Bible Strands
Proverbs 17:11
An evil man seeks only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The wisdom writer addresses the community of Israel, placing this proverb between instructions on the efficacy of verbal correction and the danger of foolishness.
The words — מְרִי (meri) translates literally as “rebellion” or “strife,” while אַכְזָרִי (akhzari) means “cruel” or “bitter,” describing the agent of judgment.
The thread — The pattern of rebellion provoking a harsh judgment appears in 2 Samuel 16:5 where Shimei curses David, 2 Samuel 18:15 where Joab’s men execute Absalom, and 1 Kings 2:46 where Benaiah carries out Shimei’s death sentence.
Why it lands — The text asserts that those who pursue division will inevitably face a severe countermeasure, demanding that readers recognize rebellion as a self-destructive path rather than a viable strategy.
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
An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 2:46 Then the king commanded Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck Shimei down, and he died. Thus the kingdom was firmly established in the hand of Solomon.
- 2 Samuel 16:5 As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the family of the house of Saul was just coming out. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and as he approached, he kept yelling out curses.
- 2 Samuel 18:15 And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed him.
- 2 Samuel 20:22 Then the woman went to all the people with her wise counsel, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the ram’s horn and his men dispersed from the city, each to his own home. And Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem.
- 1 Kings 2:24 And now, as surely as the LORD lives—the One who established me, who set me on the throne of my father David, and who founded for me a dynasty as He promised—surely Adonijah shall be put to death today!”
- 1 Kings 2:31 And the king replied, “Do just as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so remove from me and from the house of my father the innocent blood that Joab shed.
- Matthew 21:41 “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and will rent out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his share of the fruit at harvest time.”
- Matthew 22:7 The king was enraged, and he sent his troops to destroy those murderers and burn their city.
- Luke 19:27 And these enemies of mine who were unwilling for me to rule over them, bring them here and slay them in front of me.’”
- 2 Samuel 15:12 While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come from his hometown of Giloh. So the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept increasing.