Proverbs 17:11

“An evil [man] seeketh only rebellion, etc.] For he seeks nothing but what is evil; and all sin is rebellion against God, a contempt of his laws, and a transgression of them; a trampling upon his legislative power and authority; an act of hostility against him, and a casting off allegiance to him. Or rather the words may be rendered, “rebellion”, that is, “the rebellious man”, so the Targum, the abstract for the concrete, “verily” or “only seeketh evil”f494; a man that is rebellious against his prince, that is of a rebellious disposition, is continually seeking to do mischief in the commonwealth; he is continually plotting and contriving destructive schemes, and stirring up sedition, and…”

“Such meet just retribution (Kg1 2:25). a cruel messenger--one to inflict it.”

“The proverb expresses the reverence of the East for the supreme authority of the king. The “cruel messenger” is probably the king’s officer despatched to subdue and punish. The Septuagint renders it: “The Lord will send a pitiless Angel.” return to 'Top of Page'”

“Rebellion - Against God. Messenger - Or, a cruel angel, the angel of death, the devil, or some bloody men employed by God to avenge his quarrel. Proverbs 17:12”

“17:11 Rebellion flows from the inner character of evil people who defy the punishment that will follow.”

“Sa2 15:12, Sa2 16:5-9, Sa2 18:15, Sa2 18:19, Sa2 20:1, Sa2 20:22; Kg1 2:24, Kg1 2:25, Kg1 2:31, Kg1 2:46; Mat 21:41; Mat 22:7; Luk 19:27 Proverbs 17:12”

“Five proverbs of dangerous men against whom one has to be on his guard: 11 The rebellious seeketh only after evil, And a cruel messenger is sent out against him. It is a question what is subj. and what obj. in 11a. It lies nearest to look on מרי as subj., and this word (from מרה, stringere, to make oneself exacting against any, to oppose, ἀντιτείνειν) is appropriate thereto; it occurs also at Eze 2:7 as abstr. pro concreto. That it is truly subj. appears from this, that בּקּשׁ רע, to seek after evil (cf. Pro 29:10; Kg1 20:7, etc.), is a connection of idea much more natural than בּקּשׁ מרי to seek after rebellion. Thus אך will be logically connected with רע, and the reading אך מרי will be…”