◄ Proverbs 29:10 ►
Men of bloodshed hate a blameless man, but the upright care for his life.
Study Bible
Men of bloodshed
The phrase "men of bloodshed" refers to individuals who are violent, ruthless, and often involved in acts of murder or severe harm. The Hebrew root for "bloodshed" is "דָּם" (dam), which literally means "blood." In the ancient context, this term was used to describe those who were not only physically violent but also morally corrupt. Historically, such individuals were often feared and despised in society, as they disrupted peace and justice. From a scriptural perspective, these men are contrasted with the righteous, highlighting the moral divide between those who pursue violence and those who seek peace.

hate
The word "hate" in Hebrew is "שָׂנֵא" (sane), which conveys a strong aversion or intense dislike. In the biblical context, this term is often used to describe the deep-seated enmity that the wicked have towards the righteous. This hatred is not merely a personal dislike but a profound opposition to the values and lifestyle of the blameless. It reflects the spiritual battle between good and evil, where the wicked are inherently opposed to those who live according to God's commandments.

a blameless man
The term "blameless" is derived from the Hebrew word "תָּם" (tam), meaning complete, perfect, or without fault. In the biblical sense, a blameless man is one who lives with integrity and righteousness, adhering to God's laws and commands. This does not imply sinlessness but rather a sincere and wholehearted commitment to living a life pleasing to God. Historically, such individuals were respected and often seen as models of virtue within their communities.

but the upright
"The upright" refers to those who are morally and ethically sound, living in accordance with God's will. The Hebrew word "יָשָׁר" (yashar) means straight or right, indicating a life that is aligned with divine principles. In the biblical narrative, the upright are often depicted as those who walk in wisdom and understanding, contrasting sharply with the wicked. They are seen as protectors and preservers of life, embodying the virtues of justice and mercy.

care for his life
The phrase "care for his life" suggests a protective and nurturing attitude towards the life of the blameless. The Hebrew verb "בָּקַשׁ" (baqash) means to seek or desire, indicating an active effort to preserve and safeguard. In the context of this proverb, the upright are those who value life and strive to protect it, standing against the destructive tendencies of the wicked. This reflects a broader biblical theme where the righteous are called to be stewards of life, promoting peace and justice in a world marred by sin and violence.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Men of Bloodshed
This term refers to individuals who are violent, wicked, or have malicious intent. In the Hebrew text, the word used is (anshei damim), which literally means "men of blood." These are people who are characterized by their willingness to harm others.

2. Blameless Man
This refers to a person who is innocent, righteous, or morally upright. The Hebrew word (tamim) is used, meaning complete, whole, or without blemish. This person lives in a way that is pleasing to God and is often the target of the wicked.

3. The Upright
These are individuals who live according to God's standards and seek to do what is right. The Hebrew word (yashar) is used, meaning straight, right, or level. They are contrasted with the men of bloodshed.
Teaching Points
The Reality of Persecution
The verse highlights the reality that those who live righteously will often face opposition from those who are wicked. Believers should not be surprised by this but should remain steadfast in their faith.

The Call to Protect Life
The upright are called to care for and protect the lives of the blameless. This reflects God's heart for justice and the value of human life.

Living Blamelessly
Striving to live a blameless life is a noble pursuit, even in the face of opposition. It requires reliance on God's strength and guidance.

The Contrast of Character
The verse presents a stark contrast between the wicked and the righteous, encouraging believers to examine their own lives and align with God's standards.

Encouragement in Righteousness
Despite the hatred from the wicked, the blameless can find encouragement in knowing that God sees their righteousness and will ultimately vindicate them.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding the Hebrew roots of "men of bloodshed" and "blameless" enhance our comprehension of this verse?

2. In what ways can we, as believers, care for the lives of the blameless in our communities?

3. How do the themes in Proverbs 29:10 relate to the persecution of the righteous described in the New Testament?

4. What practical steps can we take to live a blameless life in a world that often opposes righteousness?

5. How can we find encouragement and strength when facing opposition from those who are wicked?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 37:32
This verse speaks about the wicked watching for the righteous and seeking to put them to death, highlighting the animosity between the wicked and the blameless.

1 John 3:12
This passage discusses Cain and Abel, illustrating the hatred of the wicked towards the righteous, similar to the men of bloodshed hating the blameless.

Matthew 5:10-12
Jesus speaks about the persecution of the righteous, which aligns with the theme of the blameless being targeted by those who are evil.
Sermons
The Senselessness of Scorn, EtcW. Clarkson Proverbs 29:8-10
Dishonourable PassionsE. Johnson Proverbs 29:8-11
People
Solomon
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Blameless, Blood, Bloodshed, Bloodthirsty, Blood-thirsty, Care, Concerned, Evil-doers, Hate, Haters, Integrity, Kill, Perfect, Seek, Sincere, Soul, Upright, Wicked
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Proverbs 29:10

     5040   murder
     5875   hatred
     8275   honesty

Library
An Obscured vision
(Preached at the opening of the Winona Lake Bible Conference.) TEXT: "Where there is no vision, the people perish."--Proverbs 29:18. It is not altogether an easy matter to secure a text for such an occasion as this; not because the texts are so few in number but rather because they are so many, for one has only to turn over the pages of the Bible in the most casual way to find them facing him at every reading. Feeling the need of advice for such a time as this, I asked a number of my friends who …
J. Wilbur Chapman—And Judas Iscariot

Two Ancient Proverbs
A Sermon (No. 3080) Published on Thursday, February 20th, 1908. Delivered by C.H. Spurgeon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington on Lord's Day evening, March 29th, 1874. "The fear of man bringeth a snare; but whoso puteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe." --Proverbs 29:25. We have two ancient proverbs here; each of them is true as a separate proverb, and they are equally true when linked together. The independent proposition, that the fear of man bringeth a snare, is a truth which experience …
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

The Baptismal Covenant Can be Kept Unbroken. Aim and Responsibility of Parents.
We have gone "to the Law and to the Testimony" to find out what the nature and benefits of Baptism are. We have gathered out of the Word all the principal passages bearing on this subject. We have grouped them together, and studied them side by side. We have noticed that their sense is uniform, clear, and strong. Unless we are willing to throw aside all sound principles of interpretation, we can extract from the words of inspiration only one meaning, and that is that the baptized child is, by virtue …
G. H. Gerberding—The Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church

But Sometimes a Peril to Eternal Salvation Itself is Put Forth against Us...
40. But sometimes a peril to eternal salvation itself is put forth against us; [2466] which peril, they cry out, we by telling a lie, if otherwise it cannot be, must ward off. As, for instance, if a person who is to be baptized be in the power of impious and infidel men, and cannot be got at that he may be washed with the laver of regeneration, but by deceiving his keepers with a lie. From this most invidious cry, by which we are compelled, not for a man's wealth or honors in this world which are …
St. Augustine—Against Lying

Little Sarah Howley.
MISS SARAH HOWLEY, when she was between eight and nine years old, was carried by her friends to hear a sermon, where the minister preached upon Matt. xi, 30, "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light;" in the applying of which scripture the child was mightily awakened, and made deeply sensible of the condition of her soul, and her need of Christ: she wept bitterly to think what a case she was in; went home, retired into a chamber, and upon her knees she wept and cried to the Lord as well as she could, …
John Wesley—Stories of Boys and Girls Who Loved the Saviour

For, Concerning False Witness, which is Set Down in the Ten Commands of The...
36. For, concerning false witness, which is set down in the ten commands of the Law, it can indeed in no wise be contended that love of truth may at heart be preserved, and false witness brought forth to him unto whom the witness is borne. For, when it is said to God only, then it is only in the heart that the truth is to be embraced: but when it is said to man, then must we with the mouth also of the body bring forth truth, because man is not an inspector of the heart. But then, touching the witness …
St. Augustine—On Lying

Palm Sunday
Text: Philippians 2, 5-11. 5 Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; 8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; 10 that …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

It Remains Then that we Understand as Concerning those Women...
33. It remains then that we understand as concerning those women, whether in Egypt or in Jericho, that for their humanity and mercy they received a reward, in any wise temporal, which indeed itself, while they wist not of it, should by prophetical signification prefigure somewhat eternal. But whether it be ever right, even for the saving of a man's life, to tell a lie, as it is a question in resolving which even the most learned do weary themselves, it did vastly surpass the capacity of those poor …
St. Augustine—Against Lying

What are Evidences of Backsliding in Heart.
1. Manifest formality in religious exercises. A stereotyped, formal way of saying and doing things, that is clearly the result of habit, rather than the outgushing of the religious life. This formality will be emotionless and cold as an iceberg, and will evince a total want of earnestness in the performance of religious duty. In prayer and in religious exercises the backslider in heart will pray or praise, or confess, or give thanks with his lips, so that all can hear him, perhaps, but in such a …
Charles G. Finney—The Backslider in Heart

God's Glory the Chief End of Man's Being
Rom. xi. 36.--"Of him and through him, and to him, are all things, to whom be glory for ever." And 1 Cor. x. 31--"Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." All that men have to know, may be comprised under these two heads,--What their end is, and What is the right way to attain to that end? And all that we have to do, is by any means to seek to compass that end. These are the two cardinal points of a man's knowledge and exercise. Quo et qua eundum est,--Whither to go, and what way to go. …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

How the Impatient and the Patient are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 10.) Differently to be admonished are the impatient and the patient. For the impatient are to be told that, while they neglect to bridle their spirit, they are hurried through many steep places of iniquity which they seek not after, inasmuch as fury drives the mind whither desire draws it not, and, when perturbed, it does, not knowing, what it afterwards grieves for when it knows. The impatient are also to be told that, when carried headlong by the impulse of emotion, they act in some …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Humility is the Root of Charity, and Meekness the Fruit of Both. ...
Humility is the root of charity, and meekness the fruit of both. There is no solid and pure ground of love to others, except the rubbish of self-love be first cast out of the soul; and when that superfluity of naughtiness is cast out, then charity hath a solid and deep foundation: "The end of the command is charity out of a pure heart," 1 Tim. i. 5. It is only such a purified heart, cleansed from that poison and contagion of pride and self-estimation, that can send out such a sweet and wholesome …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

How to Make Use of Christ as the Truth, when Error Prevaileth, and the Spirit of Error Carrieth Many Away.
There is a time when the spirit of error is going abroad, and truth is questioned, and many are led away with delusions. For Satan can change himself into an angel of light, and make many great and fairlike pretensions to holiness, and under that pretext usher in untruths, and gain the consent of many unto them; so that in such a time of temptation many are stolen off their feet, and made to depart from the right ways of God, and to embrace error and delusions instead of truth. Now the question is, …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

Characters and Names of Messiah
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. S uch was the triumphant exultation of the Old Testament Church! Their noblest hopes were founded upon the promise of MESSIAH; their most sublime songs were derived from the prospect of His Advent. By faith, which is the substance of things hoped for, they considered the gracious declarations …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

Proverbs
Many specimens of the so-called Wisdom Literature are preserved for us in the book of Proverbs, for its contents are by no means confined to what we call proverbs. The first nine chapters constitute a continuous discourse, almost in the manner of a sermon; and of the last two chapters, ch. xxx. is largely made up of enigmas, and xxxi. is in part a description of the good housewife. All, however, are rightly subsumed under the idea of wisdom, which to the Hebrew had always moral relations. The Hebrew …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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