1 Samuel 8:15He will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.
The setting
Ramah, Israel ~1050 BC. Samuel stands before tribal elders who demand a king like other nations. He's warning them what monarchy will cost...
The emotion here: heartbroken but dutifully warning
The original word
ma'aser (מַעֲשֵׂר) — the tenth part, tithe that was meant for God now goes to king
Why it matters
A 10% tax was considered oppressive in ancient times - most kingdoms took 5-8%
Read with care
What most readers miss in 1 Samuel 8:15
The irony: they'll pay MORE to a human king than they ever gave to God
Common misconceptionPeople think this is about tithing to churches. It's actually Samuel warning that human kings will take what belongs to God - your firstfruits, your best, your worship.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 1 Samuel 8:15
Bible Genome reading
1 Samuel 8:15 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
1 Samuel 8:15 comes from the book of 1 Samuel, written during the judges period. These words are attributed to Samuel. The dominant emotion in this verse is anxious, with a comfort power of 10% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the prophecy genre of biblical literature. Key themes include taxation, royal bureaucracy. Notable phrases: take the tenth; officers; servants. This verse contains prophecy.
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 8:15 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 "anxious"
Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.