And she had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king's daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.

2 SAMUEL 13:18KJV
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2 Samuel 13:18 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 13:18 mean?

2 Samuel 13:18 describes how Tamar, a daughter of King David, was wearing a special, colorful robe that marked her as a royal virgin, and how after a distressing event, a servant put her out and locked the door behind her. The verse highlights both her royal status and the shameful way she was treated after being cast out.

The verse is set in the aftermath of Amnon’s assault on Tamar. The text points out that Tamar’s garment was a sign of her dignity and position as an unmarried princess. The act of the servant sending her out and bolting the door underscores her sudden rejection and the loss of her protected status in the royal household.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 13:18

  • "garment" (כְּתֹנֶת, kətonet): This word refers to a tunic or robe, often a long outer garment. In this context, it is a sign of Tamar’s special status.
  • "colours" (פַּסִּים, passim): This word means "varied colors" or "stripes." The robe’s distinctive design set apart the king’s daughters who were virgins, marking them as both royal and unmarried.
  • "virgins" (בְּתוּלוֹת, bətulot): This word means "young women who have not married." The verse makes clear that only the king’s unmarried daughters wore such robes, emphasizing Tamar’s innocence and the gravity of what has happened to her.
  • "bolted" (נָעַל, na‘al): This word means "to lock" or "bolt." The servant’s action of locking the door after Tamar’s expulsion underlines her isolation and the abrupt end to her royal protection.

Why 2 Samuel 13:18 matters

  • The verse clarifies that Tamar’s robe was not just decorative but a public sign of her identity and purity, making her humiliation even more visible and painful.
  • By mentioning the servant’s act of bolting the door, the verse emphasizes how Tamar was not only violated but also immediately and harshly excluded from the royal household.
  • This detail connects to the larger story by showing the depth of Tamar’s disgrace and the failure of those around her to protect or comfort her, setting up the tragic consequences that follow in David’s family.

Where else these words appear

“colours” Hebrew H6446 · used in 5 verses

  • Genesis 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.
  • Genesis 37:23 And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;
  • Genesis 37:32 And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son's coat or no.

“bolted” Hebrew H5274 · used in 7 verses

  • Judges 3:23 Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlour upon him, and locked them.
  • 2 Samuel 13:17 Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.
  • Song of Solomon 4:12 A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.

“garment” Hebrew H3801 · used in 26 verses

  • Genesis 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
  • Exodus 28:40 And for Aaron's sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty.
  • Leviticus 16:4 He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.

“robes” Hebrew H4598 · used in 27 verses

  • Exodus 28:4 And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.
  • Exodus 39:26 A bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, round about the hem of the robe to minister in; as the LORD commanded Moses.
  • Ezra 9:3 And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.