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.