2 Chronicles 10:14and spoke to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions."
The setting
Shechem, Israel, ~930 BC. Rehoboam's voice echoes across the assembly as he speaks the words that will divide a nation. The crowd grows silent, then angry. Within hours, ten tribes will rebel...
The emotion here: young arrogance trying to prove strength through cruelty
The original word
ʿaqrāb (עַקְרָב) — scorpion, referring to whips with metal barbs that tear flesh
Why it matters
Scorpion whips had metal or bone spikes woven into leather — they were instruments of torture, not discipline
Read with care
What most readers miss in 2 Chronicles 10:14
This wasn't just harsh language — he's promising torture devices that would literally tear flesh from bone
Common misconceptionPeople think this shows strong leadership. It actually shows weakness — secure leaders don't need to threaten torture to maintain authority.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 2 Chronicles 10:14
Bible Genome reading
2 Chronicles 10:14 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
2 Chronicles 10:14 comes from the book of 2 Chronicles, written during the Divided Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Rehoboam. 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 harsh leadership, oppression, kingdom division. Notable phrases: my father made your yoke heavy; I will add to it; whips; scorpions. This verse contains a promise of God. This verse contains a command.
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 2 Chronicles 10:14 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 "angry"
Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.