And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.

2 SAMUEL 13:19KJV
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2 Samuel 13:19 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 13:19 mean?

2 Samuel 13:19 shows Tamar’s grief openly after her half-brother Amnon raped her and sent her away. Her actions make her distress visible to anyone who sees her. The verse lets the reader see the harm through Tamar’s response, rather than treating Amnon’s act as a private event that has ended.

Ashes and torn clothing were recognizable signs of mourning in the ancient world. Tamar’s hand on her head and her continuing cries add to the picture of someone overwhelmed by grief. The narrator describes her actions; Tamar does not speak in this verse.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 13:19

  • “garment of divers colours” — כְּתֹנֶת פַּסִּים (ketonet passim): This refers to a special kind of robe. The exact meaning of the term translated “divers colours” is uncertain; the previous verse identifies the robe as clothing worn by the king’s unmarried daughters.
  • “crying” — זָעַק (zaʿaq): This word carries the sense of crying out or calling aloud. Together with “went on,” it pictures Tamar’s cries continuing as she walks.

Why 2 Samuel 13:19 matters

  • The torn robe makes the loss visible in a distinctive way. Verse 18 has identified the garment with Tamar’s place among the king’s unmarried daughters, so tearing it gives her mourning a public form.
  • Tamar’s grief follows Amnon’s rejection as well as the assault. In verse 17, Amnon has her put out and the door bolted behind her; verse 19 shows her response outside.
  • The scene also prepares for Absalom’s response. In verse 20, he recognizes that Amnon has been involved, placing Tamar’s visible distress within the family conflict that follows.

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.

“Tamar” Hebrew H8559 · used in 22 verses

  • Genesis 38:6 And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar.
  • 2 Samuel 13:4 And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king's son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.
  • 2 Samuel 13:22 And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

“ashes” Hebrew H665 · used in 22 verses

  • Genesis 18:27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:
  • Job 30:19 He hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes.
  • Jeremiah 6:26 O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.

“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.