· Translation: KJV

Proverbs 30:10"Don't slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.

The setting

Ancient Israel, ~950 BC. A hierarchical society where servants depend entirely on their masters' favor. One false accusation could destroy a life. Writing in what is now Israel/Palestine.

The emotion here: stern warning from experience

The original word

lāšān (לָשַׁן) — to use the tongue maliciously, to slander with intent to harm

Why it matters

Ancient Near Eastern servants could be executed based solely on their master's word

Read with care

What most readers miss in Proverbs 30:10

This isn't about being nice — it's about the cosmic justice that comes when you harm the powerless

Common misconceptionMost people think this is about workplace politics, but it's about cosmic justice — when you harm someone who can't defend themselves, God Himself becomes their defender.

Bible Genome reading

Proverbs 30:10 — Bible Genome reading

SpeakerAgur
EraUnited Kingdom
Primary emotiondeciding
Literary typewisdom
MarkCommand

Emotional genome

Comfort power30%
Quotability60%
Memorability50%
Crisis relevance40%
Standalone80%
Themes:relationshipsconsequencesgossip

In context

No verse stands alone.

Read the conversation around it.

Open Proverbs 30

Proverbs 30:10 comes from the book of Proverbs, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Agur. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 30% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include relationships, consequences, gossip. Notable phrases: don't slander a servant; lest he curse you. This verse contains a command.

Your reflection

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