Time to Apply

(Pro 11:17 KJV)  The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

There are many times when I wish I knew more Hebrew.  Maybe someday I will do something about it.  Today I was struggling with the word translated “merciful” (2617a) and how it had an interplay with “good”.  In the process I focused on the word “does” (1580) and noticed that it is a deeper word in Hebrew than English.  

In the KJV it is only translated this way a couple of times.  In both translations the most common translation is “weaned”.  The word has the idea of bringing to maturity.  From that my mind makes the jump that merciful behavior and decisions allow us to grow in our spiritual maturity.  Which comes first?  That is a pointless question because we are directed to be merciful.

So?  There is a time for theological nit picking and a time for obedience.  The first is on occasion and the second is always.