2 Samuel 13:4
ESV
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."
NIV
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."
NASB
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.'
CSB
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."
NLT
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.'
KJV
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.
NKJV
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.”
What does 2 Samuel 13:4 mean?
Jonadab, friend and cousin to David's oldest son Amnon, can clearly see that Amnon is not doing well. He asks Amnon why he looks so haggard every morning. Absalom is tormented to the point of physical illness because of his half-sister Tamar (2 Samuel 12:1–2). This is not love, but pure lust, as proven soon (2 Samuel 13:14–15). She's a beautiful virgin, ready to be married, and he wants to indulge in her forbidden beauty and innocence.Jonadab is "crafty" (2 Samuel 13:3), much like the snake in the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1). He sees how unsettled Amnon looks and suggests he use that. If he appears sick enough, David will ask why. Amnon can play on David's kindness and ask him to send Tamar to care for him. David loves his sons, and despite his sin against Bathsheba, he can't seem to recognize evil intent in his own children. Jonadab knows there's a good chance David will send Tamar (2 Samuel 13:5).
The text first introduces Tamar as Amnon's sister (2 Samuel 13:1). Now, she's identified as Absalom's sister. David is their mutual father, but she shares a mother with Absalom, not Amnon. For much of this story, Tamar is presented as an object in the eyes of others, a tool of her brothers' schemes, and a piece of God's plan to punish David (2 Samuel 12:10–12). But Scripture also offers her a chance to reveal her character, wisdom, and strength (2 Samuel 13:11–19).
