2 Samuel 13:3
New International Version
Now Amnon had an adviser named Jonadab son of Shimeah, David’s brother. Jonadab was a very shrewd man.

New Living Translation
But Amnon had a very crafty friend—his cousin Jonadab. He was the son of David’s brother Shimea.

English Standard Version
But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother. And Jonadab was a very crafty man.

Berean Standard Bible
Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very shrewd man,

King James Bible
But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.

New King James Version
But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother. Now Jonadab was a very crafty man.

New American Standard Bible
But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very clever man.

NASB 1995
But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very shrewd man.

NASB 1977
But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very shrewd man.

Legacy Standard Bible
But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very shrewd man.

Amplified Bible
But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very shrewd (cunning) man.

Christian Standard Bible
Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, a son of David’s brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very shrewd man,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, a son of David’s brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very shrewd man,

American Standard Version
But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother; and Jonadab was a very subtle man.

Contemporary English Version
Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, who was the son of David's brother Shimeah. Jonadab always knew how to get what he wanted,

English Revised Version
But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Amnon had a friend by the name of Jonadab, a son of David's brother Shimea. Jonadab was a very clever man.

Good News Translation
But he had a friend, a very shrewd man named Jonadab, the son of David's brother Shammah.

International Standard Version
Meanwhile, Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, who was the son of David's brother Shimeah. Now Jonadab was a very shrewd man.

Majority Standard Bible
Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, the son of David?s brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very shrewd man,

NET Bible
Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, the son of David's brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very crafty man.

New Heart English Bible
But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother. Now Jonadab was a very crafty man.

Webster's Bible Translation
But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.

World English Bible
But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very subtle man.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Amnon has a friend, and his name [is] Jonadab, son of Shimeah, David’s brother, and Jonadab [is] a very wise man,

Young's Literal Translation
And Amnon hath a friend, and his name is Jonadab, son of Shimeah, David's brother, and Jonadab is a very wise man,

Smith's Literal Translation
And to Amnon a friend, and his name Jonadab, son of Shimeah, David's brother: and Jonadab a man exceeding wise.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now Amnon had a friend, named Jonadab the son of Semmaa the brother of David, a very wise man:

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, the brother of David: a very prudent man.

New American Bible
Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, son of David’s brother Shimeah, who was very clever.

New Revised Standard Version
But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah; and Jonadab was a very crafty man.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother; and Jonadab was a very wise man.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Khamnun had a friend and his name was Yonadab, son of Shema, the brother of David, and Yonadab was a very wise man
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother; and Jonadab was a very subtle man.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Amnon had a friend, and his name was Jonadab, the son of Samaa the brother of David: and Jonadab was a very cunning man.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Amnon and Tamar
2Amnon was sick with frustration over his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed implausible for him to do anything to her. 3Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very shrewd man, 4so he asked Amnon, “Why are you, the son of the king, so depressed morning after morning? Won’t you tell me?” Amnon replied, “I am in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”…

Cross References
Proverbs 27:6
The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Proverbs 12:26
A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the ways of the wicked lead them astray.

1 Corinthians 15:33
Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

Proverbs 13:20
He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.

Psalm 1:1
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers.

Proverbs 22:24-25
Do not make friends with an angry man, and do not associate with a hot-tempered man, / or you may learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.

James 4:4
You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.

Proverbs 16:29
A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good.

1 Kings 21:25
(Surely there was never one like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, incited by his wife Jezebel.

Proverbs 1:10-15
My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them. / If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause, / let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit. ...

2 Corinthians 6:14
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?

Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: / haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, / a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, ...

Matthew 26:14-16
Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests / and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver. / So from then on Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

Genesis 3:1-6
Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’” / The woman answered the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden, / but about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You must not eat of it or touch it, or you will die.’” ...

John 13:2
The evening meal was underway, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.


Treasury of Scripture

But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab was a very subtle man.

a friend

Genesis 38:1,2
And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah…

Judges 14:20
But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.

Judges 14:20
But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.

Shimeah

2 Samuel 13:32
And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.

1 Samuel 16:9
Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.

Shimeah

2 Samuel 14:2,19,20
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: …

Genesis 3:1
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

Jeremiah 4:22
For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

Jump to Previous
Amnon Crafty David's Friend Jonadab Jon'adab Shimeah Shim'e-Ah Shrewd Subtil Subtle Wise
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Amnon Crafty David's Friend Jonadab Jon'adab Shimeah Shim'e-Ah Shrewd Subtil Subtle Wise
2 Samuel 13
1. Amnon loving Tamar, by Jonadab's counsel feigning himself sick, ravishes her.
15. He hates her, and shamefully turns her away
19. Absalom entertains her, and conceals his purpose
23. At a sheep-shearing among all the king's sons, he kills Amnon
31. David grieving at the news, is comforted by Jonadab
37. Absalom flies to Talmai at Geshur














But Amnon had a friend
The Hebrew word for "friend" here is "רֵעַ" (rea), which can mean companion or associate. In the context of ancient Israel, friendships often carried significant influence, as they were not just casual relationships but bonds that could affect one's decisions and actions. This highlights the importance of choosing friends wisely, as they can lead one towards righteousness or sin.

named Jonadab
The name "Jonadab" in Hebrew is "יוֹנָדָב" (Yonadav), meaning "Yahweh is noble" or "Yahweh has been generous." Despite the noble meaning of his name, Jonadab's actions in the narrative reveal a contrast between his name and his character. This serves as a reminder that one's name or heritage does not necessarily reflect one's moral choices or character.

the son of David’s brother Shimeah
This phrase establishes Jonadab's familial connection to King David, indicating that he was part of the royal family. The mention of "Shimeah" (also spelled "Shammah" in some translations) roots Jonadab in a specific lineage, emphasizing the interconnectedness of the royal family and the potential for internal strife. It also underscores the theme of familial influence and the complexities within David's household.

Jonadab was a very shrewd man
The Hebrew word for "shrewd" is "חָכָם" (chakam), which can mean wise, skillful, or cunning. In this context, Jonadab's shrewdness is portrayed negatively, as it leads to manipulation and deceit. This highlights the dual nature of wisdom, which can be used for good or evil. The Bible often contrasts godly wisdom with worldly cunning, reminding believers to seek wisdom that aligns with God's will.

(3) Jonadab, the son of Shimeah.--In 1Samuel 16:9, Shimeah is called Shammah, and appears there as the third son of Jesse. He had another son, Jonathan, mentioned in 2Samuel 21:21, as the conqueror of one of the giants. The word subtil is used simply to indicate sagacity and wisdom, whether rightly or wrongly exercised.

Verse 3. - Jonadab, the son of Shimeah. He is called Shammah in 1 Samuel 16:9, and is there described as Jesse's third son. A brother of Jonadab, named Jonathan, is mentioned in 2 Samuel 21:21 as a valiant soldier who slew one of the Philistine giants. Subtil is not used in a bad sense, but means clever, ready in devising means.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Now Amnon
וּלְאַמְנ֣וֹן (ū·lə·’am·nō·wn)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 550: Amnon -- 'faithful', two Israelites

had a friend
רֵ֗עַ (rê·a‘)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7453: Friend, companion, fellow

named
וּשְׁמוֹ֙ (ū·šə·mōw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8034: A name

Jonadab,
יֽוֹנָדָ֔ב (yō·w·nā·ḏāḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3122: Jonadab

the son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of David’s
דָוִ֑ד (ḏā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

brother
אֲחִ֣י (’ă·ḥî)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 251: A brother, )

Shimeah.
שִׁמְעָ֖ה (šim·‘āh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8093: Shimeah -- a brother of David

Jonadab
וְי֣וֹנָדָ֔ב (wə·yō·w·nā·ḏāḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3122: Jonadab

was a very
מְאֹֽד׃ (mə·’ōḏ)
Adverb
Strong's 3966: Vehemence, vehemently, wholly, speedily

shrewd
חָכָ֖ם (ḥā·ḵām)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2450: Wise

man,
אִ֥ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person


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OT History: 2 Samuel 13:3 But Amnon had a friend whose name (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 13:2
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