2 Samuel 14:26
24 But the king added, “He may return to his house, but he must not see my face.” So Absalom returned to his own house, but he did not see the king.
25 Now there was not a man in all Israel as handsome and highly praised as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the top of his head, he did not have a single flaw.
And when he cut the hair of his head—he shaved it every year because his hair got so heavy—he would weigh it out to be two hundred shekels, according to the royal standard.
27 Three sons were born to Absalom, and a daughter named Tamar, who was a beautiful woman.
28 Now Absalom lived in Jerusalem two years without seeing the face of the king.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- And when he cut the hair of his head—he shaved it every year because his hair got so heavy—he would weigh it out to be two hundred shekels, according to the royal standard.
- KJV
- And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year’s end that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king’s weight.
- WEB
- When he cut the hair of his head (now it was at every year’s end that he cut it; because it was heavy on him, therefore he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels, after the king’s weight.
- ASV
- And when he cut the hair of his head (now it was at every year`s end that he cut it; because it was heavy on him, therefore he cut it); he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels, after the king`s weight.
- DARBY
- And when he shaved his head (for it was at every year's end that he shaved it, because it was heavy on him, therefore he shaved it), he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king's weight.
- BLB
- And he cut the hair of his head, and it was at the end of every year that he cut [it], because it was heavy on him; and he cut it, and he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels, according to the standard of the king.
- ÅB
- Og når han klippet håret på sitt hode - og det gjorde han hver gang året var til ende, fordi håret ble ham for tungt, og han måtte klippe det - så veide han sitt hår, og det veide to hundre sekel etter kongens vekt.
- OTB
- Og når han klippet håret på hodet — for det var ved slutten av hvert år at han klippet det, fordi det var tungt for ham, og når han klippet det, veide han håret på hodet til to hundre sekel etter kongens vekt.
- B1930
- Og når han klippet håret på sitt hode - og det gjorde han hver gang året var til ende, fordi håret blev ham for tungt, og han måtte klippe det - så veide han sitt hår, og det veide to hundre sekel efter kongens vekt.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Ezekiel 44:20
They must not shave their heads or let their hair grow long, but must carefully trim their hair.
Read in context1 Corinthians 11:14
Doesn’t nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him,
Read in context2 Samuel 18:9
Now Absalom was riding on his mule when he met the servants of David, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom’s head was caught fast in the tree. The mule under him kept going, so that he was suspended in midair.
Read in contextEzekiel 45:9–14
For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Enough, O princes of Israel! Cease your violence and oppression, and do what is just and right. Stop dispossessing My people, declares the Lord GOD.’
Read in contextLeviticus 19:36
You shall maintain honest scales and weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.
Read in contextGenesis 23:16
Abraham agreed to Ephron’s terms and weighed out for him the price he had named in the hearing of the Hittites: four hundred shekels of silver, according to the standard of the merchants.
Read in contextIsaiah 3:24
Instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of styled hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; instead of beauty, shame.
Read in context