How does Proverbs 21:10 describe the desires of a wicked person’s soul?

Setting the Scene:

Proverbs 21:10 — “The soul of the wicked craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.”

Text Under the Microscope:

- Soul: the whole inner life—mind, will, emotions—drives the craving.

- Craves: an ongoing, restless appetite, not a momentary impulse.

- Evil: wrongdoing itself is desired, not merely the benefits sin might bring.

- No favor: the wicked show zero goodwill toward those nearby; compassion is absent.

A Closer Look at “Craves Evil”:

- Active and continual (Genesis 6:5).

- Wholehearted, aiming at evil for its own sake (Proverbs 24:2).

- Unrestrained by conscience (Romans 3:14-18).

Impact on the Neighbor:

- Lack of mercy or grace (1 John 3:15).

- Others become tools or obstacles, not fellow image-bearers (Micah 2:1-2).

- Community relationships erode when self-focused desire rules (Matthew 22:39).

Heart Diagnostics from the Rest of Scripture:

- Deceitful and desperately sick heart (Jeremiah 17:9).

- Evil thoughts and acts flow from within (Matthew 15:19).

- Defiled mind and conscience without Christ (Titus 1:15).

Walking Away with Truth:

- A wicked person’s deepest longing is fixed on evil.

- That craving inevitably withholds favor from others, producing harm.

- Only God’s gift of a new heart can reverse this condition (Ezekiel 36:26; 2 Corinthians 5:17).