1 Samuel 20:10Then David said to Jonathan, "Who shall tell me if perchance your father answers you roughly?"
The setting
Gibeah, Israel, ~1020 BC. David realizes the plan has a flaw—if Saul reacts violently to Jonathan's test, how will Jonathan safely get word to David? Modern-day Ramallah area, West Bank.
The emotion here: anxious and thinking through worst-case scenarios
The original word
qasheh (קָשֶׁה) — harsh, severe, violent—not just 'rough' but potentially deadly anger
Why it matters
Saul had already thrown spears at David and Jonathan on separate occasions when angry
Read with care
What most readers miss in 1 Samuel 20:10
David is thinking tactically—if Saul explodes in rage, Jonathan himself might be in danger and unable to warn David
Common misconceptionPeople think David is just being paranoid, but he's being strategic—he knows Saul's explosive temper could endanger Jonathan too.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 1 Samuel 20:10
Bible Genome reading
1 Samuel 20:10 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
1 Samuel 20:10 comes from the book of 1 Samuel, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to David. The dominant emotion in this verse is anxious, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is urgent. It belongs to the dialogue genre of biblical literature. Key themes include communication, fear, planning. Notable phrases: Who shall tell me; answers you roughly.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same anxious
“And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.”
— 2 Corinthians 11:14
“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
— 2 Timothy 3:12
“The evil spirit answered, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?"”
— Acts 19:15
“I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'”
— Acts 22:7
“When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is har…”
— Acts 26:14
Your reflection
What does 1 Samuel 20:10 mean to you, today?
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