· Translation: KJV

1 Samuel 14:22Likewise all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle.

The setting

Hill country of Ephraim, central Israel, ~1020 BC. Israelite men emerge from caves and hiding places as news spreads of Philistine retreat...

The emotion here: witnessing cowards become heroes through divine momentum

The original word

dābaq (דָּבַק) — to cling to or pursue closely, same word used for marriage covenant

Why it matters

The hill country of Ephraim contained hundreds of natural caves perfect for hiding

Read with care

What most readers miss in 1 Samuel 14:22

These men had been hiding for months, not just during this battle

Common misconceptionWe judge these men for hiding, but they were protecting their families from a technologically superior enemy. Sometimes strategic retreat becomes courageous advance.

Bible Genome reading

1 Samuel 14:22 — Bible Genome reading

SpeakerNarrator
Erajudges
Primary emotiongrowing
Literary typenarrative

Emotional genome

Comfort power60%
Quotability50%
Memorability60%
Crisis relevance70%
Standalone40%
Themes:courage from victoryjoining the battle

In context

No verse stands alone.

Read the conversation around it.

Open 1 Samuel 14

1 Samuel 14:22 comes from the book of 1 Samuel, written during the judges period. The setting is the battlefield. These words are attributed to Narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is growing, with a comfort power of 60% and a tone that is celebratory. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include courage from victory, joining the battle. Notable phrases: men of Israel who had hidden themselves.

Your reflection

What does 1 Samuel 14:22 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 "growing"

Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.