2 Kings 19:1It happened, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of Yahweh.
The setting
Jerusalem, 701 BC. King Hezekiah receives word that the Assyrian army has destroyed 46 fortified cities and is now surrounding Jerusalem with 185,000 soldiers. Modern-day Jerusalem, Israel.
The emotion here: recording a king's desperate moment with solemn respect
The original word
qara (קרע) — to tear violently, rip apart with force, expressing deepest grief
Why it matters
Sackcloth was made from goat hair and was so rough it caused physical discomfort
Read with care
What most readers miss in 2 Kings 19:1
This wasn't just grief — tearing clothes was legally required for kings receiving news of national disaster
Common misconceptionPeople think this shows weakness in a king, but ancient Near Eastern protocol required these grief rituals for rulers facing national catastrophe
The thread continues
Verses that echo 2 Kings 19:1
Bible Genome reading
2 Kings 19:1 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
2 Kings 19:1 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 grieving, with a comfort power of 40% and a tone that is lamenting. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include repentance, seeking God. Notable phrases: tore his clothes; covered himself with sackcloth; house of Yahweh.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same grieving
“By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you…”
— Genesis 3:19
“Jesus wept.”
— John 11:35
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?”
— Psalms 22:1
“They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.”
— Psalms 22:18
“for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;”
— Romans 3:23
Your reflection
What does 2 Kings 19:1 mean to you, today?
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