Proverbs 17:13

Proverbs 17:13 from the King James Version delivers a powerful warning about the severe consequences of ingratitude and malice. It states, "Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house." This proverb highlights a fundamental principle of divine justice and the lasting impact of moral choices.

Context

The book of Proverbs is a collection of ancient Israelite wisdom, offering practical guidance for living a righteous and prosperous life according to God's ways. It frequently uses antithetical parallelism, contrasting good and evil actions and their respective outcomes. Proverbs 17:13 falls within a section that emphasizes the importance of integrity, justice, and the dangers of various forms of wickedness, including perverse speech, foolishness, and injustice. It serves as a direct warning against the profound moral failing of repaying kindness with harm.

Key Themes

• Ingratitude and Betrayal: The core offense is the act of "rewarding evil for good." This signifies a deep moral corruption where one repays benevolence, kindness, or help with malice, harm, or betrayal. It's a stark violation of trust and a perversion of natural reciprocity.
• Lasting Consequences: The phrase "evil shall not depart from his house" emphasizes the enduring and pervasive nature of the judgment. It's not a temporary setback but a persistent state of trouble, misfortune, or calamity that will cling to the individual and potentially their lineage or legacy. This illustrates a spiritual principle of sowing and reaping.
• Divine Justice: This proverb underscores God's commitment to justice. While not always immediate, the consequences of such profound injustice are assured and far-reaching, demonstrating that actions have significant spiritual and practical repercussions.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase for "rewardeth evil for good" is shillem ra'ah tachat tovah. The verb shillem means "to repay" or "to recompense," indicating a deliberate act of returning something. Ra'ah denotes "evil," "calamity," or "misfortune," while tovah signifies "good," "benefit," or "prosperity." The contrast is stark: deliberately giving bad in place of good. The phrase "evil shall not depart from his house" (lo' yamish ra'ah mibbeto) uses yamish, meaning "to remove" or "to cease," emphasizing that the evil will stubbornly remain and affect the individual's entire household or sphere of influence, suggesting a deep-seated and persistent curse or trouble.

Practical Application

This proverb serves as a powerful deterrent against ingratitude and malicious behavior. It calls believers to cultivate:

• Gratitude and Integrity: A reminder to always respond to kindness with kindness and to deal justly with others, even when it is difficult.
• Awareness of Consequences: It highlights that our actions have ripple effects, not just for ourselves but for our families and future. Committing such an offense invites lasting trouble.
• Contrast with God's Character: The proverb implicitly contrasts human ingratitude with God's boundless goodness, who continually gives good even to the ungrateful. It also stands as a challenge to the New Testament call to not repay evil for evil, but to overcome evil with good, and even to love our enemies.

In essence, Proverbs 17:13 warns that those who pervert the natural order of reciprocity by repaying good with evil invite a persistent state of trouble into their lives and homes, underscoring the deep moral and spiritual implications of such actions.