He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.

PROVERBS 17:15KJV
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Proverbs 17:15 (KJV)

What does Proverbs 17:15 mean?

Proverbs 17:15 says that both people who declare guilty people to be innocent and people who declare innocent people to be guilty are deeply offensive to the LORD. The verse stresses that twisting justice in either direction is something God finds detestable.

This proverb comes from a collection of wise sayings, likely written by Solomon, directed to anyone seeking to live wisely and justly. The verse highlights the seriousness of corrupting justice, whether by defending wrongdoers or by punishing those who have done nothing wrong. It shows that God cares deeply about fairness and integrity in how people are treated.

The Hebrew behind Proverbs 17:15

  • "justifieth" (צָדַק, tsadaq): This word means to declare someone righteous or in the right. In this verse, it refers to wrongly declaring a wicked person as innocent, which is a perversion of justice.
  • "wicked" (רָשָׁע, rasha‘): This word means someone who is guilty or morally wrong. The verse warns against calling such a person righteous.
  • "condemneth" (רָשַׁע, rasha‘): Here, the same root as "wicked" is used as a verb, meaning to declare someone guilty. The verse warns against condemning someone who is actually just.
  • "just" (צַדִּיק, tsaddiq): This word means someone who is righteous or innocent. The verse condemns the act of declaring such a person guilty.
  • "abomination" (תּוֹעֵבָה, to‘evah): This strong word means something detestable or utterly repulsive, especially in a moral or religious sense. The verse uses it to show how seriously God views injustice.
  • "LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, highlighting that this standard of justice comes from God Himself.

Why Proverbs 17:15 matters

  • Proverbs 17:15 makes clear that God does not tolerate any kind of injustice, whether it benefits the guilty or harms the innocent, which corrects the idea that only one side of injustice is a problem.
  • The verse emphasizes that justice is not just a human concern but something that matters deeply to God, shaping how people should view right and wrong.
  • This proverb fits into a larger biblical theme about the importance of fair judgment and warns against the temptation to show favoritism or partiality in legal or personal decisions.

Where else these words appear

“condemneth” Hebrew H7561 · used in 34 verses

  • Exodus 22:9 For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour.
  • Job 9:29 If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?
  • Psalms 37:33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

“justifieth” Hebrew H6663 · used in 40 verses

  • Genesis 38:26 And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.
  • Job 13:18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.
  • Psalms 82:3 Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.

“abomination” Hebrew H8441 · used in 112 verses

  • Genesis 43:32 And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.
  • Ezra 9:14 Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?
  • Ezekiel 7:4 And mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity: but I will recompense thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.