Men of bloodshed hate a blameless man, but the upright care for his life.
Parallel translations
- WEB The bloodthirsty hate a man of integrity; and they seek the life of the upright.
- KJV The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.
- NKJV The bloodthirsty hate the blameless, But the upright seek his well-being.
- NASB People of bloodshed hate the blameless person, But the upright are concerned for his life.
- NLT The bloodthirsty hate blameless people, but the upright seek to help them.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Violent people hate the person of integrity and seek to harm the upright. It exposes the hostility of the wicked toward the righteous.
Overview
The proverb reveals that the bloodthirsty despise those of integrity and even seek the life of the upright. Wickedness is naturally antagonistic to godliness. This enmity culminated in the world's hatred of the perfectly righteous One, Jesus, and He warned His followers to expect similar opposition (John 15:18-19).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- 1 Jn 3:12–13Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous.
- John 15:18–19If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first.
- Gen 4:5–8but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.
- 1 Sam 20:31–33For as long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingship shall be established. Now send for him and bring him to me, for he must surely die!”
- 1 Sam 22:11–23Then the king sent messengers to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and his father’s whole family, who were priests at Nob. And all of them came to the king.
- Jer 40:14–16and said to him, “Are you aware that Baalis king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them.
- 1 Kgs 21:20When Elijah arrived, Ahab said to him, “So you have found me out, my enemy.” He replied, “I have found you out because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD.
- Acts 7:60Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
- John 5:34Even though I do not accept human testimony, I say these things so that you may be saved.
- Rom 10:1Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is for their salvation.
- Mark 6:24–27Then she went out and asked her mother, “What should I request?” And her mother answered, “The head of John the Baptist.”
- Mark 6:18–19For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife!”
- Luke 23:34Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.
- Jer 13:15–17Listen and give heed. Do not be arrogant, for the LORD has spoken.
- 1 Kgs 22:8The king of Israel answered, “There is still one man who can ask the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me, but only bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” “The king should not say that!” Jehoshaphat replied.
- 1 Sam 15:11“I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions.” And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the LORD all that night.
- 2 Chr 18:7The king of Israel answered, “There is still one man who can ask the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me, but only bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” “The king should not say that!” Jehoshaphat replied.
- Jer 18:20Should good be repaid with evil? Yet they have dug a pit for me. Remember how I stood before You to speak good on their behalf, to turn Your wrath from them.
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 29:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.