2 Samuel 19:4

4 The king covered his face and cried aloud, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”

2 Samuel 19:4 in Other Translations

4 But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!

4 The king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, "O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!"

4 The king covered his face with his hands and kept on crying, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”

4 And the king held his face in his hands and lamented loudly, O my son Absalom, Absalom my dear, dear son!

4 But the king hid his face and cried out at the top of his voice, "My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!"

2 Samuel 19:4 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 19:4

But the king covered his face
And would not see his generals, and thank them for their services: but wrapped himself in his mantle, after the manner of mourners:

and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my
son, my son!
and this was some time, perhaps some days after he had received the news of his death, since Joab and the army were returned from the battle; had it been a sudden start of passion, upon first hearing thee news, and had continued a few hours, it would have been more excusable; but to continue some days, as it is very probable it did, was very unbecoming.

2 Samuel 19:4 In-Context

2 And for the whole army the victory that day was turned into mourning, because on that day the troops heard it said, “The king is grieving for his son.”

3 The men stole into the city that day as men steal in who are ashamed when they flee from battle.

4 The king covered his face and cried aloud, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”

5 Then Joab went into the house to the king and said, “Today you have humiliated all your men, who have just saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters and the lives of your wives and concubines.

6 You love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that the commanders and their men mean nothing to you. I see that you would be pleased if Absalom were alive today and all of us were dead.