2 Samuel 14:26
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New International Version (©1984)
Whenever he cut the hair of his head--he used to cut his hair from time to time when it became too heavy for him--he would weigh it, and its weight was two hundred shekels by the royal standard.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
When he cut the hair of his head (and it was at the end of every year that he cut it, for it was heavy on him so he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head at 200 shekels by the king's weight.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
At the end of every year, he used to cut his hair because it became heavy for him. When he cut the hair on his head and weighed it, it weighed five pounds according to the royal standard.

King James Bible
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.

American King James Version
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.

American Standard Version
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.

Bible in Basic English
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.

Douay-Rheims Bible
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.

Darby Bible Translation
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.

English Revised Version
And when he polled his head, (now 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.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
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.

Young's Literal Translation
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.

Geneva Study Bible

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 {p} shekels after the king's weight.

(p) Which weighed 6 pounds 4 ounces after half an ounce the shekel.

Wesley's Notes

14:26 Weighed - Others understand this not of the weight, but of the price of his hair.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

14:25-27 Nothing is said of Absalom's wisdom and piety. All here said of him is, that he was very handsome. A poor commendation for a man that had nothing else in him valuable. Many a polluted, deformed soul dwells in a fair and comely body. And we read that he had a very fine head of hair. It was a burden to him, but he would not cut it as long as he could bear the weight. That which feeds and gratifies pride, is not complained of, though uneasy. May the Lord grant us the beauty of holiness, and the adorning of a meek and quiet spirit! Only those who fear God are truly happy.


Ezekiel 44:20 "Also they shall not shave their heads, yet they shall not let their locks grow long; they shall only trim the hair of their heads. (NASB ©1995)

Cut End Hair Head Heavy Hundred King's Polled Royal Shekels Time Used Weigh Weighed Weight Whenever Year's


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.

when he polled 18:9 Isa 3:24 1Co 11:14

two hundred shekels. If the shekel be allowed to mean the common shekel, the amount will be utterly incredible; for Josephus says that 'two hundred shekels make five mina, he says, 'weighs two pounds and a half; which calculation makes Absalom's hair weigh twelve pounds and a half! But it is probable that the king's shekel was that which Epiphanius and Hesychius say was the Fourth part of an ounce, half a stater, or two drachms; the whole amount, therefore, of the 200 shekels is about 50 ounces, which make 4 lb. 2 oz.troy weight, or 3 lb.2 oz.avoirdupois. This need not be accounted incredible, especially as abundance of oil and ointment was used by the ancients in dressing their heads. Josephus informs us, that the Jews also put gold dust in their hair. Ge 23:16 Le 19:36 Eze 45:9-14

Bible Gateway: 2 Samuel Chapter 14 Verse 26 NIV ESV NKJV NLT KJV Message Amplified

Alphabetical: and and at became by cut end every for from hair he head heavy him his hundred it it its king's of on royal shekels so standard that the time to too two used was weigh weighed weight when Whenever would year

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OT History: 2 Samuel 14:26 When he cut the hair of his (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam) Christian Bible Study Resources, Dictionary, Concordance and Search Tools

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