2 Samuel 18:33
New International Version
The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!”

New Living Translation
The king was overcome with emotion. He went up to the room over the gateway and burst into tears. And as he went, he cried, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! O Absalom, my son, my son.”

English Standard Version
And the king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he went, he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

Berean Standard Bible
The king was shaken and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he walked, he cried out, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

King James Bible
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!

New King James Version
Then the king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went, he said thus: “O my son Absalom—my son, my son Absalom—if only I had died in your place! O Absalom my son, my son!”

New American Standard Bible
Then the king trembled and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And this is what he said as he walked: “My son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!”

NASB 1995
The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

NASB 1977
And the king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the king trembled and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

Amplified Bible
The king was deeply moved and went to the upper room over the gate and wept [in sorrow]. And this is what he said as he walked: “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! How I wish that I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

Christian Standard Bible
The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber above the city gate and wept. As he walked, he cried, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son! ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The king was deeply moved and went up to the gate chamber and wept. As he walked, he cried, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!”

American Standard Version
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 I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!

Contemporary English Version
David started trembling. Then he went up to the room above the city gate to cry. As he went, he kept saying, "My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I could have died instead of you! Absalom, my son, my son!"

English Revised Version
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!

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The king was shaken [by the news]. He went to the room above the gate and cried. "My son Absalom!" he said as he went. "My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died in your place! Absalom, my son, my son!"

Good News Translation
The king was overcome with grief. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he cried, "O my son! My son Absalom! Absalom, my son! If only I had died in your place, my son! Absalom, my son!"

International Standard Version
Deeply shaken, the king went up to the chamber overlooking the city gate, weeping bitterly and crying out as he went along, "My son Absalom! My son! My son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you, Absalom my son, my son!"

Majority Standard Bible
The king was shaken and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he walked, he cried out, ?O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!?

NET Bible
The king then became very upset. He went up to the upper room over the gate and wept. As he went he said, "My son, Absalom! My son, my son, Absalom! If only I could have died in your place! Absalom, my son, my son!"

New Heart English Bible
And the king was shaken, and went up to the room over the gate and wept. And as he wept he said, ?My son Absalom. My son, my son Absalom. If only I had died in your place, Absalom, my son, my son."

Webster's Bible Translation
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! O that I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!

World English Bible
The king was much moved, and went up to the room over the gate and wept. As he went, he said, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the king trembles, and goes up on the upper chamber of the gate, and weeps, and thus he has said in his going, “My son Absalom! My son! My son Absalom! Oh that I had died for you, Absalom, my son, my son!”

Young's Literal Translation
And the king trembleth, and goeth up on the upper chamber of the gate, and weepeth, and thus he hath said in his going, 'My son! Absalom my son; my son Absalom; oh that I had died for thee, Absalom, my son, my son.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the king will be moved, and he will go up into the upper chamber of the gate and weep: and thus he said in his going, My son Absalom! my son, my son Absalom I who will give my death, me for thee, Absalom my son, my son!
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The king therefore being much moved, went up to the high chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went he spoke in this manner: My son Absalom, Absalom my son: would to God that I might die for thee, Absalom my son, my son Absalom.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And so the king, being greatly saddened, ascended to the upper room of the gate, and he wept. And as he went, he was speaking in this manner: “My son Absalom! Absalom my son! Who can grant to me that I may die on your behalf? Absalom, my son! My son, Absalom!”

New American Bible
The king was shaken, and went up to the room over the city gate and wept. He said as he wept, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!”

New Revised Standard Version
The king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept; and as he went, he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the king was overcome, and went up to his bedchamber and wept; and as he wept, he said, O my son Absalom. my son, my son Absalom! Would that I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son!

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he wept and when he wept, he was saying thus:”Oh my son, Abishlum, my son! my son, Abishlum! But truly I would die for your sake, Abishlum my son!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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 I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the king was troubled, and went to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and thus he said as he went, My son Abessalom, my son, my son Abessalom; would God I had died for thee, even I had died for thee, Abessalom, my son, my son!

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David Mourns for Absalom
32The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom all right?” And the Cushite replied, “May what has become of the young man happen to the enemies of my lord the king and to all who rise up against you to harm you.” 33The king was shaken and went up to the gate chamber and wept. And as he walked, he cried out, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

Cross References
Genesis 37:34-35
Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist, and mourned for his son many days. / All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said. “I will go down to Sheol mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him.

Luke 15:20-24
So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. / The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ / But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ...

Matthew 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

John 11:33-36
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. / “Where have you put him?” He asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they answered. / Jesus wept. ...

Genesis 42:36
Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my sons. Joseph is gone and Simeon is no more. Now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is going against me!”

Jeremiah 31:15
This is what the LORD says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Lamentations 1:16
For these things I weep; my eyes flow with tears. For there is no one nearby to comfort me, no one to revive my soul. My children are destitute because the enemy has prevailed.

Romans 9:2-3
I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. / For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my own flesh and blood,

1 Kings 19:4
while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”

Psalm 55:4-8
My heart pounds within me, and the terrors of death assail me. / Fear and trembling grip me, and horror has overwhelmed me. / I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest. ...

Isaiah 53:3
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

Mark 14:34
Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.”

Job 1:20-21
Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped, / saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

Ezekiel 24:16-18
“Son of man, behold, I am about to take away the desire of your eyes with a fatal blow. But you must not mourn or weep or let your tears flow. / Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Put on your turban and strap your sandals on your feet; do not cover your lips or eat the bread of mourners.” / So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. And the next morning I did as I had been commanded.

Matthew 26:75
Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.


Treasury of Scripture

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 you, O Absalom, my son, my son!

O my son

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!

would God

2 Samuel 12:10-23
Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife…

Psalm 103:13
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

Proverbs 10:1
The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

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Absalom Ab'salom Chamber Deeply Died Door Gate Moved Room Shaken Weeping Wept
2 Samuel 18
1. David viewing the armies in their march gives them charge of Absalom
6. The Israelites are sorely smitten in the wood of ephraim
9. Absalom, hanging in an oak is slain by Joab, and cast into a pit
18. Absalom's place
19. Ahimaaz and Cushi bring tidings to David
33. David mourns for Absalom














The king was shaken
The Hebrew word for "shaken" here is "רגז" (ragaz), which conveys a deep emotional disturbance or trembling. This word captures the profound grief and turmoil within King David's heart. Historically, David's relationship with Absalom was fraught with tension and rebellion, yet this moment reveals the depth of a father's love and sorrow. Despite Absalom's betrayal, David's reaction underscores the unconditional love and heartbreak that can accompany familial bonds.

and went up to the chamber over the gate
The "chamber over the gate" refers to a private room or space above the city gate, often used for solitude or reflection. In ancient cities, the gate was a place of judgment and public affairs, but the chamber above it provided a secluded area. David's retreat to this chamber signifies his need for privacy in his grief, away from the eyes of his people. It highlights the personal nature of his mourning, as he seeks solace in a place removed from the public sphere.

and wept
The act of weeping, "בכה" (bakah) in Hebrew, is a powerful expression of sorrow and lamentation. In the biblical context, weeping is often associated with mourning and repentance. David's tears are not just for the loss of his son but also for the broken relationship and the consequences of sin that led to this tragic end. This moment of weeping is a poignant reminder of the human condition and the pain that accompanies the loss of a loved one.

As he walked, he cried out
The phrase "cried out" translates from the Hebrew "זעק" (za'aq), which implies a loud, piercing cry. This is not a silent or subdued mourning; it is an audible, heart-wrenching lament. David's walking while crying out suggests a restless, inconsolable grief. It reflects the inner turmoil and the overwhelming nature of his sorrow, as he cannot remain still in his anguish.

'O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!'
The repetition of "my son" emphasizes the personal and intimate nature of David's grief. The Hebrew "בני" (beni) is a term of endearment, underscoring the deep paternal bond despite Absalom's rebellion. This lament is a raw and unfiltered expression of a father's love, regret, and longing for reconciliation. It serves as a powerful reminder of the complexities of familial relationships and the enduring nature of parental love, even in the face of betrayal and loss.

(33) Was much moved.--David's grief was not merely that of a father for his first-born son, but for that son slain in the very act of outrageous sin. His sorrow, too, may have gained poignancy from the thought--which must often have come to him during the progress of this rebellion--that all this sin and wrong took its occasion from his own great sin. Yet David was criminally weak at this crisis in allowing the feelings of the father completely to outweigh the duties of the monarch.

Verse 33. - The king was much moved. The Hebrew word properly refers to agitation of body. A violent trembling seized the king, and, rising, he went up to the guard chamber over the two gates, that he might give free course to his lamentation. The whole is told so vividly that we can scarcely doubt that we have here the words of one who was present at this pathetic scene, who saw the tremor which shook David's body, and watched him as he crept slowly up the stairs, uttering words of intense sorrow. And it was conscience which smote him; for his own "sin had found him out." In Psalm 38, and 40. he has made the confession that it was his own iniquity which was now surging over his head.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The king
הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

was shaken
וַיִּרְגַּ֣ז (way·yir·gaz)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7264: To be agitated, quiver, quake, be excited, perturbed

and went up
וַיַּ֛עַל (way·ya·‘al)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

to
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the gate
הַשַּׁ֖עַר (haš·ša·‘ar)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8179: An opening, door, gate

chamber
עֲלִיַּ֥ת (‘ă·lî·yaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 5944: Something lofty, a stair-way, a second-story room, the sky

and wept.
וַיֵּ֑בְךְּ (way·yê·ḇək)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1058: To weep, to bemoan

And as
וְכֹ֣ה ׀ (wə·ḵōh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

he walked,
בְּלֶכְתּ֗וֹ (bə·leḵ·tōw)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

he cried out,
אָמַ֣ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“O my son
בְּנִ֤י (bə·nî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1121: A son

Absalom!
אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ (’aḇ·šā·lō·wm)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 53: Absalom -- 'my father is peace', two Israelites

My son,
בְּנִ֣י (bə·nî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1121: A son

my son
בְנִ֣י (ḇə·nî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1121: A son

Absalom!
אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם (’aḇ·šā·lō·wm)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 53: Absalom -- 'my father is peace', two Israelites

If only
מִֽי־ (mî-)
Verb - Pual - Imperfect
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

I
אֲנִ֣י (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

had died
מוּתִי֙ (mū·ṯî)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

instead of you,
תַחְתֶּ֔יךָ (ṯaḥ·te·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of

O Absalom,
אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם (’aḇ·šā·lō·wm)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 53: Absalom -- 'my father is peace', two Israelites

my son,
בְּנִ֥י (bə·nî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1121: A son

my son!?
בְנִֽי׃ (ḇə·nî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1121: A son


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OT History: 2 Samuel 18:33 The king was much moved and went (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 18:32
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