2 Samuel 13:31Then the king arose, and tore his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.
The setting
Jerusalem palace, ~1000 BC. King David collapses to the ground, ripping his royal robes. His court follows suit in ancient mourning ritual. Modern-day Jerusalem, Israel.
The emotion here: witnessing a king's complete breakdown with solemn reverence
The original word
qara (קָרַע) — to tear, rend apart with violence
Why it matters
Tearing clothes was the immediate response to death news; it couldn't be undone once torn
Read with care
What most readers miss in 2 Samuel 13:31
David is mourning children who are actually still alive — except one
Common misconceptionPeople think this shows weakness in leadership, but ancient kings were expected to display grief publicly to show they valued family.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 2 Samuel 13:31
Bible Genome reading
2 Samuel 13:31 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
2 Samuel 13:31 comes from the book of 2 Samuel, written during the United Kingdom period. The setting is a royal palace. These words are attributed to Narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is grieving, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is lamenting. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include parental grief, mourning. Notable phrases: tore his garments; lay on the earth.
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 Samuel 13:31 mean to you, today?
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