What is the meaning of Proverbs 6:30? Men do not despise “Men do not despise the thief…” (Proverbs 6:30) • The verse opens with a common human reaction: while theft is condemned (Exodus 20:15), people naturally feel less revulsion when the motive is sheer survival. • Scripture records similar compassion. David’s men ate the consecrated bread and the priest showed understanding (1 Samuel 21:3-6). Jesus later cited that incident when His disciples plucked grain on the Sabbath (Mark 2:25-26). • Compassion never erases guilt, yet it tempers scorn. James 2:13 reminds us, “Mercy triumphs over judgment.” The principle is literal: ordinary observers often show reluctant sympathy in cases of desperate need. the thief “…the thief…” • He is still a law-breaker. Exodus 22:1-4 lays out restitution for stolen property; Ephesians 4:28 urges former thieves to “steal no longer, but rather labor.” • Scripture treats theft as objective sin regardless of motive; Romans 13:9 reiterates “You shall not steal.” • Even when his hunger elicits pity, he remains accountable to God’s unchanging standard. if he steals “…if he steals…” • The conditional “if” signals a specific circumstance, not blanket approval. Verse 31 immediately follows: “Yet if he is caught, he must repay sevenfold”. Both empathy and justice stand side by side. • Proverbs 30:8-9 voices the same tension: “Feed me with the food that is my portion, lest I be poor and steal…”. Need does not nullify sin; it reveals the pressure that drove it. • The Law made provision for gleaning (Deuteronomy 24:19-22), giving the needy a lawful way to gather food and avoid theft. to satisfy his hunger “…to satisfy his hunger.” • Hunger is a basic human necessity. God consistently shows concern for the hungry, commanding Israel to leave field edges unharvested (Leviticus 19:9-10) and instituting regular tithes for the poor (Deuteronomy 14:28-29). • Jesus affirmed meeting physical need: “I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat” (Matthew 25:35). • The verse underscores how unmet physical need can drive normally honest people into sin, calling believers to generous action (1 John 3:17). summary Proverbs 6:30 states a literal fact of human behavior: observers seldom pour out contempt on a starving person who steals food, even while recognizing the act as sin. The thief remains accountable (v. 31), but his hunger evokes empathy and reminds us to provide lawful means and generous help for those in need. |
    |