1 Samuel 25:11Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men who I don't know where they come from?"
The setting
Carmel, Israel (~1020 BC). Nabal lists his abundant resources while refusing to share even crumbs with men who protected his flocks in the wilderness.
The emotion here: fearful greed disguised as practical concern
The original word
lacham (לֶחֶם) — bread, but represents all food and sustenance
Why it matters
Ancient hospitality laws made refusing food to travelers a serious social violation
Read with care
What most readers miss in 1 Samuel 25:11
Nabal emphasizes 'MY bread, MY water, MY meat' — complete selfishness during abundance
Common misconceptionMany people think Nabal was being financially responsible, but he was actually wealthy and this was shearing season when generosity was culturally expected.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 1 Samuel 25:11
Bible Genome reading
1 Samuel 25:11 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
1 Samuel 25:11 comes from the book of 1 Samuel, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Nabal. The dominant emotion in this verse is angry, with a comfort power of 10% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the dialogue genre of biblical literature. Key themes include selfishness, greed. Notable phrases: my bread; my water; my meat.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same angry
“Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'”
— Joel 3:10
“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!”
— Matthew 23:24
“Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who tell their husba…”
— Amos 4:1
“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can't stand your solemn assemblies.”
— Amos 5:21
“Your eyes shall not pity; life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
— Deuteronomy 19:21
Your reflection
What does 1 Samuel 25:11 mean to you, today?
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