. What is Absalom's Monument? 13. Why does Joab’s direct killing of Absalom contradict David’s explicit command to spare him (2 Samuel 18:5, 14), and does this create a moral inconsistency? 14. How does the Bible offer comfort in grief? What Does 2 Samuel 18:33 Mean The king was shakenDavid’s whole being reels under the news of Absalom’s death. • The language mirrors earlier predictions that “all Israel will hear” of someone being “shaken” (2 Samuel 17:10). • Though Absalom led a coup (2 Samuel 15:13-14), the text presents David’s emotional collapse as genuine, not political theater. • Scripture never minimizes sin’s fallout; here we see its personal cost to David (Galatians 6:7-8; Proverbs 14:12). went up to the chamber over the gate The king withdraws to a private upper room above the city gate, the place he had earlier watched the battle’s messengers (2 Samuel 18:24-32). • Ascending suggests a search for solitude, much like Jesus retreating to a mountainside to pray (Matthew 14:23). • Gates were hubs of public life (Ruth 4:1-2), yet David climbs higher, separating himself from onlookers, revealing that some grief must be wrestled through alone (Psalm 55:6-8). and wept His tears flow openly. • Scripture records righteous men weeping—Joseph (Genesis 45:14), Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:3), Jeremiah (Jeremiah 9:1), Jesus (John 11:35). • Genuine lament is never weakness; it testifies to love and to the image of God in mankind, whose heart “is compassionate and gracious” (Psalm 103:8). And as he walked, he cried out David paces while shouting his lament, showing restlessness and agony. • Grief often refuses to sit still (Psalm 6:6). • The king who once danced before the LORD (2 Samuel 6:14) now walks in sorrow, illustrating life’s rapid shifts (Ecclesiastes 3:4). “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom!” The repetition underscores shattered paternal hope. • Though Absalom betrayed him, David’s love endures (Proverbs 17:6). • Similar cries appear when Jacob believes Joseph dead (Genesis 37:34-35) and when the prodigal’s father runs to embrace his returning son (Luke 15:20). • David’s heart reflects God’s, who “takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked” (Ezekiel 33:11). “If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!” David longs to exchange his life for his rebel child. • This desire foreshadows the greater King’s substitution: “Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6-8; 2 Corinthians 5:21). • Moses offered a similar plea for Israel (Exodus 32:32), and Paul voiced it for his kinsmen (Romans 9:3). • David cannot take Absalom’s place, reminding us that only Jesus could truly bear another’s judgment (John 10:11; 1 Peter 3:18). summary 2 Samuel 18:33 portrays David’s raw grief, the costly fallout of sin, and a father’s yearning to save his wayward son at his own expense. While David’s wish remains impossible, it points to the Gospel reality in which God’s own Son actually dies in the rebel’s stead. (33) Was much moved.--David's grief was not merely that of a father for his first-born son, but for that son slain in the very act of outrageous sin. His sorrow, too, may have gained poignancy from the thought--which must often have come to him during the progress of this rebellion--that all this sin and wrong took its occasion from his own great sin. Yet David was criminally weak at this crisis in allowing the feelings of the father completely to outweigh the duties of the monarch.Verse 33. - The king was much moved. The Hebrew word properly refers to agitation of body. A violent trembling seized the king, and, rising, he went up to the guard chamber over the two gates, that he might give free course to his lamentation. The whole is told so vividly that we can scarcely doubt that we have here the words of one who was present at this pathetic scene, who saw the tremor which shook David's body, and watched him as he crept slowly up the stairs, uttering words of intense sorrow. And it was conscience which smote him; for his own "sin had found him out." In Psalm 38, and 40. he has made the confession that it was his own iniquity which was now surging over his head. |
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