Proverbs 17:13Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~950 BC. Solomon's court where he witnessed cycles of ingratitude destroying families. Modern Israel/Palestine region.
The emotion here: heartbroken by witnessing good people get hurt by those they helped
The original word
râʿâh (רָעָה) — active evil, harmful intention, not just bad luck but deliberate harm
Why it matters
Ancient Hebrew law specifically protected those who showed kindness from retaliation
Read with care
What most readers miss in Proverbs 17:13
The evil 'not departing' doesn't mean God curses them - ingratitude creates a cycle that destroys relationships and opportunities
Common misconceptionPeople think this promises God will punish ungrateful people, but it's describing how ingratitude naturally destroys the ungrateful person's ability to receive future blessings and relationships.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Proverbs 17:13
Bible Genome reading
Proverbs 17:13 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Proverbs 17:13 comes from the book of Proverbs, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Solomon. The dominant emotion in this verse is angry, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include justice, consequences. Notable phrases: rewards evil for good; evil shall not depart.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same angry
“Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'”
— Joel 3:10
“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!”
— Matthew 23:24
“Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who tell their husba…”
— Amos 4:1
“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can't stand your solemn assemblies.”
— Amos 5:21
“Your eyes shall not pity; life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
— Deuteronomy 19:21
Your reflection
What does Proverbs 17:13 mean to you, today?
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