Bible Strands
Proverbs 29:10
Men of bloodshed hate a blameless man, but the upright care for his life.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The passage delivers a wisdom instruction to Israel concerning social and judicial conduct, situated between observations on futile courtroom disputes and the proper handling of anger.
The words — דָּמִים (damim) translates literally as “bloods,” identifying violent actors, while תָּם (tam) means “blameless,” marking the innocent person they target.
The thread — The pattern of violent hostility toward the innocent surfaces in Genesis 4:5, where God’s rejection of Cain’s offering provokes Cain’s rage, and recurs in John 15:18 and 1 John 3:12, which describe the world’s initial hatred of Christ and Cain’s murder of his brother.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that righteous conduct inevitably draws violent opposition, while simultaneously requiring the community to actively protect the innocent rather than join the persecutors.
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
The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.
Cross-references
- John 15:18 If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first.
- 1 John 3:12 Do 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.
- Genesis 4:5 but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.
- 1 Samuel 20:31 For as long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Now send for him and bring him to me, for he must surely die!”
- 1 Samuel 22:11 Then 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.
- 1 Samuel 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.
- 1 Kings 21:20 When 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.
- 1 Kings 22:8 The king of Israel answered, “There is still one man through whom we can inquire of 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.
- 2 Chronicles 18:7 The king of Israel answered, “There is still one man through whom we can inquire of 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.
- Jeremiah 13:15 Listen and give heed. Do not be arrogant, for the LORD has spoken.