2 Samuel 14:26
ESV
And when he cut the hair of his head (for at the end of every year he used to cut it; when it was heavy on him, he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head, two hundred shekels by the king 's weight.
NIV
Whenever he cut the hair of his head—he used to cut his hair once a year because it became too heavy for him—he would weigh it, and its weight was two hundred shekels by the royal standard.
NASB
And when he cut the hair of his head (and it was at the end of every year that he cut it, because it was heavy on him, so he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels by the king’s weight.
CSB
When he shaved his head—he shaved it at the end of every year because his hair got so heavy for him that he had to shave it off—he would weigh the hair from his head and it would be five pounds according to the royal standard.
NLT
He cut his hair only once a year, and then only because it was so heavy. When he weighed it out, it came to five pounds!
KJV
And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year's end that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king's weight.
NKJV
And when he cut the hair of his head—at the end of every year he cut it because it was heavy on him—when he cut it, he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels according to the king’s standard.
What does 2 Samuel 14:26 mean?
Absalom is the most handsome man in Israel (2 Samuel 14:25). A notable feature is his impressively long, thick, fast-growing hair. Absalom's unusual grooming habit is to allow his hair to grow for a full year until it becomes heavy and awkward and then cut it. Apparently curious, Absalom learns that his hair weighs roughly 3 pounds or 1500 grams. The description of Absalom's hair is significant.First, the thickness and growth evoke memories of Samson. Samson was born under a Nazarite vow; so long as he didn't cut his hair, God gave him occasional superhuman strength. He used that strength to defend the Israelites against the Philistines (Judges 13:3–5).
Second, Joab used a crafty woman to convince David to bring Absalom home from exile. Responding to the woman's tale, David told her, "not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground" (2 Samuel 14:11).
The third connection is strongest reason of all. Absalom will betray his father and take the crown (2 Samuel 15). As he flees on his mule from Joab's soldiers, his hair will snag in a tree branch. Joab will find him dangling there and kill him where he is. Absalom will die without a single hair falling to the ground (2 Samuel 18:9–15).
