2 Samuel 14 · Verse 1

2 Samuel 14:1

Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was toward Absalom.
2 Samuel 14:1, King James Version

2 Samuel 14:1 in other translations

BSBNow Joab son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart longed for Absalom.
WEBNow Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was toward Absalom.
ASVNow Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was toward Absalom.
YLTAnd Joab son of Zeruial knoweth that the heart of the king is on Absalom,
DARBYAnd Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom.
BBENow it was clear to Joab, the son of Zeruiah, that the king's heart was turning to Absalom.
WebsterNow Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was towards Absalom.

What does 2 Samuel 14:1 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

A woman of Tekoah, by the advice of Joab, comes to the king; and by a fictitious story persuades him to recall Absalom, vv. 1-20. Joab is permitted to go to Geshur, and bring Absalom from thence, 2Sam 14:21-23. Absalom comes to Jerusalem to his own house, but is forbidden to see the king's face, 2Sam 14:24. An account of Absalom's beauty, and the extraordinary weight of his hair, 2Sam 14:25, 2Sam 14:26. His children, 2Sam 14:27. He strives to regain the king's favor, and employs Joab as an intercessor, 2Sam 14:28-32. David is reconciled to him, 2Sam 14:33.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Samuel 14:1-20
We may notice here, how this widow pleads God's mercy, and his clemency toward poor guilty sinners. The state of sinners is a state of banishment from God. God pardons none to the dishonour of his law and justice, nor any who are impenitent; nor to the encouragement of crimes, or the hurt of others.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

2 Samuel 14:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיֵּ֖דַעvai.Ye.da'and he perceivedH3045
יוֹאָ֣בyo.'AvJoabH3097
בֶּן\־ben-[the] son ofH1121
צְרֻיָ֑הtze.ru.YahZeruiahH6870
כִּֽי\־ki-thatH3588
לֵ֥בlev[the] heart ofH3820
הַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhthe kingH4428
עַל\־'al-[was] towardsH5921
אַבְשָׁלֽוֹם\׃'av.sha.LomAbsalomH53

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Samuel 14:1

  • 2 Samuel 13:39

    And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

  • 2 Samuel 2:18

    And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.

  • 2 Samuel 19:4

    But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!

  • Proverbs 29:26

    Many seek the ruler’s favour; but every man’s judgment cometh from the Lord.

  • 1 Chronicles 2:16

    Whose sisters were Zeruiah, and Abigail. And the sons of Zeruiah; Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three.

  • 2 Samuel 18:33

    And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!

  • 2 Samuel 19:2

    And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 Joab, suborning a widow of Tekoah by a parable to incline the king's heart to fetch home Absalom, brings him to Jerusalem.
25 Absalom's beauty, hair, and children.
28 After two years, Absalom is brought into the king's presence by Joab.

A.M. 2977. B. C. 1027. An. Ex. Is. 464. Joab.
2:18; 1Ch 2:16
toward Absalom.
13:39; 18:33; 19:2,4; Pr 29:26

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Samuel 14:1

    Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was toward Absalom.

  • 2 Samuel 14:2

    And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:

Read all of 2 Samuel 14

2 Samuel 14:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y CONOCIENDO Joab hijo de Sarvia, que el corazón del rey estaba por Absalom,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et Joab, fils de Tseruïa, s’aperçut que le cœur du roi était pour Absalom;
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und Joab, der Sohn der Zeruja, merkte, daß das Herz des Königs nach Absalom stand.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Intelligens autem Joab filius Sarviæ quod cor regis versum esset ad Absalom,