2 Kings 15:16Then Menahem struck Tiphsah, and all who were therein, and its borders, from Tirzah: because they didn't open to him, therefore he struck it; and all the women therein who were with child he ripped up.
The setting
Tiphsah, Israel (location disputed), ~738 BC. Menahem's army commits unspeakable atrocities against a city that refused to surrender...
The emotion here: horror and revulsion at having to record such brutality
The original word
bāqa' (בָּקַע) — to rip open, tear apart violently
Why it matters
Ripping open pregnant women was a common Ancient Near Eastern war atrocity to prevent future generations
Read with care
What most readers miss in 2 Kings 15:16
This wasn't random violence - it was calculated genocide to eliminate future resistance
Common misconceptionPeople think God approved this violence, but Scripture records evil to show how far humans fall without God - this is descriptive, not prescriptive.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 2 Kings 15:16
Bible Genome reading
2 Kings 15:16 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
2 Kings 15:16 comes from the book of 2 Kings, written during the Divided Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is angry, with a comfort power of 10% and a tone that is urgent. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include brutal conquest, resistance. Notable phrases: didn't open to him; struck it.
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 Kings 15:16 mean to you, today?
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