Proverbs 28:17
New International Version
Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder will seek refuge in the grave; let no one hold them back.

New Living Translation
A murderer’s tormented conscience will drive him into the grave. Don’t protect him!

English Standard Version
If one is burdened with the blood of another, he will be a fugitive until death; let no one help him.

Berean Standard Bible
A man burdened by bloodguilt will flee into the Pit; let no one support him.

King James Bible
A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.

New King James Version
A man burdened with bloodshed will flee into a pit; Let no one help him.

New American Standard Bible
A person who is burdened with the guilt of human blood Will be a fugitive until death; no one is to support him!

NASB 1995
A man who is laden with the guilt of human blood Will be a fugitive until death; let no one support him.

NASB 1977
A man who is laden with the guilt of human blood Will be a fugitive until death; let no one support him.

Legacy Standard Bible
A man oppressed with the bloodguilt of life Will flee until death; let no one uphold him.

Amplified Bible
A man who is burdened with the guilt of human blood (murder) Will be a fugitive until death; let no one support him or give him refuge.

Christian Standard Bible
Someone burdened by bloodguilt will be a fugitive until death. Let no one help him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
A man burdened by bloodguilt will be a fugitive until death. Let no one help him.

American Standard Version
A man that is laden with the blood of any person Shall flee unto the pit; let no man stay him.

Contemporary English Version
Don't give help to murderers! Make them stay on the run for as long as they live.

English Revised Version
A man that is laden with the blood of any person shall flee unto the pit; let no man stay him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
A person burdened with the guilt of murder will be a fugitive down to his grave. No one will help him.

Good News Translation
Someone guilty of murder is digging his own grave as fast as he can. Don't try to stop him.

International Standard Version
A guilty man tormented by bloodshed will be a lifelong fugitive; let no one support him.

Majority Standard Bible
A man burdened by bloodguilt will flee into the Pit; let no one support him.

NET Bible
The one who is tormented by the murder of another will flee to the pit; let no one support him.

New Heart English Bible
A man who is tormented by life blood will be a fugitive until death; no one will support him.

Webster's Bible Translation
A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.

World English Bible
A man who is tormented by blood guilt will be a fugitive until death. No one will support him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
A man oppressed with the blood of a soul, "" Flees to the pit, [and] none takes hold on him [to help].

Young's Literal Translation
A man oppressed with the blood of a soul, Unto the pit fleeth, none taketh hold on him.

Smith's Literal Translation
He terrifying violence upon the blood of a soul shall flee even to the pit; none shall hold fast upon him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
A man that doth violence to the blood of a person, if he flee even to the pit, no man will stay him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
A man who slanders the blood of a life, even if he flees to the pit, no one will tolerate him.

New American Bible
Though a person burdened with blood guilt is in flight even to the grave, let no one offer support.

New Revised Standard Version
If someone is burdened with the blood of another, let that killer be a fugitive until death; let no one offer assistance.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
A man who is engaged in shedding of blood shall flee even to the jailer, and no one shall help him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
A son of man that is guilty of the blood of a soul will flee unto the elected ones and they will not help him.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
A man that is laden with the blood of any person Shall hasten his steps unto the pit; none will support him.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
He that becomes surety for a man charged with murder shall be an exile, and not in safety. Chasten thy son, and he shall love thee, and give honour to thy soul: he shall not obey a sinful nation.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Boldness of the Righteous
16A leader who lacks judgment is also a great oppressor, but he who hates dishonest profit will prolong his days. 17A man burdened by bloodguilt will flee into the Pit; let no one support him. 18He who walks with integrity will be kept safe, but whoever is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall.…

Cross References
Genesis 9:6
Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood will be shed; for in His own image God has made mankind.

Numbers 35:31-33
You are not to accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who deserves to die; he must surely be put to death. / Nor should you accept a ransom for the person who flees to a city of refuge and allow him to return and live on his own land before the death of the high priest. / Do not pollute the land where you live, for bloodshed pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land on which the blood is shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it.

Exodus 21:12-14
Whoever strikes and kills a man must surely be put to death. / If, however, he did not lie in wait, but God allowed it to happen, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee. / But if a man schemes and acts willfully against his neighbor to kill him, you must take him away from My altar to be put to death.

Deuteronomy 19:11-13
If, however, a man hates his neighbor and lies in wait, attacks him and kills him, and then flees to one of these cities, / the elders of his city must send for him, bring him back, and hand him over to the avenger of blood to die. / You must show him no pity. You are to purge from Israel the guilt of shedding innocent blood, that it may go well with you.

Matthew 26:52
“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword.

Romans 13:4
For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer.

Revelation 13:10
“If anyone is destined for captivity, into captivity he will go; if anyone is to die by the sword, by the sword he must be killed.” Here is a call for the perseverance and faith of the saints.

Psalm 55:23
But You, O God, will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.

Ezekiel 18:10-13
Now suppose that man has a violent son, who sheds blood or does any of these things, / though the father has done none of them: Indeed, the son eats at the mountain and defiles his neighbor’s wife. / He oppresses the poor and needy; he commits robbery and does not restore a pledge. He lifts his eyes to idols; he commits abominations. ...

Isaiah 59:7
Their feet run to evil; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful thoughts; ruin and destruction lie in their wake.

Jeremiah 22:17
“But your eyes and heart are set on nothing except your own dishonest gain, on shedding innocent blood, on practicing extortion and oppression.”

1 John 3:15
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer.

Matthew 5:21-22
You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ / But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.

James 2:13
For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

1 Kings 2:31-34
And the king replied, “Do just as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so remove from me and from the house of my father the innocent blood that Joab shed. / The LORD will bring his bloodshed back upon his own head, for without the knowledge of my father David he struck down two men more righteous and better than he when he put to the sword Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army. / Their blood will come back upon the heads of Joab and his descendants forever; but for David, his descendants, his house, and his throne, there shall be peace from the LORD forever.” ...


Treasury of Scripture

A man that does violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.

Genesis 9:6
Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

Exodus 21:14
But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.

Numbers 35:14
Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge.

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Blood Burdened Cause Death Flee Fleeth Flight Fugitive Guilt Hasten Help Hold Human Life Murder Oppressed Pit Soul Steps Support Tormented Underworld Violence
Proverbs 28
1. general observations of impiety and integrity














A man burdened by bloodguilt
The phrase "A man burdened by bloodguilt" refers to an individual who has committed murder or has been involved in shedding innocent blood. The Hebrew word for "bloodguilt" is "דָּם" (dam), which signifies the guilt associated with bloodshed. In ancient Israelite society, bloodguilt was a serious offense that required atonement. The burden of such guilt is not only a legal matter but also a spiritual and moral weight that affects the individual's conscience and standing before God. The concept of bloodguilt is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, where the sanctity of life is emphasized, and the shedding of innocent blood is strictly condemned (Genesis 9:6).

will be a fugitive until death
The phrase "will be a fugitive until death" indicates the perpetual state of unrest and instability for the person guilty of murder. The Hebrew word for "fugitive" is "נוּד" (nud), which conveys the idea of wandering or being in a state of constant movement without rest. This reflects the ancient Near Eastern understanding of justice, where a murderer would often be pursued by the avenger of blood, a family member of the victim, as described in Numbers 35:19. The fugitive's life is marked by fear, isolation, and the absence of peace, symbolizing the spiritual and social consequences of unrepented sin.

let no one support him
The directive "let no one support him" serves as a warning to the community not to aid or abet the guilty individual. In the context of ancient Israel, this would mean not providing refuge or assistance to someone who has committed such a grave sin. The community's role in upholding justice is crucial, as it reflects the collective responsibility to maintain righteousness and order. This principle is echoed in the New Testament, where believers are encouraged to uphold justice and not partake in the sins of others (1 Timothy 5:22). The call to not support the guilty underscores the importance of accountability and the need for repentance and reconciliation with God.

(17) A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person.--Rather, that is burdened with his blood, has wilfully murdered any one.

Shall flee to the pit.--Fulfilling the curse of Genesis 9:6.

Let no man stay him--i.e., attempt to rescue him from the punishment he has deserved.

Verse 17. - A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit. This should be, a man oppressed (Isaiah 38:14), burdened, with the blood of anyone. The wilful murderer, with his guilt upon his soul, flies in vain from remorse; his crime pursues him even to the grave. For inadvertent manslaughter the cities of refuge offered an asylum, but for deliberate murder there was no safe refuge, either from the stings of conscience or from the avenger of blood, but death. The homicide, like Cain (Genesis 4:14), must be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth. "Pit" (bor), some take to mean any hiding place, "a cave, or well;" but it is very commonly found in the sense of sepulchre (Psalm 28:1; Isaiah 14:19, etc.), and is so explained here by most commentators. Let no man stay him. We had in Proverbs 24:11, etc., an injunction to save human life; but the case was quite different from this of wilful murder. Here it is directed that no one attempt to save him from the punishment which he has incurred, or to comfort him under the remorse which he suffers. Let him be left alone to meet the fate which he has merited. The LXX. gives a different idea to the gnome, "He who becomes bail for a man charged with murder shall be banished and shall not be in safety." They add a verse which we shall meet again, almost in the same words (Proverbs 29:17, 18), "Chasten thy son, and he will love thee, and will give honour to thy soul; he shall not obey a sinful nation."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
A man
אָ֭דָם (’ā·ḏām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

burdened
עָשֻׁ֣ק (‘ā·šuq)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular
Strong's 6231: To press upon, oppress, defraud, violate, overflow

by bloodguilt
בְּדַם־ (bə·ḏam-)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1818: Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed

will be a fugitive
יָ֝נ֗וּס (yā·nūs)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5127: To flit, vanish away

until
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

death;
בּ֥וֹר (bō·wr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 953: A pit, cistern, well

let no one
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

support
יִתְמְכוּ־ (yiṯ·mə·ḵū-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 8551: To sustain, to obtain, keep fast, to help, follow close

him.
בֽוֹ׃ (ḇōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 28:17 A man who is tormented by life (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 28:16
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