Proverbs 17:15
WEB
He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.
BSB
Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous— both are detestable to the LORD.
KJV
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
Matthew Henry
Hebrew interlinear
H6663
v — be, make, right
Derivation: a primitive root;
to be (causatively, make) right (in a moral or forensic sense)
KJV: cleanse, clear self, (be, do) just(-ice, -ify, -ify self), (be turn to) righteous(-ness).
vb. denom — be just
[צָדֵק, צָדֹק] vb. denom. be just, righteous
Qal
1. have a just cause, be in the right
2. be justified
3. be just
4. be just, righteous
Niph. the holy place shall be put right
Pi. justify
Hiph.
1. do justice
2. declare righteous, justify
3. justify, vindicate the cause of, save
4. make righteous, turn to righteousness
Hithp. how shall we justify ourselves
H7563
a — wrong, bad
Derivation: from 7561;
morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
KJV: condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did wrong.
adj — wicked
רָשָׁע 263 adj. wicked, criminal
H7561
v — be, do, declare, wrong, disturb, violate
Derivation: a primitive root;
to be (causatively, do or declare) wrong; by implication, to disturb, violate
KJV: condemn, make trouble, vex, be (commit, deal, depart, do) wicked(-ly, -ness).
vb. denom — be wicked
[רָשַׁע] vb. denom. be wicked, act wickedly
Qal
1. be wicked, act wickedly
2. be guilty
Hiph.
1. condemn as guilty, in civil relations
2. condemn as guilty, in ethical and religious relations
3. act wickedly, in ethics and religious
H6662
a — just
Derivation: from 6663;
just
KJV: just, lawful, righteous (man).
adj — just
צַדִּיק 206 adj. just, righteous
H8441
n-f — disgusting, abhorrence, idolatry, idol
Derivation: or תֹּעֵבַה; feminine active participle of 8581;
properly, something disgusting (morally), i.e. (as noun) an abhorrence; especially idolatry or (concretely) an idol
KJV: abominable (custom, thing), abomination.
n.f — abomination
תּוֹעֵבַה 117 n.f. abomination
H3068
n-pr — Existent, Jeho-vah
Derivation: from 1961;
(the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God
KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
n.pr.dei — God
יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)
I. יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb
II.
1. יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D
2. the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy
3. יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh
H1571
adv — assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and
Derivation: by contraction from an unused root meaning to gather;
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
KJV: again, alike, also, (so much) as (soon), both (so)...and, but, either...or, even, for all, (in) likewise (manner), moreover, nay...neither, one, then(-refore), though, what, with, yea.
adv — also
גַּם 768 adv. denoting addition, also, moreover, yea
H8147
n — two, twofold
Derivation: dual of 8145; feminine שְׁתַּיִם;
two; also (as ordinal) twofold
KJV: both, couple, double, second, twain, twelfth, twelve, twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.
n.m — two
שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם 768 n.m. et f. du. two
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Verse 15
Proverbs 17:15
This shows what an offence it is to God, 1. When those that are entrusted with the administration of public justice, judges, juries, witnesses, prosecutors, counsel, do either acquit the guilty or condemn those that are not guilty, or in the least contribute to either; this defeats the end of government, which is to protect the good and punish the bad, Rom 13:3, Rom 13:4. It is equally provoking to God to justify the wicked, though it be in pity and in favorem vitae - to safe life, as to condemn the just. 2. When any private persons plead for sin and sinners, palliate and excuse wickedness, or argue against virtue and piety, and so pervert the right ways of the Lord and confound the eternal distinctions between good and evil.
Cross-references: Rom 13:3 · Rom 13:4