2 Samuel 13:2
New International Version
Amnon became so obsessed with his sister Tamar that he made himself ill. She was a virgin, and it seemed impossible for him to do anything to her.

New Living Translation
Amnon became so obsessed with Tamar that he became ill. She was a virgin, and Amnon thought he could never have her.

English Standard Version
And Amnon was so tormented that he made himself ill because of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed impossible to Amnon to do anything to her.

Berean Standard Bible
Amnon was sick with frustration over his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed implausible for him to do anything to her.

King James Bible
And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.

New King James Version
Amnon was so distressed over his sister Tamar that he became sick; for she was a virgin. And it was improper for Amnon to do anything to her.

New American Standard Bible
But Amnon was so frustrated on account of his sister Tamar that he made himself ill, for she was a virgin, and it seemed too difficult to Amnon to do anything to her.

NASB 1995
Amnon was so frustrated because of his sister Tamar that he made himself ill, for she was a virgin, and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her.

NASB 1977
And Amnon was so frustrated because of his sister Tamar that he made himself ill, for she was a virgin, and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her.

Legacy Standard Bible
And Amnon was so distressed because of his sister Tamar that he made himself ill, for she was a virgin. So it was hard in Amnon’s sight to do anything to her.

Amplified Bible
Amnon was so frustrated because of his [half-] sister Tamar that he made himself sick, for she was a virgin, and Amnon thought it impossible for him to do anything to her.

Christian Standard Bible
Amnon was frustrated to the point of making himself sick over his sister Tamar because she was a virgin, but it seemed impossible to do anything to her.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Amnon was frustrated to the point of making himself sick over his sister Tamar because she was a virgin, but it seemed impossible to do anything to her.

American Standard Version
And Amnon was so vexed that he fell sick because of his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything unto her.

Contemporary English Version
But Tamar was a virgin, and Amnon could not think of a way to be alone with her. He was so upset about it that he made himself sick.

English Revised Version
And Amnon was so vexed that he fell sick because of his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and it seemed hard to Amnon to do any thing unto her.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Amnon was so obsessed with his half sister Tamar that he made himself sick. It seemed impossible for him to be alone with her because she was a virgin.

Good News Translation
He was so much in love with her that he became sick, because it seemed impossible for him to have her; as a virgin, she was kept from meeting men.

International Standard Version
Amnon became so emotionally distressed that he fell sick over his half-sister Tamar. She was a virgin, and Amnon found it difficult to do anything to her.

Majority Standard Bible
Amnon was sick with frustration over his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed implausible for him to do anything to her.

NET Bible
But Amnon became frustrated because he was so lovesick over his sister Tamar. For she was a virgin, and to Amnon it seemed out of the question to do anything to her.

New Heart English Bible
Amnon was so troubled that he fell sick because of his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Amnon was so afflicted, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.

World English Bible
Amnon was so troubled that he became sick because of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Amnon has distress—even to become sick, because of his sister Tamar, for she [is] a virgin, and it is hard in the eyes of Amnon to do anything to her.

Young's Literal Translation
And Amnon hath distress -- even to become sick, because of Tamar his sister, for she is a virgin, and it is hard in the eyes of Amnon to do anything to her.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Amnon will be pressed to be sick for sake of Tamar his sister, for she was a virgin; and it will be hard in the eyes of Amnon to do anything to her.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he was exceedingly fond of her, so that he fell sick for the love of her: for as she was a virgin, he thought it hard to do any thing dishonestly with her.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he pined for her exceedingly, so much so that, out of love for her, he became ill. For, since she was a virgin, it seemed a difficulty to him that he would do anything dishonest with her.

New American Bible
He was in such anguish over his sister Tamar that he became sick; she was a virgin, and Amnon thought it impossible to do anything to her.

New Revised Standard Version
Amnon was so tormented that he made himself ill because of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin and it seemed impossible to Amnon to do anything to her.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Amnon was much grieved on account of his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon felt unable to say anything to her.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And she was indignant with Khamnun because the person of Tamar his sister was a virgin and Khamnun was unable to say anything to her
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Amnon was so distressed that he fell sick because of his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and it seemed hard to Amnon to do any thing unto her.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Amnon was distressed even to sickness, because of Themar his sister; for she was a virgin, and it seemed very difficult for Amnon to do anything to her.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Amnon and Tamar
1After some time, David’s son Amnon fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of David’s son Absalom. 2Amnon was sick with frustration over his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed implausible for him to do anything to her. 3Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very shrewd man,…

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. ...

Leviticus 18:9
You must not have sexual relations with your sister, either your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether she was born in the same home or elsewhere.

Deuteronomy 22:25-27
But if the man encounters a betrothed woman in the open country, and he overpowers her and lies with her, only the man who has done this must die. / Do nothing to the young woman, because she has committed no sin worthy of death. This case is just like one in which a man attacks his neighbor and murders him. / When he found her in the field, the betrothed woman cried out, but there was no one to save her.

Judges 19:22-30
While they were enjoying themselves, suddenly the wicked men of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they said to the old man who owned the house, “Bring out the man who came to your house, so we can have relations with him!” / The owner of the house went out and said to them, “No, my brothers, do not do this wicked thing! After all, this man is a guest in my house. Do not commit this outrage. / Look, let me bring out my virgin daughter and the man’s concubine, and you can use them and do with them as you wish. But do not do such a vile thing to this man.” ...

2 Samuel 11:2-4
One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman. / So David sent and inquired about the woman, and he was told, “This is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” / Then David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. (Now she had just purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned home.

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

Proverbs 7:5-27
that they may keep you from the adulteress, from the stranger with seductive words. / 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, ...

Proverbs 25:28
Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who does not control his temper.

Ecclesiastes 7:26
And I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a net, and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is ensnared.

Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

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.

Matthew 15:19
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.

Mark 7:21-23
For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, / greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness. / All these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man.”

Romans 1:24-27
Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity for the dishonoring of their bodies with one another. / They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise! Amen. / For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. ...

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.


Treasury of Scripture

And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do anything to her.

vexed

1 Kings 21:4
And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.

Song of Solomon 5:8
I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love.

2 Corinthians 7:10
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Amnon, etc.

Jump to Previous
Account Afflicted Amnon Deeply Difficult Distress Distressed Fell Frustrated Hard Ill Illness Impossible Love Point Seemed Sick Sister Tamar Thought Tormented Troubled Vexed Virgin
Jump to Next
Account Afflicted Amnon Deeply Difficult Distress Distressed Fell Frustrated Hard Ill Illness Impossible Love Point Seemed Sick Sister Tamar Thought Tormented Troubled Vexed Virgin
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














Amnon was frustrated
The Hebrew root for "frustrated" is "צרר" (tsarar), which conveys a sense of being distressed or vexed. This word choice highlights the intense emotional turmoil Amnon experiences. In the broader biblical context, such frustration often arises from desires that are misaligned with God's will, reflecting the inner conflict between fleshly desires and spiritual obedience. Amnon's frustration is a cautionary tale of allowing unchecked desires to fester, leading to destructive outcomes.

to the point of illness
The phrase indicates a physical manifestation of Amnon's emotional and mental state. In ancient times, the connection between emotional distress and physical health was recognized, though not fully understood as it is today. This highlights the biblical truth that sin and unchecked desires can have tangible, detrimental effects on one's well-being. It serves as a reminder of the holistic nature of human beings, where spiritual, emotional, and physical health are interconnected.

on account of his sister Tamar
The mention of "his sister Tamar" emphasizes the familial relationship, which makes Amnon's desires not only sinful but also socially and morally reprehensible. The Hebrew name "Tamar" means "palm tree," symbolizing beauty and grace. This familial bond should have been one of protection and care, yet Amnon's perversion of this relationship underscores the depth of his moral corruption. It serves as a stark warning against the distortion of God-given relationships.

for she was a virgin
In the ancient Near Eastern context, virginity was highly valued, symbolizing purity and honor. The Hebrew word "בתולה" (bethulah) is used here, underscoring Tamar's innocence and the societal expectations placed upon her. This detail highlights the gravity of Amnon's intentions, as they threaten not only Tamar's personal dignity but also her social standing and future prospects. It reflects the biblical principle of honoring and protecting purity.

and it seemed impossible
The phrase "it seemed impossible" reflects Amnon's perception of his situation. The Hebrew root "פלא" (pala) often denotes something extraordinary or beyond comprehension. This suggests that Amnon's desires were so consuming that he could not see a righteous path forward. It serves as a reminder of how sin can cloud judgment and lead individuals to feel trapped, emphasizing the need for divine intervention and guidance.

for him to do anything to her
The phrase "to do anything to her" is a euphemism for Amnon's illicit intentions. The Hebrew verb "עשה" (asah) is commonly used for actions or deeds, but here it carries a sinister connotation. This highlights the premeditated nature of Amnon's sin, illustrating how unchecked desires can lead to deliberate planning of wrongdoing. It serves as a sobering reminder of the progression of sin from thought to action, urging believers to guard their hearts and minds.

(2) Thought it hard.--Rather, it seemed impossible to Amnon. The modest seclusion of Tamar in the harem of her mother seemed to leave him no opportunity to carry out his desires.

It appears from the narrative that the king's children lived in different households, and each grown-up son dwelt in his own house.

Verse 2. - Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick. The Hebrew literally is, and it was narrow to Amnon, even to becoming sick. To an Oriental a feeling of narrowness means distress, while in joy there is a sense of largeness and expansion. Our words for distress have lost this picturesque force. That Amnon thought it hard does not mean that he had any feeling for his sister's disgrace, but that he knew that his attempt was difficult. He did not see how he could get Tamar into his power, and feared the consequences. The wives had each her own dwelling, and the daughters were kept in strict seclusion.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Amnon
לְאַמְנ֜וֹן (lə·’am·nō·wn)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 550: Amnon -- 'faithful', two Israelites

was sick
לְהִתְחַלּ֗וֹת (lə·hiṯ·ḥal·lō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct
Strong's 2470: To be weak or sick

with frustration
וַיֵּ֨צֶר (way·yê·ṣer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3334: Be distressed, be narrow, be straitened in straits, be vexed

over
בַּֽעֲבוּר֙ (ba·‘ă·ḇūr)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5668: Crossed, transit, on account of, in order that

his sister
אֲחֹת֔וֹ (’ă·ḥō·ṯōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 269: Sister -- a sister

Tamar,
תָּמָ֣ר (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

for
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

she
הִ֑יא (hî)
Pronoun - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

was a virgin,
בְתוּלָ֖ה (ḇə·ṯū·lāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1330: A virgin, sometimes, a bride

and it seemed
בְּעֵינֵ֣י (bə·‘ê·nê)
Preposition-b | Noun - cdc
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

implausible
וַיִּפָּלֵא֙ (way·yip·pā·lê)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6381: To separate, distinguish, to be, great, difficult, wonderful

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

to do
לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת (la·‘ă·śō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6213: To do, make

anything
מְאֽוּמָה׃ (mə·’ū·māh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3972: A speck, point, nothing

to her.
לָ֖הּ (lāh)
Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's Hebrew


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OT History: 2 Samuel 13:2 Amnon was so troubled that he fell (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 13:1
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