Translations
Modern
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.
Traditional
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.
Literal
And he cut the hair of his head, and it was at the end of every year that he cut it, because it was heavy on him; and he cut it, and he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels, according to the standard of the king.
Latin
Et quando tondebat capillum (semel autem in anno tondebatur, quia gravabat eum cæsaries), ponderabat capillos capitis sui ducentis siclis, pondere publico.
Original
Hebrew
English
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.
Notes
he shaved it every year: Absalom's hair, which made him attractive, became a deadly trap for him (see 2 Samuel 18:9–15).
Events
Measurements
- two hundred shekels: About 5 lb (2.3 kg)
Glossary
Absalom David Kings, Books of First and Second Nathan Palace Samuel, Books of First and Second Weights and Measures
Topics
Hair: Worn Long by Absalom Long Hair Shekel of Different Standards of the King's Weight Shekel used to Weigh: Hair The Hair: Sometimes Worn Long by Men Weights: Sometimes Regulated by the King's Standard