· Translation: KJV

1 Samuel 19:22Then went he also to Ramah, and came to the great well that is in Secu: and he asked, "Where are Samuel and David?" One said, "Behold, they are at Naioth in Ramah."

The setting

Secu, Israel, ~1020 BC. King Saul personally travels to find David, asking locals for directions. Modern location: ruins near modern Ramallah, West Bank, Palestine.

The emotion here: chronicling a king's descent into dangerous obsession

The original word

sha'al (שאל) — to ask, inquire, or demand information with intensity

Why it matters

Secu was known for its great well, a landmark where travelers gathered for water and news

Read with care

What most readers miss in 1 Samuel 19:22

A KING is asking random villagers for directions — showing how obsessed he's become

Common misconceptionPeople think Saul was just doing his kingly duty, but asking villagers for directions shows this had become a personal vendetta beyond royal responsibility.

Bible Genome reading

1 Samuel 19:22 — Bible Genome reading

SpeakerNarrator
EraUnited Kingdom
Primary emotionseeking
Literary typenarrative

Emotional genome

Comfort power20%
Quotability20%
Memorability40%
Crisis relevance70%
Standalone30%
Themes:pursuitdetermination

In context

No verse stands alone.

Read the conversation around it.

Open 1 Samuel 19

1 Samuel 19:22 comes from the book of 1 Samuel, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is seeking, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is urgent. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include pursuit, determination. Notable phrases: Where are Samuel and David.

Your reflection

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