Person in the Old Testament
Tamar (David's daughter)
Tamar: David's daughter and Absalom's sister
Portrait: an AI-generated artistic interpretation, not evidence of how Tamar looked.
Who Tamar is
Tamar is David's daughter and the sister of Absalom and Amnon. Amnon follows Jonadab's plan to feign illness, and David sends Tamar to prepare food for him. Once alone with her, Amnon ignores her explicit refusal, overpowers her and rapes her. He then rejects her and has her expelled despite her further protest. Tamar tears her garment, puts ashes on her head and cries aloud. She remains desolate in Absalom's house. Absalom later orders Amnon killed, but the narrative does not describe Tamar's response to that killing or a recovery afterward.
Cited passages: 2 Samuel 13:1, 2 Samuel 13:2, 2 Samuel 13:3, 2 Samuel 13:4, 2 Samuel 13:5, 2 Samuel 13:6, 2 Samuel 13:7, 2 Samuel 13:8, 2 Samuel 13:9, 2 Samuel 13:10, 2 Samuel 13:11, 2 Samuel 13:12, 2 Samuel 13:13, 2 Samuel 13:14, 2 Samuel 13:15, 2 Samuel 13:16, 2 Samuel 13:17, 2 Samuel 13:18, 2 Samuel 13:19, 2 Samuel 13:20, 2 Samuel 13:28, 2 Samuel 13:29
Historical setting
The chapter identifies Tamar's distinctive garment as clothing worn by the king's virgin daughters; her torn garment belongs to the account of her grief. Her plea that Amnon speak to the king is recorded in the desperate appeal before the assault, not as a legal ruling about marriage. Chronicles names Tamar as the sister of David's sons. She is distinct from the Tamar in Judah's family and from Absalom's daughter of the same name. No husband, children or later biography is supplied for her here.
Cited passages: 2 Samuel 13:12, 2 Samuel 13:13, 2 Samuel 13:18, 2 Samuel 13:19, 2 Samuel 13:20, 1 Chronicles 3:9, Genesis 38:6, 2 Samuel 14:27
How the story is told
Tamar speaks clearly against both the assault and her expulsion. The account says Amnon will not listen to her, then gives space to her visible and audible grief. Absalom tells her to keep quiet, and David is angry, but the chapter does not give her a scene in which justice or restoration is declared. Reading her words in their own right keeps her suffering from becoming only the explanation for the later conflict between the men.
Cited passages: 2 Samuel 13:12, 2 Samuel 13:13, 2 Samuel 13:14, 2 Samuel 13:15, 2 Samuel 13:16, 2 Samuel 13:17, 2 Samuel 13:18, 2 Samuel 13:19, 2 Samuel 13:20, 2 Samuel 13:21, 2 Samuel 13:22, 2 Samuel 13:28, 2 Samuel 13:29, 2 Samuel 13:30, 2 Samuel 13:31, 2 Samuel 13:32
Story moments
- Sent to prepare food (2 Samuel 13:7). David directs Tamar to go to Amnon's house and prepare food.
- An explicit refusal (2 Samuel 13:12). Tamar tells Amnon not to force her and calls the proposed act wrong.
- Her refusal ignored (2 Samuel 13:14). Amnon refuses to listen, overpowers her and rapes her.
- Expulsion protested (2 Samuel 13:16). Tamar protests being sent away, and Amnon again will not listen.
- Grief made visible (2 Samuel 13:19). Tamar tears her garment, places ashes on her head and goes away crying.
- Desolate in Absalom's house (2 Samuel 13:20). The narrative records her remaining in her brother's household without describing recovery.
Key passages
2 Samuel 13:1
And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.
2 Samuel 13:2
And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.
2 Samuel 13:4
And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king’s son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.
2 Samuel 13:5
And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.
2 Samuel 13:6
So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.
2 Samuel 13:7
Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon’s house, and dress him meat.
King James Version. 13 indexed passages in total.
For reflection
What becomes clearer when Tamar's refusals, protests and grief receive as much attention as the actions of Amnon, Absalom and David?
Books Tamar appears in
Related people
Names and references are adapted from STEPBible TIPNR. A person listed with a verse is named or indexed there; it does not mean they wrote or spoke it.