Proverbs 12 · Verse 10

Proverbs 12:10

A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
Proverbs 12:10, King James Version

Proverbs 12:10 in other translations

BSBA righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are only cruelty.
WEBA righteous man respects the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
ASVA righteous man regardeth the life of his beast; But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
YLTThe righteous knoweth the life of his beast, And the mercies of the wicked are cruel.
DARBYA righteous man is concerned for the life of his beast; but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
BBEAn upright man has thought for the life of his beast, but the hearts of evil-doers are cruel.
WebsterA righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

What does Proverbs 12:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
10. regardeth--literally, "knoweth" (Psa 1:6). mercies ... cruel--as acts of compassion ungraciously rendered to the needy. The righteous more regards a beast than the wicked a man.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast - One principal characteristic of a holy man is mercy: cruelty is unknown to him; and his benevolence extends to the meanest of the brute creation. Pity rules the heart of a pious man; he can do nothing that is cruel. He considers what is best for the comfort, ease health, and life of the beast that serves him, and he knows that God himself careth for oxen: and one of the ten commandments provides a seventh part of time to be allotted for the rest of laboring beasts as well as for man. I once in my travels met with the Hebrew of this clause on the sign board of a public inn: יודע צדיק נפש בהמתו yodea tsaddik nephesh behemto. "A righteous man considereth the life of his beast;" which, being very appropriate, reminded me that I should feed my horse. The tender mercies of the wicked are cruel - אחזרי achzari, are violent, without mercy, ruthless. The wicked, influenced by Satan, can show no other disposition than what is in their master. If they appear at any time merciful, it is a cloak which they use to cover purposes of cruelty. To accomplish its end, iniquity will assume any garb, speak mercifully, extol benevolence, sometimes even give to the poor! But, timeo Danaos, et dona ferentes. The cry of fire at midnight, provided it be in another's dwelling, is more congenial to their souls than the; cry of mercy. Look at the human fiends, "out-heroding Herod," in horse races, bruising matches, and cock fights, and in wars for the extension of territory, and the purposes of ambition. The hell is yet undescribed, that is suited to such monsters in cruelty.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
A godly man would not put even an animal to needless pain. But the wicked often speak of others as well used, when they would not endure like treatment for a single day.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 12:10 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

יוֹדֵ֣עַyo.De.a'[is] knowingH3045
צַ֭דִּיקTza.dika righteous [person]H6662
נֶ֣פֶשׁNe.fesh[the] life ofH5315
בְּהֶמְתּ֑וֹbe.hem.Toanimals hisH929
וְֽרַחֲמֵ֥יve.ra.cha.Meiand [the] compassion<s> ofH7356
רְ֝שָׁעִ֗יםre.sha.'Imwicked [people]H7563
אַכְזָרִֽי\׃'akh.za.Ri[is] cruelH394

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 12:10

  • Deuteronomy 25:4

    Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.

  • Genesis 33:13-14

    And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die. Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.

  • Numbers 22:28-32

    And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay. Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face. …

  • James 2:13-16

    For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

  • 1 John 3:17

    But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
righteous.
Ge 33:13,14; Nu 22:28-32; De 25:4; Joh 4:11
but.
Ge 37:26-28; Jud 1:7; 1Sa 11:2; Joh 19:31,32; Jas 2:13-16
tender mercies. or, bowels.
1Jo 3:17

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 12:9

    He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.

  • Proverbs 12:10

    A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

  • Proverbs 12:11

    He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.

Read all of Proverbs 12

Proverbs 12:10 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El justo atiende á la vida de su bestia: mas las entrañas de los impíos son crueles.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Le juste regarde à la vie de sa bête, mais les entrailles des méchants sont cruelles.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Der Gerechte kümmert sich um das Leben seines Viehes, aber das Herz der Gesetzlosen ist grausam.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Novit justus jumentorum suorum animas; viscera autem impiorum crudelia.