2 Samuel 14 · Verse 25

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.
2 Samuel 14:25, King James Version

2 Samuel 14:25 in other translations

BSBNow 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.
WEBNow in all Israel there was no one 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 defect in him.
ASVNow 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.
YLTAnd like Absalom there was no man so fair in all Israel, to praise greatly; from the sole of his foot even unto his crown there was no blemish in him;
DARBYBut 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.
BBENow in all Israel there was no one so greatly to be praised for his beautiful form as Absalom: from his feet to the crown of his head he was completely beautiful.
WebsterBut 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.

What does 2 Samuel 14:25 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Samuel 14:25-26
25-26. But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty--This extraordinary popularity arose not only from his high spirit and courtly manners, but from his uncommonly handsome appearance. One distinguishing feature, seemingly an object of great admiration, was a profusion of beautiful hair. Its extraordinary luxuriance compelled him to cut it "at every year's end;" lit., "at times," "from time to time," when it was found to weigh two hundred shekels--equal to one hundred twelve ounces troy; but as "the weight was after the king's shekel," which was less than the common shekel, the rate has been reduced as low as three pounds, two ounces [Bochart], and even less by others.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 25 None to be so much praised as Absalom - It was probably his personal beauty that caused the people to interest themselves so much in his behalf; for the great mass of the public is ever caught and led by outward appearances. There was no blemish in him - He was perfect and regular in all his features, and in all his proportions.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Samuel 14:25-27
Nothing is said of Absalom's wisdom and piety. All here said of him is, that he was very handsome. A poor commendation for a man that had nothing else in him valuable. Many a polluted, deformed soul dwells in a fair and comely body. And we read that he had a very fine head of hair. It was a burden to him, but he would not cut it as long as he could bear the weight. That which feeds and gratifies pride, is not complained of, though uneasy. May the Lord grant us the beauty of holiness, and the adorning of a meek and quiet spirit! Only those who fear God are truly happy.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

2 Samuel 14:25 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.

וּכְאַבְשָׁל֗וֹםu.khe.'av.sha.Lomand like AbsalomH53
לֹא\־lo'-notH3808
הָיָ֧הha.Yahhe wasH1961
אִישׁ\־'ish-a manH376
יָפֶ֛הya.PehhandsomeH3303
בְּכָל\־be.kholin allH3605
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478
לְהַלֵּ֣לle.ha.Lelto praiseH1984
מְאֹ֑דme.'OdexceedinglyH3966
מִכַּ֤ףmi.Kaffrom [the] sole ofH3709
רַגְלוֹ֙rag.Lofoot hisH7272
וְעַ֣דve.'Adand toH5704
קָדְקֳד֔וֹka.de.ko.Doscalp hisH6936
לֹא\־lo'-notH3808
הָ֥יָהHa.yahit wasH1961
ב֖וֹvoin <the> him
מֽוּם\׃Muma blemishH3971

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

Cross references for 2 Samuel 14:25

  • Isaiah 1:6

    From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

  • Job 2:7

    So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.

  • Deuteronomy 28:35

    The Lord shall smite thee in the knees, and in the legs, with a sore botch that cannot be healed, from the sole of thy foot unto the top of thy head.

  • Proverbs 31:30

    Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

  • 1 Samuel 16:7

    But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

  • 1 Samuel 9:2

    And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.

  • Matthew 23:27

    Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.

  • Ephesians 5:27

    That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
But in all Israel, etc. Heb. And as Absalom there was not abeautiful man in all Israel to praise greatly.
1Sa 9:2; 16:7; Pr 31:30; Mt 23:27
from the sole.
De 28:35; Job 2:7; Isa 1:6; Eph 5:27

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

Context

  • 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.

  • 2 Samuel 14:26

    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.

Read all of 2 Samuel 14

2 Samuel 14:25 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y no había en todo Israel hombre tan hermoso como Absalom, de alabar en gran manera: desde la planta de su pie hasta la mollera no había en él defecto.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et dans tout Israël il n’y avait pas d’homme beau comme Absalom et si fort à louer pour sa beauté; depuis la plante de ses pieds jusqu’au sommet de sa tête, il n’y avait point en lui de défaut.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und in ganz Israel war kein Mann wegen seiner Schönheit so sehr zu preisen wie Absalom; von seiner Fußsohle bis zu seinem Scheitel war kein Fehl an ihm.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Porro sicut Absalom, vir non erat pulcher in omni Israël, et decorus nimis: a vestigio pedis usque ad verticem non erat in eo ulla macula.