And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore.

2 SAMUEL 13:36KJV
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2 Samuel 13:36 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 13:36 mean?

2 Samuel 13:36 describes the moment when King David’s sons arrive, and everyone—including the king and his servants—breaks into loud, bitter weeping. The verse shows the deep grief and shock that sweeps through David’s household after hearing devastating news.

The setting is the aftermath of Absalom’s revenge against Amnon for the assault of their sister Tamar. A messenger has just finished speaking to David, and immediately the king’s sons return, confirming the tragedy. The verse highlights the collective sorrow and emotional weight felt by the royal family and their attendants in response to the loss and violence among David’s children.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 13:36

  • "Wept" (בָּכָה, bakhah): This word appears twice in the verse, emphasizing the intensity and universality of the grief. It is not just quiet sadness but open, public mourning.
  • "Very" (מְאֹד, me’od) and "sore" (תָּמֵא, tamē / גָּדוֹל, gadol): These words combine to stress the extremity of the weeping. The grief is described as exceedingly great, showing that the sorrow was overwhelming and deeply felt by all present.
  • "Lifted up their voice" (נָשָׂא קוֹל, nasa qol): This phrase means they cried out loudly, not just weeping quietly. It paints a picture of a group openly expressing their pain together.

Why 2 Samuel 13:36 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the grief over Amnon’s death and the family tragedy was not limited to David but was shared by all his sons and servants, showing the far-reaching impact of violence within a family.
  • The strong language for weeping and sorrow highlights the seriousness of the events and the emotional devastation caused by Absalom’s actions.
  • Understanding this verse helps readers see the consequences of unresolved family conflict and the ripple effects of personal sin and revenge in the wider story of David’s household.

Where else these words appear

“sore” Hebrew H1065 · used in 29 verses

  • Genesis 45:2 And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard.
  • Psalms 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
  • Isaiah 65:19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.

“wept” Hebrew H1058 · used in 100 verses

  • Genesis 21:16 And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.
  • Judges 20:26 Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
  • Esther 8:3 And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.