2 Samuel 18:25The watchman cried, and told the king. The king said, "If he is alone, there is news in his mouth." He came closer and closer.
The setting
Jerusalem, ~1000 BC. King David waits at the city gate, straining to see messengers from the battlefield where his son Absalom rebelled against him. Modern Israel.
The emotion here: heart pounding with paternal dread
The original word
bāśār (בָּשַׂר) — to bring news, often of victory or defeat in battle
Why it matters
Ancient kings positioned watchmen on towers because messenger speed determined if armies lived or died
Read with care
What most readers miss in 2 Samuel 18:25
David hopes for news of victory but dreads news about his son's fate
Common misconceptionPeople think this is about patience, but David isn't waiting calmly - he's terrified. Sometimes waiting is agony, not virtue.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 2 Samuel 18:25
Bible Genome reading
2 Samuel 18:25 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
2 Samuel 18:25 comes from the book of 2 Samuel, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to David. The dominant emotion in this verse is anxious, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is urgent. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include anticipation, royal concern. Notable phrases: if he is alone, there is news.
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 2 Samuel 18:25 mean to you, today?
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