Proverbs 28:17
A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.
Original Language Analysis
אָ֭דָם
A man
H120
אָ֭דָם
A man
Strong's:
H120
Word #:
1 of 10
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
עָשֻׁ֣ק
that doeth violence
H6231
עָשֻׁ֣ק
that doeth violence
Strong's:
H6231
Word #:
2 of 10
to press upon, i.e., oppress, defraud, violate, overflow
בְּדַם
to the blood
H1818
בְּדַם
to the blood
Strong's:
H1818
Word #:
3 of 10
blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshe
נָ֑פֶשׁ
of any person
H5315
נָ֑פֶשׁ
of any person
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
4 of 10
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
עַד
H5704
עַד
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
5 of 10
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
בּ֥וֹר
to the pit
H953
בּ֥וֹר
to the pit
Strong's:
H953
Word #:
6 of 10
a pit hole (especially one used as a cistern or a prison)
יָ֝נ֗וּס
shall flee
H5127
יָ֝נ֗וּס
shall flee
Strong's:
H5127
Word #:
7 of 10
to flit, i.e., vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase, impel, deliver)
אַל
H408
אַל
Strong's:
H408
Word #:
8 of 10
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
Cross References
Genesis 9:6Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.Exodus 21:14But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.1 Kings 21:19And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.
Historical Context
Ancient Israel's law distinguished intentional murder from accidental homicide (Exodus 21:12-14, Deuteronomy 19:1-13). Cities of refuge protected the latter; the former faced execution. The avenger of blood pursued murderers who forfeited the right to protection. This proverb reinforces capital punishment for murder, established from Noah onward (Genesis 9:6).
Questions for Reflection
- How does this proverb uphold the sanctity and value of human life?
- What does it mean to 'stay' (support) someone who is guilty of bloodshed—and why is this forbidden?
- How should justice and mercy interact when dealing with violent offenders?
Analysis & Commentary
A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit (אָדָם עָשֻׁק בְּדַם־נֶפֶשׁ עַד־בּוֹר יָנוּס, adam ashuq bedam-nefesh ad-bor yanus)—עָשַׁק (ashaq, 'oppressed, burdened') by דָּם (dam, 'blood') of נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, 'soul, life, person') indicates guilt for murder. This one יָנוּס (yanus, 'flees, runs away') to the בּוֹר (bor, 'pit, cistern, grave')—whether execution or death fleeing justice.
Let no man stay him (אַל־יִתְמְכוּ־בוֹ, al-yitmeku-vo)—the prohibition: none should תָּמַךְ (tamakh, 'support, uphold, sustain') the murderer. This is not vigilante violence but rejection of harboring the guilty. Cities of refuge (Numbers 35) protected the accidental killer but not the intentional murderer. Genesis 9:6 establishes the sanctity of human life: 'Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed.'