The Meaning of 2 Samuel 14:25 Explained

2 Samuel 14:25

KJV: 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.

YLT: And 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;

Darby: 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.

ASV: Now 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does 2 Samuel 14:25 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 14:18-33 - Restored Though Unrepentant
Joab knew perfectly that David was well pleased to recall Absalom, in response, as it appeared, to the request of the most powerful of his subjects. But Joab was equally satisfied that Absalom was now in a position to execute plans for personal advancement. His refusal to meet Absalom was perhaps only a blind. David, at least, was bitterly to rue his weakness in restoring his wayward son without the latter's penitence.
Absalom's behavior was based in the extreme. Beauty of body and deformity of soul often coexist in the same individual. A flower-covered grave may hide gross corruption. See in his case an illustration of what would happen if sin could be forgiven apart from repentance and regeneration. Justification without sanctification would turn heaven into hell. There must be deep soul-work, if we are to come forth into the light of the love of God. The barley-field, set on fire to bring about this meeting between Absalom and Joab, suggests how often God has to fire our choice possessions, that, as the flame flares up to heaven, we may be induced to seek the presence of Him whom we have deeply wronged. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Samuel 14

1  Joab, suborning a widow of Tekoah to incline the king's heart to fetch Absalom,
21  brings him home to Jerusalem
25  Absalom's beauty, hair, and children
28  After two years, Absalom is brought into the king's presence by Joab

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 14:25 mean?

And Absalom no one there was none for his good looks in all Israel who was praised as much as from the sole of his foot and to the crown of his head no there was in him blemish
וּכְאַבְשָׁל֗וֹם לֹא־ הָיָ֧ה אִישׁ־ יָפֶ֛ה בְּכָל־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְהַלֵּ֣ל מְאֹ֑ד מִכַּ֤ף רַגְלוֹ֙ וְעַ֣ד קָדְקֳד֔וֹ לֹא־ הָ֥יָה ב֖וֹ מֽוּם

וּכְאַבְשָׁל֗וֹם  And  Absalom 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲבִישָׁלֹום 
Sense: father-in-law of Rehoboam.
לֹא־  no  one 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
הָיָ֧ה  there  was 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
אִישׁ־  none 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
יָפֶ֛ה  for  his  good  looks 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: יָפֶה  
Sense: fair, beautiful, handsome.
בְּכָל־  in  all 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
לְהַלֵּ֣ל  who  was  praised 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: הָלַל 
Sense: to shine.
מְאֹ֑ד  as  much  as 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מְאֹד  
Sense: exceedingly, much subst.
מִכַּ֤ף  from  the  sole 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: כַּף  
Sense: palm, hand, sole, palm of the hand, hollow or flat of the hand.
רַגְלוֹ֙  of  his  foot 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רֶגֶל  
Sense: foot.
וְעַ֣ד  and  to 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
קָדְקֳד֔וֹ  the  crown  of  his  head 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: קָדְקֹד  
Sense: head, crown of head, top of head, hairy crown, scalp.
לֹא־  no 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
הָ֥יָה  there  was 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
ב֖וֹ  in  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
מֽוּם  blemish 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מְאוּם 
Sense: blemish, spot, defect.