Proverbs 17:15

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 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, 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 17:15

He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just ,.... That absolves and clears the guilty, and pronounces him righteous in open court, where he stands arraigned, accused, and the fact proved; and that adjudges an innocent man to condemnation; or passes the sentence of it upon him, when it is a clear case he is not guilty; even they both are abomination to the Lord : being contrary to law and justice, to the declared will of God, and the orders and instructions given by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 17:6-25

Fatherhood and sonship Certainly, some of our very greatest mercies are those that come to us in our domestic relationships. I. THE JOY AND CROWN OF FATHERHOOD AND OF GRANDFATHERHOOD . Our Lord speaks of the mother forgetting her anguish "for joy that a man is born into the world" ( John 16:21 ). The joy of parentage is keen , and it is common; it may, indeed, be said to be universal. And it is pure and good; it elevates and enlarges the soul, taking thought... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 17:10-15

Dark phases of human character We may take Proverbs 17:10 as an introduction to what follows. Exhortations are to be given, and the preacher would prepare us to receive them. On the sensitive mind the censure of the good makes a deeper impression than a hundred blows on the back of the fool. Sincerity, love of truth and tender sympathy, become the exhorter, and humble docility the object of his warnings or rebukes. "Let the righteous smite me, and it shall be a kindness" ( Psalms 141:5 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 17:15

He that justifieth —in a forensic sense, declares righteous, acquits— the wicked, etc. Two forms of the perversion of justice are censured, viz. the acquittal of a guilty person and the condemnation of an innocent one (comp. Proverbs 24:24 ; Isaiah 5:23 ). read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 17:15

Proverbs 17:15. He that justifieth the wicked That acquitteth him as innocent by a judicial sentence, or otherwise approveth or commendeth his evil practices; and he that condemneth the just Or, contributes to his condemnation, defeats the end of government, which is to protect the good, and punish the bad; and therefore they both are abomination to the Lord Who would have justice exactly administered, and so cannot but be highly displeased at those who endeavour to confound the nature... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 17:1-28

Friends and fools (17:1-28)A peaceful family life, no matter how simple, is a great blessing, but a son may miss out on his family inheritance through his own folly (17:1-2). God’s dealings with his people are always for a good purpose, to make them better than they were before (3). To listen to evil talk is as bad as to speak evil oneself; to take pleasure in another’s troubles is as bad as to cause those troubles (4-5).Other proverbs concern the appreciation that the old and the young should... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 17:15

justifieth the wicked, &c. Illustrations: the counsellors (Ezra 4:1-16 ); Tertullus (Acts 24:1-9 ); Ahab and Jezebel (1 Kings 21:5-24 ). Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia ( App-6 ). Mazdik rasha' umarshia' zadik, which may be Englished, "he who wrongs the right and rights the wrong". the wicked = a lawless one. Hebrew. rasha'. App-44 . the just = a just one. abomination, &c. See note on Proverbs 3:32 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 17:15

"He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.""To absolve the wicked and to condemn the innocent are equally hateful to the Lord."[26] In fact, absolving the guilty is, in the last analysis, a condemnation of the innocent. An example of this is seen in the extreme leniency of our current judicial system in the mild or even omitted punishment of vicious criminals, who promptly multiply their violent crimes against the... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Proverbs 17:15

15. abomination . . . Lord—as reversing His method of acting (Proverbs 3:32; Proverbs 12:2). read more

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