2 Samuel 14:27
ESV
There were born to Absalom three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar. She was a beautiful woman.
NIV
Three sons and a daughter were born to Absalom. His daughter’s name was Tamar, and she became a beautiful woman.
NASB
And to Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar; she was a woman of beautiful appearance.
CSB
Three sons were born to Absalom, and a daughter named Tamar, who was a beautiful woman.
NLT
He had three sons and one daughter. His daughter’s name was Tamar, and she was very beautiful.
KJV
And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.
NKJV
To Absalom were born three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar. She was a woman of beautiful appearance.
What does 2 Samuel 14:27 mean?
By all worldly appearances, everything about Absalom suggests he'd make a good king. He's handsome and charming (2 Samuel 14:25–26; 15:1–6). At this point of the story, he has heirs and a beautiful daughter. However, Absalom will later erect a pillar as his legacy. He'll say, "I have no son to keep my name in remembrance" (2 Samuel 18:18). This suggests his sons all died at a young age.Absalom's beautiful daughter is named after his sister. They had a brother, Amnon, by another of David's wives. Amnon lusted for Tamar and defiled her. David was angry with Amnon but didn't act. Absalom murdered Amnon and fled to his mother's father, the king of Geshur (2 Samuel 13). After the attack, Absalom invited his sister to live with him (2 Samuel 14:20). Two years later, Absalom was in exile. No further mention is made of his sister.
By naming his daughter after his sister, Absalom establishes an ongoing reminder. It seems to say that what he did to Amnon was justified—if not by the law, then by common decency. It frames him as a man of justice. Common people can trust his judgment. It's unclear if this was his explicit intent in naming his daughter, but a brand of common-man's-populism becomes his method to wins the peoples' hearts (2 Samuel 15:1–6).
