Proverbs 17:13 kjv

Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

Proverbs 17:13 nkjv

Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house.

Proverbs 17:13 niv

Evil will never leave the house of one who pays back evil for good.

Proverbs 17:13 esv

If anyone returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house.

Proverbs 17:13 nlt

If you repay good with evil,
evil will never leave your house.

Proverbs 17 verses

Proverbs 17 13 Meaning

Proverbs 17:13 declares a universal moral principle: that a person who repays kindness with harm or malice will bring lasting calamity and suffering upon their own household. It emphasizes divine retribution, where the wicked deed of ingratitude against a benefactor ensures a pervasive and persistent negative consequence, impacting not just the individual but their entire lineage or legacy.

Proverbs 17 13 Context

Proverbs 17, like much of the book, offers concise and often contrasting statements on various aspects of wisdom, foolishness, righteousness, and wickedness, focusing on practical living and its consequences. It covers themes of money, anger, contention, justice, speech, family, and character. Verse 13 specifically addresses the grave moral failing of returning evil for good, an act seen as particularly heinous because it violates basic principles of gratitude and social trust. This principle aligns with the broader Deuteronomic theology of blessings and curses, where obedience brings favor and disobedience brings calamity, often extending to one's descendants or "house." It posits a direct cause-and-effect relationship between actions and outcomes within God's moral order. Historically, in ancient Israelite society, the concept of the "house" encompassed not only the immediate family but also one's lineage, property, and legacy, making a curse upon the "house" a profound and enduring catastrophe.

Proverbs 17 13 Word analysis

• Whoever (אִ֖ישׁ - ish): Lit. "A man." This is a general term for any person, implying that this principle applies to all humanity. It underscores the universal nature of the wisdom imparted.
• returns (מְשַׁלֵּ֣ם - m'shalem): From the root "שָׁלַם" (shalem), meaning to complete, requite, repay, or render. It carries the idea of payment or recompense. The Piel stem used here (m'shalem) often implies a conscious, deliberate action of full payment or rendering, suggesting an intentional act of repaying.
• evil (רָעָ֗ה - ra'ah): Denotes both moral wickedness (bad character, wrongdoing) and the calamity or adversity that results from such actions. It is a comprehensive term for misfortune or harm.
• for good (תַּ֣חַת טוֹבָֽה - tachat tovah): "Tachat" means "under" or "instead of," implying a direct exchange. "Tovah" means good, kindness, welfare, prosperity, or blessing. This phrase highlights the antithetical nature of the repayment: exchanging what is wholesome and beneficial for that which is harmful and destructive.
• evil (רָעָה - ra'ah): Used again, it now specifically refers to the resulting calamity or distress, emphasizing that the kind of evil repaid will be the kind of evil received.
• will not depart (לֹא־תָמ֖וּשׁ - lo-tamush): "Lo" is "not." "Tamush" from "מוּשׁ" (mush), meaning to move, depart, cease, remove, or turn aside. The future tense with "lo" signifies a firm negative, emphasizing the permanent or unceasing nature of the consequence. The evil will be fixed and lingering.
• from his house (מִבֵּיתֽוֹ - mibeito): "Mi" is "from." "Beito" (bayith) refers to a dwelling, household, family, or lineage. In ancient Israelite society, the "house" was central to identity and continuity, representing one's entire heritage, progeny, and estate. The judgment here extends beyond the individual to encompass their descendants and their legacy.

Words-group analysis:

• "Whoever returns evil for good": This phrase defines the specific transgression. It is not merely accidental harm but a deliberate act of ingratitude and malicious betrayal, returning ill will for kindness received. This goes against the very fabric of human relationships and covenant fidelity, and represents a grave violation of a divine moral expectation.
• "evil will not depart from his house": This phrase pronounces the certain and pervasive consequence. The calamity is not fleeting; it becomes a perpetual condition, affixed to the wrongdoer's entire familial line or legacy. This illustrates a principle of divine justice where the "wages of sin" are inherited, not just by the immediate perpetrator, but impacting their future and renown. It can also imply a generational curse or lasting negative repercussions due to the actions of the one who repaid good with evil.

Proverbs 17 13 Bonus section

The severe punishment declared in this proverb underscores the high value God places on justice, integrity, and gratitude. Repaying good with evil is seen as an affront not only to the benefactor but to the divine order itself. It is a strong statement on the principle of 'reaping what one sows,' where the negative harvest extends far beyond the individual life. This proverb also serves as a potent deterrent against betrayal and deep ingratitude, which were especially damaging in tightly-knit ancient societies where reciprocal kindness formed the bedrock of communal stability.

Proverbs 17 13 Commentary

Proverbs 17:13 issues a solemn warning about the severe and enduring consequences of an act of profound wickedness: repaying good deeds with evil. This sin is particularly heinous because it undermines the very foundation of trust, kindness, and gratitude, which are vital for a flourishing society. The proverb is not a mere observation but a declaration of divine decree. When an individual consciously and deliberately chooses to return malice for beneficence, they activate a principle of divine retribution where a perpetual "evil" or calamity will take root and never leave their household or lineage. This "evil" could manifest as continued strife, poverty, shame, suffering, or a perpetual state of divine displeasure affecting future generations. It speaks to the holistic and generational impact of one's actions within a covenantal framework, affirming that God’s moral order ensures that deliberate perversions of goodness bring about lasting personal and familial disaster. It subtly warns against polytheistic or idolatrous beliefs that might suggest that actions have no intrinsic moral consequence or that fate is arbitrary.