Proverbs 28:24 · Bible study
Proverbs 28:24 Commentary: Self-Justified Sin Against Parents
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Proverbs 28:24 study page, exploring how robbing parents while claiming it's no transgression makes one a partner with a destroyer.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Robbing parents while claiming it's no sin marks a person as morally equal to a destroyer.
- Key words: gāzal (rob), peša‘ (transgression/rebellion), ḥāvēr (companion), ’îsh mashḥît (man of destruction).
- Main debate: Whether 'companion of a destroyer' means the person is morally likened to a destroyer or will inevitably become one.
- Theological theme: The danger of self-justified sin against the fifth commandment.
- Best use: Preaching on family ethics, exposing rationalization, and calling to integrity.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
He who robs his father or mother, saying, “It is not wrong,” is a companion to the man who destroys.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Whoever robs his father or his mother and says, “It’s not wrong,” is a partner with a destroyer.
KJV King James Version 1769
Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression, The same is the companion of a destroyer.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Whoso is robbing his father, or his mother, And is saying, `It is not transgression,' A companion he is to a destroyer.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Whoso robbeth his father and his mother, and saith, It is no transgression, the same is the companion of a destroyer.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
He that stealeth any thing from his father, or from his mother: and saith, This is no sin, is the partner of a murderer.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
El que roba á su padre ó á su madre, y dice que no es maldad, compañero es del hombre destruidor.
Aquele que furta seu pai ou sua mãe e diz: Não é pecado,É companheiro do homem destruidor.
Celui qui vole son père et sa mère,
Wer seinem Vater oder seiner Mutter etwas nimmt und spricht, es sei nicht Sünde, der ist des Verderbers Geselle.
Wie zijn vader of zijn moeder berooft, en zegt: Het is geen overtreding; die is des verdervenden mans gezel.
Chi ruba a suo padre e a sua madre e dice: “Non è un delitto!”, è compagno del dissipatore.
Kto łupi ojca swego, albo matkę swoją, a mówi, iż to nie grzech: towarzyszem jest mężobójcy.
Кто обкрадывает отца своего и мать свою и говорит: "это не грех", тот - сообщник грабителям.
偷竊 父 母的，說：這不是 罪，此人 就是 與強盜 同類。
He who takes from his father or his mother what is theirs by right, and says, It is no sin; is the same as a taker of life.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Proverbs 28:24
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that robbing one's parents is a particularly grave offense. Adam Clarke observes that to the act of dishonesty the child adds ingratitude, cruelty, and disobedience, sins against both God and the natural order. John Gill notes that the offender quiets his conscience by saying the property is his own or will be his at their death, especially when parents are aged and dependent. Matthew Henry and the Geneva Bible concur: such rationalizations do not remove the guilt. The second line places the thief alongside a 'destroyer', a murderer, highwayman, or arsonist (Keil & Delitzsch). The Cambridge Bible and Barnes compare it to Christ's teaching on Corban in Matthew 15:4-6, where human tradition nullified the command to honor parents. In both cases, self-justified religion masks a hardened heart. The proverb does not merely condemn the act; it exposes the inner reasoning that enables it.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Likening view: The son's character is morally compared to a destroyer; the second line describes a present state (Keil & Delitzsch, Clarke).
- Progression view: Robbing parents leads to worse crimes; the son will become or already partners with actual destroyers (Gill).
What is clear: Robbing parents while excusing it as no sin is a grave offense that aligns a person with the worst criminals, whatever the exact relationship.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Identity of the destroyer | The destroyer is someone who ruins lives and property, often understood as a murderer or bandit. | Clarke and Keil & Delitzsch see it as a general destroyer (arsonist, robber), while Gill emphasizes the progression toward murder. |
| Nature of the self-justification | The robber says 'it is no transgression' to quiet his conscience or defend himself before others. | Some commentators (Matthew Henry) stress the internal self-deception; others (Barnes) highlight the public pronouncement to avoid shame. |
| Scope of application | The verse addresses children who take from parents, typically in a household setting. | Gill and Clarke include grown children who feel entitled to inheritance; others limit it to dependent children still under parental authority. |
| Relationship to Matthew 15 (Corban) | Both passages condemn using religious reasoning to avoid caring for parents. | Some see Jesus' teaching as a direct commentary on this proverb; others view it as a parallel but separate condemnation of tradition. |
Historical & Cultural Context
In ancient Israel, the family was the basic unit of society and religion. The fifth commandment, 'Honor your father and your mother', carried legal and economic force. Parents held authority and property rights; children were expected to care for them in old age. To rob one's parents was not only theft but a violation of this fundamental command.
The word translated 'robs' (gāzal, H1497) implies taking by force or stealth, often in contexts of violent seizure. The proverb describes a child who takes what belongs to his parents and then declares it 'no transgression' (peša‘, H6588, a word for rebellion or breach of covenant). This is not a case of desperate poverty; the surrounding verses (Proverbs 28:20-22) condemn greed and haste for riches. The offender likely sees the inheritance as his own before its time, justifying the theft.
The 'destroyer' (’îsh mashḥît, 'man of destruction') in parallel wisdom (Proverbs 18:9) describes one who ruins lives and property. By calling such a son his 'companion' (ḥāvēr, H2270), the proverb says he shares the same moral character. He may not use a weapon, but his betrayal of trust and his self-excusing heart align him with the worst outlaws.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts.
Reception History
Church tradition has frequently connected this proverb with Jesus' rebuke of the Corban practice in Matthew 15:4-6. Early Christian moral teaching used it to enforce the fifth commandment. Reformation commentators like Matthew Henry and John Gill emphasized the gravity of sinning against parents under the guise of religious or family entitlement. In modern homiletics, it serves as a warning against the human tendency to rationalize selfishness within the family.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The act itself: Robbing parents compounds theft with ingratitude, cruelty, and dishonor against those who gave life.
- The rationalization: Saying 'It is no transgression' reveals a heart that justifies sin rather than confesses it.
- The company kept: Such a person is morally indistinguishable from a destroyer, the comparison is not about future outcome but present character.
Five-point outline
- The unique gravity of robbing parents, it violates both divine command and natural affection.
- The common excuses, inheritance, perceived need, or the belief that 'they owe me'.
- The danger of self-justification, silencing conscience with spiritual-sounding reasoning.
- The company we keep, being a 'companion' of a destroyer means sharing his nature, not just his circle.
- The call to repentance and honor, returning what was taken and restoring the relationship.
Illustration hooks
- A young adult takes cash from a parent's wallet, telling themselves 'they'd give it to me if I asked', but never asking because they suspect the answer is no.
- An adult child helps themselves to a parent's retirement savings, rationalizing that 'it will be mine someday anyway' while the parent struggles to pay bills.
- A sibling borrows money from an elderly parent with no intention of repaying, thinking 'it's family, not business' and ignoring the parent's own needs.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How can I tell if I am justifying something sinful in my heart, especially toward family?
- What does it look like to truly honor aging parents when they need financial or practical help?
- Is it ever acceptable to take from parents without their knowledge, even when they seem to have enough?
Leading a Discussion
This proverb cuts to the heart of how we justify wrongdoing, especially toward those closest to us. It exposes the gap between our words and our actions, and the ease with which we can call evil good.
Discussion questions
- Observation: What does the robber say to himself or others in verse 24? How does the second line describe his character?
- Interpretation: Why does the proverb equate robbing parents with being a companion of a destroyer? What makes this sin especially serious?
- Interpretation: The word 'transgression' (peša‘) often means rebellion against God. How does that deepen our understanding of the sin?
- Application: In what ways might we be tempted to justify taking advantage of family members, not just money but time, energy, or emotional support?
- Application: How can we guard against self-deception in these relationships? What role does accountability play?
- Application: What does true honor toward parents look like in practice, especially when they are aging or vulnerable?
- Application: If someone in your group has wronged a parent, how might they begin to make things right?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Judges 17:2 | He said to his mother, “The eleven hundred pieces of silver that were taken from you, about which you uttered a curse, and also spoke it in my ears—behold, the silver is with me. I took it.” His mother said, “May Yahweh bless my son!” |
| Proverbs 13:20 | One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. |
| Proverbs 18:9 | One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction. |
| Proverbs 19:26 | He who robs his father and drives away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach. |
| Proverbs 28:7 | Whoever keeps the law is a wise son; but he who is a companion of gluttons shames his father. |
| Matthew 15:4 | For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’ |
| Matthew 15:6 | he shall not honor his father or mother.’ You have made the commandment of God void because of your tradition. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes that stealing from one’s father is worse than normal robbery because it includes added sins of ingratitude and disobedience. Such a person is like a murderer.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes equates the person who robs his parents with an open, lawless destroyer, not merely a thief. He connects this directly to Jesus' teaching on Corban, showing that even religious traditions cannot excuse neglecting one's duty to parents.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges sees this word as describing a person who intentionally causes harm. This view connects it to other descriptions of such a villain in Matthew.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note equates a person who robs his parents and claims it is no sin with the worst kind of criminal. Such self-justifying theft from those who gave him life places him in the company of a destroyer, one who ruins lives.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill argues that stealing from parents is a far worse crime than ordinary theft, since parents are helpless and deserve support rather than robbery. A person who justifies this sin has already made himself a companion of murderers and may soon become one himself.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
Christians who hold this view point to Proverbs 28:24 while emphasizing Matthew 15:4-6. Both seek to be faithful to Scripture.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch notes that the son who robs his parents and dismisses the sin is likened not to a violent destroyer but to one who ruins from greed or lust. Though lacking external violence, such a deed is worse because it tramples the tenderest and most sacred duties.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry focuses on how rebellious children excuse themselves by saying it is no sin. He argues that robbing parents by wasting their property or leaving them to pay debts is just as bad as highway robbery. Such a person is no better than a destroyer.