Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

I view Solomon as speaking in a legal sense here, rather than a spiritual sense. He is referring to taking the life of a person who has committed no offense for which the law prescribes death as a penalty.

I would say that, spiritually, apart from faith in Christ, there is no "innocent blood" in God's eyes. We are all from conception sinners worthy of the penalty of temporal death and eternal separation from Him, as David expressed in Psalm 51:5 after his sin with Bathsheba. (If this were not true, God would have been unjust in taking the life of David and Bathsheba's child as punishment for David's sin.) (That is not meant as a justification for abortion, but as a comment that it does not fall within the scope of what Solomon was referring to.) 

Turning off life support, or administering only palliative care when there is no known medical hope of consciousness, recovery, or cure is, in my view, doing what would have been referred to (before the advent of technology that is able to extend biological existence indefinitely) as "letting nature take its course". 

Also, even the most heinous legal or moral offense is not beyond the power of God to forgive for Christ's sake. The only thing that God cannot forgive is a person's failure to seek the forgiveness and salvation that He offers through faith in Christ.

May 25 2018 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

What exactly is meant by "hands that shed innocent blood"?

"Hands that shed innocent blood" is a phrase rooted in biblical literature, specifically Proverbs 6:17, which refers to the unjustified, intentional taking of human life. It describes the violent killing of someone who has not committed a capital crime or done anything to deserve death.

This phrase is listed as one of seven things that are an abomination or "detestable" to God, representing a severe violation of divine law and the sanctity of life.

The seven categories that the proverb mentions are basic and cover virtually all types of wrongs. But exactly what should we hate? Solomon states: 

Proverbs 6: 16-19 ESV: "There are six things which Jehovah hateth; Yea, seven which are an abomination unto him: 17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood; 18 A heart that deviseth wicked purposes, Feet that are swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that uttereth lies, And he that soweth discord among brethren."

We need to develop a loathing for what God hates. 

Interpretations of "Innocent Blood"

The Unjustly Murdered: It signifies the killing of individuals who are defenceless, righteous, or have not harmed the murderer.

Children and the Vulnerable: The Bible often associates innocent blood with children (e.g., Psalm 106:38) or those unable to defend themselves.

Context in Scripture

Proverbs 6:16-19: Lists this action among things God hates, highlighting it as a grave sin.

Genesis 4:10: The blood of Abel "cries out" from the ground, indicating that innocent blood has a "voice" demanding justice.

Deuteronomy 19:10: Commands that innocent blood not be shed in the land, suggesting it defiles the community and brings judgment.

What it Signifies

Violating Authority: It is seen as taking a life that God alone has authority over.

Bloodguilt: This act brings upon the perpetrator, and sometimes the community, a deep spiritual guilt.

The Opposite of God's Character: Because God is a protector of the vulnerable, He hates actions that unjustly destroy life.

Conclusion

What does Proverbs 6:17 mean?

This begins listing some of the sins which God was said to "hate" in prior verses (Proverbs 6:16).

First is the attitude of a person who is arrogant, egotistical, or proud. This attitude causes someone to look down their nose at others. In Psalm 101:5, the Lord says, "Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure." A prime example of someone with haughty eyes is the proud Pharisee who entered the temple to pray. When he saw a humble tax collector nearby, he boasted to God: "God, I thank you that I am not like other men…or even like this tax collector" (Luke 18:11). He referred to his self-righteous deeds, but God rejected him. In His Sermon on the Mount, the first of Jesus' beatitudes refers to those who are "the poor in spirit" (Matthew 5:3).

Second is God also hates "a lying tongue" (Proverbs 6:17). Earlier verses described those who deceive others as "wicked" and "worthless" (Proverbs 6:12). Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit, saying they had offered the total sales revenue of their property; God struck them dead (Acts 5:1–10).

Third is violence against the innocent. This was mentioned earlier in the book of Proverbs (Proverbs 1:16) in connection with evil. Violence, revenge, and anger are all bad enough in and of themselves (Romans 12:19). Especially heinous is to use violence against those who are "innocent," in the sense that they've done nothing to deserve that treatment from other people.

"Hands that shed innocent blood" remind us of the sanctity of life. We must advocate for justice and protect the vulnerable, aligning our actions with God's heart for the innocent.

Believers are called to protect life and pursue peace—"Rescue those being led away to death" (Proverbs 24:11) and overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).

20 hours ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report