Bible Strands
Proverbs 12:10
A righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are only cruelty.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The wisdom teacher addresses a student on practical conduct, placing this saying between a warning against self-importance and an instruction about diligent labor.
The words — צַ֭דִּיק (Tza.dik) denotes a righteous [person], while אַכְזָרִֽי ('akh.za.Ri) literally means [is] cruel.
The thread — The text contrasts the righteous regard for animal life with the wicked’s harmful compassion, echoing Deuteronomy 25:4.
Why it lands — The verse demands a reader to recognize that genuine righteousness governs behavior toward vulnerable creatures, while wickedness disguises itself in merciful language that ultimately produces harm.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 25:4 Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.
- Genesis 33:13 But Jacob replied, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and I must care for sheep and cattle that are nursing their young. If they are driven hard for even a day, all the animals will die.
- Numbers 22:28 Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?”
- James 2:13 For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
- 1 John 3:17 If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?
- Genesis 37:26 Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?
- Judges 1:7 Then Adoni-bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off have gathered the scraps under my table. As I have done to them, so God has repaid me.” And they brought him to Jerusalem, where he died.
- 1 Samuel 11:2 But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you on one condition, that I may put out everyone’s right eye and bring reproach upon all Israel.”
- John 4:11 “Sir,” the woman replied, “You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where then will You get this living water?
- John 19:31 It was the day of Preparation, and the next day was a High Sabbath. In order that the bodies would not remain on the cross during the Sabbath, the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies removed.