Judges 10:16They put away the foreign gods from among them, and served Yahweh; and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.
The setting
Central Israel, ~1100 BC. The Israelites destroy their foreign idols and return to serving Yahweh. God sees their genuine repentance and His heart breaks...
The emotion here: amazed at witnessing God's heart break with compassion despite repeated betrayal
The original word
qatsar (קָצַר) — His soul was shortened/grieved, like breath being cut short from emotional pain
Why it matters
This Hebrew word for God's grief is the same used for a mother's anguish over a sick child
Read with care
What most readers miss in Judges 10:16
God doesn't just forgive — He actually feels pain watching Israel suffer
Common misconceptionPeople think God forgives grudgingly, but His soul is actually grieved by our suffering — even when it's our own fault.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Judges 10:16
Bible Genome reading
Judges 10:16 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Judges 10:16 comes from the book of Judges, written during the judges period. These words are attributed to Narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is resting, with a comfort power of 70% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include repentance, divine compassion. Notable phrases: put away the foreign gods; his soul was grieved.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same resting
“Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud,”
— 1 Corinthians 13:4
“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, "It is finished." He bowed his head, and gave up his spirit.”
— John 19:30
“Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing.”
— Psalms 23:1
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfor…”
— Psalms 23:4
“"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth."”
— Psalms 46:10
Your reflection
What does Judges 10:16 mean to you, today?
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