Proverbs 11:17
in Proverbs 11A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
The merciful man doeth good to his own soul; But he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
KJV
The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
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This verse in Proverbs 11
Commentary
6 notes on this versePrayer rises up quickly to the ears of God when lifted up by the recommendation of [alms and fasting]. Since, as it has been written, "the merciful man benefits his own soul," nothing belongs to each individual more than what has been spent on one's neighbor. Part of those physical resources which are used to help the poor become transformed into eternal riches. Born from this generosity are funds which will not be able to be diminished through use nor damaged through decay. "Blessed are the merciful, for God will have mercy on them."
This site's exposition
A kind man benefits himself
on Proverbs 11:17-19
“A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself,” so kindness and cruelty pay wages to the one who deals them. “The wicked man earns an empty wage,” gain promised and loss delivered, while “he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward”.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
The merciful man doeth good to his own soul,....
He that is wise, by communicating his wisdom, wins souls, wins upon them to bring them in love with God and holiness, and so wins them over into the interests of God's kingdom among men. The wise are said to turn many to righteousness, and that is the same with winning souls here, Dan. xii.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
The merciful man doeth good to his own soul - Every gracious disposition is increased while a man is exercised in showing mercy. No man can show an act of disinterested mercy without benefiting his own soul, by improving his moral feeling. But he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh - We seldom see a peevish, fretful, vindictive man either in good health, or good plight of body. I have often heard it observed of such, “He frets his flesh off his bones.”
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
merciful--kind to others; opposed to cruel. Such benefit themselves by doing good to others (compare Pr 24:5), while the cruel injure themselves as well as others. flesh--that is, his body, by penuriousness (Col 2:23).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
does himself good He does good to his kin. A kind man lit. a man of kindness, a man who is kind.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
draws near to honor Heb. תתמך. The people of Israel constantly draw near to the honor of the Holy One, blessed be He, and His Torah. (
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 1 further source is cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| גֹּמֵ֣ל | gomel | [is] dealing bountifully with | H1580 → | 37 times |
| נַ֭פְשׁוֹ | nafsho | self his | H5315 → | 754 times |
| אִ֣ישׁ | ʾish | a person of | H376 → | 1663 times |
| חָ֑סֶד | chased | loyalty | H2617 → | 247 times |
| וְעֹכֵ֥ר | veokher | and [is] troubling | H5916 → | 14 times |
| שְׁ֝אֵר֗וֹ | sheero | body his | H7607 → | |
| אַכְזָרִֽי׃ | ʾakhzari | a cruel [person] | H394 → | 8 times |
גֹּמֵ֣ל[is] dealing bountifully with
gomelH1580 →37 times
נַ֭פְשׁוֹself his
nafshoH5315 →754 times
אִ֣ישׁa person of
ʾishH376 →1663 times
חָ֑סֶדloyalty
chasedH2617 →247 times
וְעֹכֵ֥רand [is] troubling
veokherH5916 →14 times
שְׁ֝אֵר֗וֹbody his
sheeroH7607 →
אַכְזָרִֽי׃a cruel [person]
ʾakhzariH394 →8 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 5:7Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
it leads to
- Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.
- Matthew 6:14–15
For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
- 2 Samuel 22:26
To the faithful You show Yourself faithful, to the blameless You show Yourself blameless;
- Matthew 18:33–35
Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?’
- Psalms 18:25
To the faithful You show Yourself faithful, to the blameless You show Yourself blameless;
- Ephesians 4:32
Through
James 2:13For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
it leads to
- Matthew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
- Matthew 6:15
But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.
- Proverbs 21:13
Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer.
- Matthew 5:7
Where this verse is studied
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Leo the Great, SERMON 16:2 and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.