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Proverbs 17 · a question people ask

"both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD" (17:15). Is letting the guilty go really as wrong as condemning the innocent?

In the text

The saying puts the two in one line and says the same of each: "He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD" (17:15) (tap justifies). It speaks of people who judge. Its two verbs are the law's words for judges, turned the other way round: "then they shall justify the righteous and condemn the wicked" (Deuteronomy 25:1). The law had both wrongs in view in one verse too: "don’t kill the innocent and righteous; for I will not justify the wicked" (Exodus 23:7). And the chapter comes back to the second wrong: "Also to punish the righteous is not good" (17:26). The saying doesn't weigh one wrong against the other or say which does more harm; it says that both alike are an abomination to the LORD. These notes don't apply it to any court, case or public debate today.

The verses

“He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.”
Proverbs 17:15 · World English Bible
“Also to punish the righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity.”
Proverbs 17:26 · World English Bible
“If there is a controversy between men, and they come to judgment and the judges judge them, then they shall justify the righteous and condemn the wicked.”
Deuteronomy 25:1 · World English Bible
““Keep far from a false charge, and don’t kill the innocent and righteous; for I will not justify the wicked.”
Exodus 23:7 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Proverbs 17

Proverbs 17: A friend loves at all times

In Hebrew the glad of "He who is glad at calamity" (17:5) and the cheerful of "A cheerful heart makes good medicine" (17:22) are one word. And the friend who "loves at all times" (17:17) is the neighbor of the very next verse (17:18).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions