The Meaning of 2 Samuel 13:31 Explained

2 Samuel 13:31

KJV: Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.

YLT: and the king riseth, and rendeth his garments, and lieth on the earth, and all his servants are standing by with rent garments.

Darby: Then the king arose, and rent his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their garments rent.

ASV: Then the king arose, and rent his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then the king  arose,  and tare  his garments,  and lay  on the earth;  and all his servants  stood  by with their clothes  rent. 

What does 2 Samuel 13:31 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 13:28-39 - Absalom Flees While David Mourns
For two years Absalom nursed his anger. Time did not alter his resolve, though it lulled to sleep any suspicion that might have been excited if he had taken immediate steps to get Amnon into his power. Then came the festival of a sheep-shearing, the enticement of Amnon from the shelter of the palace and his murder, the rumor that reached David, and the flight of the murderer to his mother's father, Talmai, the king of Geshur. Of course, if David had insisted upon his surrender, Absalom would have had to be handed over for punishment; but again, the memory of his own sin withheld David's hand. Had he not treacherously plotted Uriah's death! How could he punish the avenger of a sister's wrong! His own sin had come home to roost.
The punishment of sin is much more swift and certain than many seem to suppose, not only in the next life, but also in this. We need not climb the throne to exercise vengeance. That is God's part, and it is carried out by the inevitable working of law. What a man sows, he is invariably called to reap. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 13:31 mean?

So arose the king and tore - his garments and lay on the ground and all his servants stood by torn with their clothes -
וַיָּ֧קָם הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ וַיִּקְרַ֥ע אֶת־ בְּגָדָ֖יו וַיִּשְׁכַּ֣ב אָ֑רְצָה וְכָל־ עֲבָדָ֥יו נִצָּבִ֖ים קְרֻעֵ֥י בְגָדִֽים ס

וַיָּ֧קָם  So  arose 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ  the  king 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
וַיִּקְרַ֥ע  and  tore 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרַע  
Sense: to tear, tear in pieces.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
בְּגָדָ֖יו  his  garments 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בֶּגֶד 
Sense: treachery, deceit.
וַיִּשְׁכַּ֣ב  and  lay 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁכַב  
Sense: to lie down.
אָ֑רְצָה  on  the  ground 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
וְכָל־  and  all 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
עֲבָדָ֥יו  his  servants 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
נִצָּבִ֖ים  stood  by 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: הֻצַּב 
Sense: to stand, take one’s stand, stand upright, be set (over), establish.
קְרֻעֵ֥י  torn 
Parse: Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine plural construct
Root: קָרַע  
Sense: to tear, tear in pieces.
בְגָדִֽים  with  their  clothes 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: בֶּגֶד 
Sense: treachery, deceit.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation