2 Samuel 14 · Verse 24

2 Samuel 14:24

And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king’s face.
2 Samuel 14:24, King James Version

2 Samuel 14:24 in other translations

BSBBut 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.
WEBThe king said, “Let him return to his own house, but let him not see my face.” So Absalom returned to his own house, and didn’t see the king’s face.
ASVAnd the king said, Let him turn to his own house, but let him not see my face. So Absalom turned to his own house, and saw not the king’s face.
YLTand the king saith, ‘Let him turn round unto his house, and my face he doth not see.' And Absalom turneth round unto his house, and the face of the king he hath not seen.
DARBYAnd the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. And Absalom withdrew to his own house, and saw not the king's face.
BBEAnd the king said, Let him go to his house, but let him not see my face. So Absalom went back to his house and did not see the face of the king.
WebsterAnd the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king's face.

What does 2 Samuel 14:24 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 24 Let him not see my face - He would not at once restore him to favor, though he had now remitted his crime; so that he should not die for it. It was highly proper to show this detestation of the crime, and respect for justice.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Samuel 14:21-24

David was inclined to favour Absalom, yet, for the honour of his justice, he could not do it but upon application made for him, which may show the methods of Divine grace. It is true that God has thoughts of compassion toward poor sinners, not willing that any should perish; yet he is only reconciled to them through a Mediator, who pleads on their behalf. God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, and…

Read the full comment on 2 Samuel 14:21-24 →

2 Samuel 14:24 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.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhthe kingH4428
יִסֹּ֣בyi.Sohe will turnH5437
אֶל\־'el-toH413
בֵּית֔וֹbei.Tohouse hisH1004
וּפָנַ֖יu.fa.Naiand face myH6440
לֹ֣אlo'notH3808
יִרְאֶ֑הyir.'Ehhe will seeH7200
וַיִּסֹּ֤בvai.yi.Soand he turnedH5437
אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙'av.sha.lOmAbsalomH53
אֶל\־'el-toH413
בֵּית֔וֹbei.Tohouse hisH1004
וּפְנֵ֥יu.fe.Neiand [the] face ofH6440
הַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhthe kingH4428
לֹ֥אlo'notH3808
רָאָֽה\׃\ \סra.'Ahhe sawH7200

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

Cross references for 2 Samuel 14:24

  • Revelation 22:4

    And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

  • 2 Samuel 3:13

    And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul’s daughter, when thou comest to see my face.

  • Exodus 10:28

    And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die.

  • Genesis 43:3

    And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.

  • 2 Samuel 14:28

    So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king’s face.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
let him not.
28; 3:13; Ge 43:3; Ex 10:28; Re 22:4

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

Context

  • 2 Samuel 14:23

    So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.

  • 2 Samuel 14:24

    And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king’s face.

  • 2 Samuel 14:25

    But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.

Read all of 2 Samuel 14

2 Samuel 14:24 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas el rey dijo: Váyase á su casa, y no vea mi rostro. Y volvióse Absalom á su casa, y no vió el rostro del rey.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et le roi dit: Qu’il se retire dans sa maison, et qu’il ne voie point ma face. Et Absalom se retira dans sa maison et ne vit pas la face du roi.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Aber der König sprach: Er soll sich nach seinem Hause wenden und mein Angesicht nicht sehen. Und Absalom wandte sich nach seinem Hause und sah das Angesicht des Königs nicht.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dixit autem rex: Revertatur in domum suam, et faciem meam non videat. Reversus est itaque Absalom in domum suam, et faciem regis non vidit.