1 Samuel 24:13As the proverb of the ancients says, 'Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness;' but my hand shall not be on you.
The setting
Ein Gedi caves, Israel. ~1010 BC. David cuts Saul's robe but refuses to kill his sleeping pursuer...
The emotion here: wrestling with moral choice while holding ultimate power
The original word
rāšāʿ (רָשָׁע) — the habitually wicked, those who choose evil as their way of life
Why it matters
Ein Gedi's caves provided perfect hiding spots with multiple escape routes
Read with care
What most readers miss in 1 Samuel 24:13
David quotes an ancient proverb — even then, this wisdom was OLD
Common misconceptionPeople think David was just being nice. He was actually applying ancient moral law — he knew that becoming like Saul would destroy his own soul.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 1 Samuel 24:13
Bible Genome reading
1 Samuel 24:13 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
1 Samuel 24:13 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 deciding, with a comfort power of 30% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include moral principle, self restraint. Notable phrases: Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same deciding
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7
“"You shall not murder.”
— Exodus 20:13
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:12
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
“But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"”
— Acts 3:6
Your reflection
What does 1 Samuel 24:13 mean to you, today?
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