II Samuel 14:26 · Bible study
2 Samuel 14:26 Commentary: Absalom's Hair
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore the meaning of Absalom's two hundred shekels of hair, the textual questions, and what this detail reveals about his pride and eventual death.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Absalom's annual haircut yielded two hundred shekels of hair, highlighting his extraordinary physical beauty and foreshadowing his downfall.
- Key words: gālach (shave), kāvēd (heavy, burdensome), shāqal (weigh out), sheqel (shekel), ʼeven hammelekh (king's weight).
- Main debate: Whether two hundred shekels is a literal weight (~6 lbs) or a textual error/symbolic exaggeration, and whether the shekels refer to weight or price.
- Theological theme: The vanity of outward beauty when it feeds pride and rebellion against God’s anointed king.
- Best use: A cautionary tale for sermons on pride, the danger of physical admiration, and the slow seeds of rebellion in a heart that refuses to submit.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
And when he cut the hair of his head—he shaved it every year because his hair got so heavy—he would weigh it out to be two hundred shekels, according to the royal standard.
WEB World English Bible 2000
When he cut the hair of his head (now it was at every year’s end that he cut it; because it was heavy on him, therefore he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels, after the king’s weight.
KJV King James Version 1769
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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And when he cut the hair of his head (now it was at every year’s end that he cut it; because it was heavy on him, therefore he cut it); he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels, after the king’s weight.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
and in his polling his head--and it hath been at the end of year by year that he polleth it , for it is heavy on him, and he hath polled it--he hath even weighed out the hair of his head--two hundred shekels by the king's weight.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And when he shaved his head (for it was at every year's end that he shaved it, because it was heavy on him, therefore he shaved it), he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king's weight.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And when he polled his hair (now he was polled once a year, because his hair was burdensome to him) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred sicles, according to the common weight.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y cuando se cortaba el cabello, ( lo cual hacía al fin de cada año, pues le causaba molestia, y por eso se lo cortaba), pesaba el cabello de su cabeza doscientos siclos de peso real.
E quando se cortava o cabelo, (o qual fazia ao fim de cada ano, pois lhe incomodava, e por isso se o cortava,) pesava o cabelo de sua cabeça duzentos siclos de peso real.
Lorsqu’ il se rasait la tête, c’ était chaque année qu’ il se la rasait, parce que sa chevelure lui pesait, le poids des cheveux de sa tête était de deux cents sicles, poids du roi.
Und wenn man sein Haupt schor (das geschah gemeiniglich alle Jahre; denn es war ihm zu schwer, daß man's abscheren mußte), so wog sein Haupthaar zweihundert Lot nach dem königlichen Gewicht.
En als hij zijn hoofd beschoor, (nu geschiedde het ten einde van elk jaar, dat hij het beschoor, omdat het hem te zwaar was, zo beschoor hij het), zo woog het haar zijns hoofds tweehonderd sikkelen, naar des konings gewicht.
E quando si facea tagliare i capelli (e se li faceva tagliare ogni anno perché la capigliatura gli pesava troppo) il peso de’ suoi capelli era di duecento sicli a peso del re.
A gdy strzygł głowę swoję, (a zwykł ją na każdy rok strzydz; bo mu ciążyła, przetoż ją strzygł,) ważyły włosy głowy jego dwieście syklów wagi królewskiej.
Когда он стриг голову свою, — а он стриг ее каждый год, потому что она отягощала его, — то волоса с головы его весили двести сиклей по весу царскому.
他的頭髮 甚重，每 到 年 底 剪 髮一次；所 剪下來的，按王 的平 稱 一稱，重二百 舍客勒。
And when he had his hair cut, (which he did at the end of every year, because of the weight of his hair;) the weight of the hair was two hundred shekels by the king's weight.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · II Samuel 14:26
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators broadly agree that the detail of two hundred shekels is meant to underscore Absalom's extraordinary physical beauty and, by implication, his deep pride. Barnes and the Cambridge Bible note that if the royal shekel matched the sacred shekel, the weight would exceed six pounds, incredible by any measure. Gill calls it "a very great weight indeed on his head" and records Jewish traditions that Absalom was a perpetual Nazarite. Wesley mentions that some interpreters understand the shekels as the price of the hair sold for ornament, not its literal weight. Across these readings, the consensus is that whether the number is literal or figurative, it signals something exceptional about Absalom that sets him apart and foreshadows his downfall. The sheer extravagance of the detail prepares the reader for the tragic turn in 2 Samuel 18, where that same hair becomes the instrument of his death.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: High
Main views:
- Literal weight (textual acceptation): Accepts the Masoretic number as historical; Absalom's hair was extraordinarily heavy (over six pounds), possibly aided by oil, powder, or gold dust (Gill) or by Nazarite length.
- Textual emendation (twenty shekels): Points to the incredibility of six pounds of hair; Barnes and the Cambridge Bible argue that the original reading may have been twenty shekels, a more plausible weight.
- Symbolic or price interpretation: Wesley and some Jewish interpreters understand the two hundred shekels as the monetary value of the hair (sold for wigs or ornament), not its literal weight.
What is clear: The verse is designed to emphasize that Absalom's hair was exceptionally abundant and heavy, marking him out in a way that connects his physical uniqueness to his later tragedy—whatever the exact number, the point is that his appearance was both remarkable and dangerous.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Literal weight of the hair | The verse intends to communicate that Absalom's hair was exceptionally abundant and heavy, contributing to his reputation for beauty. | Some commentators (Barnes, Cambridge Bible) treat the number as possibly corrupted (suggesting twenty rather than two hundred shekels), while others (Gill, Matthew Henry) accept it as a literal but astonishing figure. Wesley notes that some ancient readers interpreted the two hundred shekels as the price the hair would fetch, not its weight. |
| Significance of the king's weight | The phrase indicates a standardized measurement under royal authority, adding precision and official importance to the detail. | Whether this royal standard was identical to the sacred shekel of the sanctuary is unknown. If it was, the weight is even more extreme; if it was a different, lighter standard, the weight diminishes but remains remarkable. |
| Connection to the Nazarite vow | Long hair was associated with Nazarite consecration (Numbers 6:5), and the annual shaving could mirror that practice. | Gill cites Jewish tradition that Absalom was a perpetual Nazarite. However, other commentators (Matthew Henry, Cambridge Bible) do not emphasize the Nazarite connection and instead read the hair as a general sign of pride and physical perfection. |
| Role in foreshadowing Absalom's death | The detail of heavy hair is widely seen as a literary preparation for 2 Samuel 18:9, where his hair catches in an oak and leaves him suspended. | Some stress that the hair itself is the instrument of divine judgment; others see the connection as a natural consequence of his vanity rather than direct causation. |
| Character revelation | The verse contributes to the portrayal of Absalom as a man praised for his appearance and therefore prone to pride. | A few commentators (Lange, Ellicott) emphasize that the narrative is not condemning long hair per se but Absalom's internal disposition. Others use the detail to argue that physical beauty is a dangerous snare. |
Historical & Cultural Context
In ancient Israel, men did sometimes wear long hair without shame, Nazarites (Numbers 6:5) were commanded to let their locks grow as a sign of consecration. Gill cites Jewish sources that claimed Absalom was a perpetual Nazarite, which would explain the annual shaving and the weight of his hair. The king's weight mentioned here ("after the king's weight") refers to a standard of measurement overseen by the royal court, much like the merchant's standard in Abraham's purchase of the cave of Machpelah (Genesis 23:16). The surrounding narrative reinforces the point: verse 25 declares Absalom without rival in Israel for his beauty, flawless from head to foot. Immediately after this description, the story pivots. Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem without seeing the king's face (v.28), then resorted to arson to force Joab's attention (v.30). The detail of his heavy hair, then, sits at a hinge in the plot, a moment when the narrator pauses on physical beauty before recounting the moral ugliness that follows. In the ancient Near East, an annual haircut was a normal practice, but the weight given here is anything but normal. It pushes the reader to see Absalom as exceptional in a way that borders on grotesque, a perfection that masks a corrupt interior.
Textual Notes
The Masoretic Text is stable at this point, but the number “two hundred” has troubled many interpreters. Barnes and the Cambridge Bible suggest that “twenty” shekels would be far more plausible, given that two hundred shekels would exceed six pounds. The Cambridge Bible notes that “there may be some error in the text.” No ancient Hebrew manuscripts record a variant reading of “twenty,” but several commentators propose an accidental scribal duplication that could have inflated the figure. The Greek Old Testament (Septuagint) does not offer a different number here, though later translators like the Vulgate follow the Hebrew. The consensus among the supplied sources is that the text as it stands is unusually demanding, and the weight should be understood either as a symbolic exaggeration or as an indication of a lighter royally standardized shekel.
Reception History
Jewish tradition, as recorded by Gill, interpreted the verse in light of Absalom's status as a perpetual Nazarite, linking the heavy hair to his consecration and, paradoxically, to his fall. The Babylonian Talmud (Sotah 10a) uses this detail to illustrate how Absalom's pride led him to misuse his God‑given gifts. In Christian reading, the verse has been a staple in moral sermons against vanity, often paired with 1 Corinthians 11:14 (long hair as a dishonor to a man) and 2 Samuel 18:9 to show that the object of pride becomes the means of punishment. Matthew Henry, writing in the Reformed tradition, treats the hair as one more evidence of Absalom's “vain curiosity” and his preoccupation with outward show. Across eras, the verse has been cited more often in homiletics than in systematic theology, serving as a concrete warning that beauty without humility leads to disaster.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The weight of vanity: Absalom's hair was so heavy he had to cut it yearly, and he weighed it, likely to boast or to measure his glory. Pride in appearance becomes a burden that others notice.
- The burden of being beautiful: Verse 25 says he was praised without peer. Constant admiration inflates the ego and blinds a person to real dangers.
- The downfall that follows: In 2 Samuel 18:9, Absalom's head is caught in an oak by his hair. The very thing he took pride in becomes the means of his destruction.
Five-point outline
- Physical beauty as a gift and a test.
- An annual ritual of self‑admiration.
- The staggering weight of two hundred shekels, truth or symbolism?
- The king's weight: even measurements were subject to royal standards, just as all of life is subject to God's standard.
- The seed of rebellion: pride in appearance correlates with a heart that refuses to submit to the king's authority.
Illustration hooks
- The person who spends an hour each day on grooming and posts countless selfies, seeking admiration rather than offering service.
- A celebrity known primarily for their looks, whose public image eventually collapses under the weight of scandal or addiction.
- The athlete who obsesses over their physique and personal brand, neglecting character and relationships until something breaks.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does the Bible condemn caring about our appearance? Where is the line between stewardship and vanity?
- Why does Scripture tell us the weight of Absalom's hair? What difference does that detail make to the story?
- How can I tell if I am secretly proud of something the text is trying to warn me about?
Leading a Discussion
This verse stops the action of a tense political story to record the weight of a man's haircut. It seems like a strange detail, until you remember that the same hair later kills him. As a group, take time to notice how the narrator slows down to fix your attention on Absalom's appearance, then watch how quickly the story moves to his scheming and eventual ruin.
Discussion questions
- What does this verse tell us about Absalom's physical appearance and grooming habits? How is that connected to verse 25?
- Why do you think the writer includes the exact weight and the king's standard? What effect does that have on the reader?
- Some commentators think two hundred shekels is a textual error; others take it literally. Does it matter for the meaning of the passage?
- In what ways does this detail prepare us for Absalom's later actions, his impatience with Joab (v.30), his rebellion, and his death (2 Samuel 18:9)?
- What does this account suggest about the relationship between outward beauty and inward character? Are they always opposed? Not always?
- Where do you see similar dynamics today, people praised for appearance while their character is hidden or ignored?
- The king's weight is a standard of measurement. What “standard” does God use to weigh a person's heart? (See 1 Samuel 16:7; Proverbs 16:2.)
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 23:16 | Abraham listened to Ephron. Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver which he had named in the hearing of the children of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the current merchants’ standard. |
| Leviticus 19:36 | You shall have just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin. I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. |
| II Samuel 18:9 | Absalom happened to meet David’s servants. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak; and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was hanging between the sky and earth; and the mule that was under him went on. |
| Isaiah 3:24 | It shall happen that instead of sweet spices, there shall be rottenness; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of well set hair, baldness; instead of a robe, a wearing of sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty. |
| Ezekiel 44:20 | “‘“They shall not shave their heads, or allow their locks to grow long. They shall only cut off the hair of their heads. |
| Ezekiel 45:9 | “‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Enough, you princes of Israel! Remove violence and plunder, and execute justice and righteousness! Stop dispossessing my people!” says the Lord Yahweh. |
| Ezekiel 45:14 | and the set portion of oil, of the bath of oil, one tenth of a bath out of the cor, which is ten baths, even a homer (for ten baths are a homer), |
| I Corinthians 11:14 | Doesn’t even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
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What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke highlights that Absalom cut his hair only when it became too heavy for him, not according to any fixed schedule. He points to the extraordinary weight of Absalom's hair and directs readers to further observations on this detail at the chapter's end.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that the exact weight of these shekels cannot be fixed. If they matched the sanctuary standard, the total would be about six pounds, which he finds implausible. He considers "twenty" shekels a far more likely reading.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentary explains that "polled" means to cut the hair, from the word for head. It notes that two hundred shekels is an extraordinary weight, though the royal shekel may have been smaller. It also clarifies that long hair on men was not considered effeminate, citing Nazarites and modern Arab customs.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note focuses on the practical reason Absalom cut his hair: it was simply too heavy for him to bear. The commentator observes that he shaved it once each year because of this weight, and records the specific amount as two hundred shekels using the king's standard.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill insists the two hundred shekels refer to the literal weight of Absalom's hair, not its sale price. He argues that a man of Absalom's rank would not sell his hair, and the phrase "after the king's weight" confirms a standard of measurement. He calculates the hair weighed over six pounds.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues that David’s heart was against Absalom, not toward him, which is why Joab’s elaborate scheme was needed. He sees David’s failure to require Absalom’s repentance before forgiveness as a weak, ungodly act that hardened Absalom’s heart and led to later disaster.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry sees David's order to restore Absalom only after intercession as an image of divine grace. God is already inclined to mercy toward sinners, but He reconciles them through a Mediator who pleads their cause and brings them back from their banishment to God.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that the word "weighed" in this passage may refer not to the physical heaviness of hair but to its monetary value. He reports that other interpreters take this as a reference to price rather than actual weight.