Proverbs 29:24 Meaning and Explanation
“Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Partnering with evil hateth your own soul; complicity brings curses.
The Context of Proverbs 29:24
Proverbs on complicity: partnership in theft is self-betrayal.
What Does Proverbs 29:24 Mean?
To partner with a thief—to share in his stolen goods or hide his crimes—is self-destructive. The verse says it plainly: you hate your own soul. By choosing complicity over conscience, you harm yourself: you live in fear, guilt, and shame. You've made yourself a thief too.
The partner 'heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not': he hears the victim's curse upon the thief and stays silent, neither defending the victim nor confessing his role. Silence is betrayal of truth and justice. The verse warns that evil partnership isolates and corrupts the soul.
Proverbs 29:24 in the Original Language
shnaa (שׂנא), 'hateth'—to despise or reject; to turn against actively, not passively.
Frequently Asked Questions About Proverbs 29:24
What does Proverbs 29:24 mean?
Partnering with evil hateth your own soul; complicity brings curses.
What is the context of Proverbs 29:24?
Proverbs on complicity: partnership in theft is self-betrayal.