Proverbs 17 · Verse 15

Proverbs 17:15

He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord.
Proverbs 17:15, King James Version

Proverbs 17:15 in other translations

BSBAcquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous— both are detestable to the LORD.
WEBHe who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
ASVHe that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
YLTWhoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these are an abomination to Jehovah.
DARBYHe that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, even they both are abomination to Jehovah.
BBEHe who gives a decision for the evil-doer and he who gives a decision against the upright, are equally disgusting to the Lord.
WebsterHe that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.

What does Proverbs 17:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
15. abomination ... Lord--as reversing His method of acting (Pr 3:32; 12:2).

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

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
It is an offence to God to acquit the guilty, or to condemn those who are not guilty.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 17:15 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.

מַצְדִּ֣יקmatz.Dik[one who] justifiesH6663
רָ֭שָׁעRa.sho'[the] wickedH7563
וּמַרְשִׁ֣יעַu.mar.Shi.a'and [one who] condemns as guiltyH7561
צַדִּ֑יקtza.Dik[the] righteousH6662
תּוֹעֲבַ֥תto.'a.Vat[are] [the] abomination ofH8441
יְ֝הוָ֗הYah.wehYahwehH3068
גַּם\־gam-alsoH1571
שְׁנֵיהֶֽם\׃she.nei.Hemboth of themH8147

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

Cross references for Proverbs 17:15

  • Exodus 23:7

    Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.

  • Isaiah 5:23

    Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!

  • Proverbs 18:5

    It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

  • Proverbs 24:23-24

    These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:

  • Amos 6:12

    Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow there with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock:

  • Proverbs 15:8

    The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

  • Isaiah 55:8-9

    For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

  • Amos 5:12

    For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.

  • Amos 5:7

    Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth,

  • Proverbs 6:16

    These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

  • 1 Kings 21:13

    And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died.

  • James 5:6

    Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
that justifieth.
24:23,24; Ex 23:7; 1Ki 21:13; Isa 5:23; 55:8,9; Eze 22:27-29
Am 5:7,12; 6:12; Lu 23:18-25; Ro 4:5; Jas 5:6
abomination.
6:16; 11:1; 15:8

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

Context

  • Proverbs 17:14

    The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

  • Proverbs 17:15

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

  • Proverbs 17:16

    Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

Read all of Proverbs 17

Proverbs 17:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El que justifica al impío, y el que condena al justo, ambos á dos son abominación á Jehová.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Celui qui justifie le méchant et celui qui condamne le juste sont tous deux en abomination à l’ Éternel.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wer den Gesetzlosen rechtfertigt, und wer den Gerechten verdammt, sie alle beide sind Jehova ein Greuel.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Qui justificat impium, et qui condemnat justum, abominabilis est uterque apud Deum.