Introduction
Before getting into the meaning of Proverbs 12:10, here’s different Bible translations:
King James Version
A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
American Standard Version
A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast; But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
World English Bible version
A righteous man respects the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
Proverbs 12:10 Meaning & Commentary
Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel. Proverbs 12:10 (ESV)
Have you ever taken note of how people treat their animals? This can say a lot about their character as a person. Someone who has no regard for their animals or their beast, as Proverbs 12:10 refers to them as speaks volumes about that person.
Let’s take a dog, for example. A dog is the epitome of loyalty and unconditional love. Even if you have left a dog outside in the cold, not given it food, and treated it poorly before going to bed. When you wake up in the morning, that dog will still be happy to see you and wagging its tail. It holds no grudges and is loyal to you no matter what. Now, if someone has no regard for an animal that only returns love, loyalty, and protection, how would they treat a human being?
We may think it’s easier to love another person, particularly a stranger, than a dog, but think about how human beings act sometimes. They are not always loyal, don’t always extend love back to us, gossip, slander, and backbite one another. So, if a non-righteous person has no regard for their animal, which usually returns loyalty and love for poor treatment, how will a non-righteous person treat someone who treats them poorly?
Proverbs 12:10 goes on to say that the mercy of the wicked is cruel. Mercy refers to showing compassion and forgiveness and not holding something against another. The “mercy” of the wicked is cruel, which means it is not merciful at all. Mercy, in its very nature, is tender and compassionate. When you walk in Mercy, you choose to forgive others and hold nothing against them.
Although we all have many “reasons” to be unmerciful toward others, we can deliberately choose to extend mercy to others and walk in God’s love!
Application
How can we practically apply Proverbs 12:10 to our lives?
The central theme of the verse is mercy, love for others, and walking as Jesus. Although The verse mentions how people treat their animals, that is more of a “marker” or a “sign” of deeper matters of the heart. We can watch other people around us, see how they treat their animals and use this as a “gauge” to walk wisely and circumspectly with them. It is a “marker” we can use to discern their character and what is in their heart.
If we are in right standing with God and have a relationship with Him, we are commanded to put on Jesus Christ: Colossians 3:12-14 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
You see, as believers, we now have the nature of God, so we can choose to either extend God’s Grace, Mercy, and Goodness to other believers, or we can choose not to. We have the ability to do it, but we need to choose to exercise it. The Bible challenges us that if we cannot love our fellow man, how can we possibly say and claim that we love God: 1 John 4:20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
We love God because we first love us, but then we extend and practice that love on others as we walk as disciples of Jesus Christ! As we walk with God, the fruit of the Spirit will increase in our lives and bring glory to Jesus Christ: Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank you for Your Word, which constantly challenges me to live more like Christ. I know that by Your Spirit, I can live a righteous life and one which is pleasing to You.
I pray for a hunger to know you more. As I seek you and grow in Your Word, I know that your fruit will begin to show forth in my life, and others will see your Mercy, love, and Grace through me. I thank you for this in Jesus’ name. Amen!
