Proverbs 29:10

10 Men of blood hate [the] blameless, and they seek the life of the upright.

Proverbs 29:10 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 29:10

The bloodthirsty hate the upright
Cain did Abel; and as the wicked world hate all good men, and persecute them, even unto death; but the just must seek his soul;
either the soul of the bloodthirsty, and that either the good of their souls; seek their spiritual welfare, and pray for it, even though they are so cruel and inhuman: or just magistrates will seek after such persons, to punish them for shedding the blood of the upright. Or else the meaning is, that just persons seek the soul of the upright, and make inquisition for the blood of such, to punish for it; which comes to the same sense, as Aben Ezra observes: or rather, such seek to defend and preserve the soul or life of upright men from those that hate and persecute them. Jarchi illustrates it by ( 1 Samuel 22:23 ) ; the Targum is,

``men that shed blood hate integrity; but the upright seek it.''

Proverbs 29:10 In-Context

8 Men of scoffing set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath.

9 [If] a wise man goes to court with a foolish man, then there is rankling and ridicule, but there is no relief.

10 Men of blood hate [the] blameless, and they seek the life of the upright.

11 A fool gives all his breath, but [the] wise holds back in quiet.

12 A ruler listening to a word of falsehood, all his officials are wicked.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "soul," or "inner self"