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The bloodthirsty hate a man of integrity; and they seek the life of the upright.
Proverbs 29:10 · World English Bible
Parallel translations
  • KJV The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.
  • BSB Men of bloodshed hate a blameless man, but the upright care for his life.
  • ESV Bloodthirsty men hate one who is blameless and seek the life of the upright.
  • 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 quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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 3:12–13unlike Cain, who was of the evil one, and killed his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
  • John 15:18–19If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you.
  • Gen 4:5–8but he didn’t respect Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry, and the expression on his face fell.
  • 1 Sam 20:31–33For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, you will not be established, nor will your kingdom. Therefore now send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die!”
  • 1 Sam 22:11–23Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests who were in Nob; and they all came to the king.
  • Jer 40:14–16and said to him, “Do you know that Baalis the king of the children of Ammon has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam didn’t believe them.
  • 1 Kgs 21:20Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, my enemy?” He answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do that which is evil in Yahweh’s sight.
  • Acts 7:60He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
  • John 5:34But the testimony which I receive is not from man. However, I say these things that you may be saved.
  • Rom 10:1Brothers, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God is for Israel, that they may be saved.
  • Mark 6:24–27She went out, and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” She said, “The head of John the Baptizer.”
  • Mark 6:18–19For John said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
  • Luke 23:34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots.
  • Jer 13:15–17Hear, and give ear. Don’t be proud; for Yahweh has spoken.
  • 1 Kgs 22:8The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of Yahweh, Micaiah the son of Imlah; but I hate him, for he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.” Jehoshaphat said, “Don’t let the king say so.”
  • 1 Sam 15:11“It grieves me that I have set up Saul to be king; for he has turned back from following me, and has not performed my commandments.” Samuel was angry; and he cried to Yahweh all night.
  • 2 Chr 18:7The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of Yahweh; but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil. He is Micaiah the son of Imla.” Jehoshaphat said, “Don’t let the king say so.”
  • Jer 18:20Shall evil be recompensed for good? For they have dug a pit for my soul. Remember how I stood before you to speak good for them, to turn away your wrath from them.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (1)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Proverbs videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Proverbs 29:10YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on ProverbsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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.