Proverbs 6:16

16 There are seven things that the Lord hates and cannot tolerate: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that kill innocent people, a mind that thinks up wicked plans, feet that hurry off to do evil, a witness who tells one lie after another, and someone who stirs up trouble among friends

Proverbs 6:16 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 6:16

These six [things] doth the Lord hate
That is, the six following, which are all to be found in a man of Belial, a wicked man before described. There are other things besides these that God hates, and indeed more so; as sins against the first table, which more immediately strike at his being, horror, and glory; these being such as are against the second table, but are mentioned, as more especially appearing in the character of the above person; and must be hateful to God, as contrary to his nature, will, and law; yea, seven [are] an abomination unto him;
or, "the abomination of his soul" F3; what his soul abhors, or he abhors from his very heart: meaning not seven others, but one more along with the six, which make seven; a like way of speaking, see in ( Proverbs 30:15 Proverbs 30:18 Proverbs 30:29 ) ( Job 5:19 ) . Nor is the word "abomination" to be restrained to the "seventh", or "hatred" to the "sixth"; but they are all to be supposed to be hateful and abominable to the Lord; though some think the cardinal number is put for the ordinal, "seven" for the "seventh"; as if the seventh, which is sowing discord among brethren, was of all the most abominable, ( Proverbs 6:19 ) ; it being what was last mentioned in the character of the wicked man, ( Proverbs 6:14 ) ; and which seems to have given occasion to, and for the sake of which this enumeration is made.


FOOTNOTES:

F3 (wvpn twbewt) "abominatio ejus animae", Montanus, Vatablus, Mercerus, Cocceius, Michaelis, Schultens.

Proverbs 6:16 In-Context

14 all the while planning evil in their perverted minds, stirring up trouble everywhere.
15 Because of this, disaster will strike them without warning, and they will be fatally wounded.
16 There are seven things that the Lord hates and cannot tolerate: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that kill innocent people, a mind that thinks up wicked plans, feet that hurry off to do evil, a witness who tells one lie after another, and someone who stirs up trouble among friends

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Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.