2 Samuel 13:17Then he called his servant who ministered to him, and said, "Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her."
The setting
Jerusalem palace, ~1000 BC. Prince Amnon calls for his servant, refusing to even speak Tamar's name - calling her 'this woman.' The bolted door symbolizes permanent rejection and shame.
The emotion here: sick at having to record such calculated cruelty within David's own household
The original word
na'al (נָעַל) — to bolt, lock, bar shut - creating permanent separation and security against her return
Why it matters
Royal servants were bound by oath to obey without question, making the servant complicit in this evil act
Read with care
What most readers miss in 2 Samuel 13:17
Amnon won't even say her name anymore - she's become 'this woman,' completely dehumanized
Common misconceptionPeople think this is just about getting rid of Tamar, but the refusal to name her and the permanent bolting shows deliberate dehumanization - she's no longer a person to him.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 2 Samuel 13:17
Bible Genome reading
2 Samuel 13:17 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
2 Samuel 13:17 comes from the book of 2 Samuel, written during the United Kingdom period. The setting is a royal palace. These words are attributed to Amnon. The dominant emotion in this verse is angry, with a comfort power of 0% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the dialogue genre of biblical literature. Key themes include rejection, cruelty, objectification. Notable phrases: Put now this woman out. This verse contains a command.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same angry
“Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'”
— Joel 3:10
“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!”
— Matthew 23:24
“Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who tell their husba…”
— Amos 4:1
“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can't stand your solemn assemblies.”
— Amos 5:21
“Your eyes shall not pity; life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
— Deuteronomy 19:21
Your reflection
What does 2 Samuel 13:17 mean to you, today?
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