· Translation: KJV

1 Chronicles 15:13For because you didn't carry it at first, Yahweh our God made broke out against us, because we didn't seek him according to the ordinance."

The setting

Jerusalem, ~1000 BC. David admits his devastating mistake — using a cart instead of Levites to carry the ark resulted in Uzzah's death when he touched it to steady it.

The emotion here: haunted by guilt over Uzzah's preventable death

The original word

perets (פֶּרֶץ) — violent outbreak, breach, devastating break-through

Why it matters

David had copied the Philistines' method of transporting the ark instead of following Moses' instructions

Read with care

What most readers miss in 1 Chronicles 15:13

David isn't just admitting failure — he's confessing that his shortcuts killed an innocent man

Common misconceptionPeople focus on God's anger, but David's real confession is 'we didn't seek him according to the ordinance' — they had the instructions but ignored them for convenience.

Bible Genome reading

1 Chronicles 15:13 — Bible Genome reading

SpeakerDavid
EraUnited Kingdom
Primary emotiongrieving
Literary typenarrative

Emotional genome

Comfort power30%
Quotability40%
Memorability60%
Crisis relevance60%
Standalone40%
Themes:consequencesproper worshipseeking God

In context

No verse stands alone.

Read the conversation around it.

Open 1 Chronicles 15

1 Chronicles 15:13 comes from the book of 1 Chronicles, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to David. The dominant emotion in this verse is grieving, with a comfort power of 30% and a tone that is lamenting. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include consequences, proper worship, seeking God. Notable phrases: God broke out against us; didn't seek him according to ordinance.

Your reflection

What does 1 Chronicles 15:13 mean to you, today?

A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.

Speak your heart →

Get 3 verses for "grieving"

Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.