Proverbs 3:32

32 For every transgressor is unclean before the Lord; neither does he sit among the righteous.

Proverbs 3:32 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 3:32

For the froward [is] abomination to the Lord
The perverse man, that pleases not God, and is contrary to all men, as the Jews were; one froward in his words and actions: "who transgresses the law", as the Arabic version renders it; one that acts contrary to the nature, will, and word of God; and such an one is not only abominable in his sight, but an "abomination" itself; it is sin, which is that abominable thing that God hates, that makes him so: and the Targum is,

``for iniquity is abominable before the Lord;''

but his secret [is] with the righteous:
not such who are outwardly so to others, or trust in themselves that they are righteous, or seek for righteousness by their own works; but such who are justified by the righteousness of Christ, which faith receives from him, and in consequence of which a man lives soberly and righteously: with these the "secret" of the Lord is; of his love, grace, and favour, which was from everlasting, and is manifested in regeneration; of his purposes of grace, with respect to election, redemption, calling, and adoption, which is made known in effectual calling; of his covenant, as that he is their covenant God, Christ is their covenant head and Mediator, and that they have an interest in all the grace, blessings, and promises of it; of the Gospel, and the several mysteries of it, which are so to carnal men; of his providences, what he is doing, or what he is about to do, and will do hereafter, ( Amos 3:7 ) ; and of communion and fellowship with him. The phrase denotes friendship and familiarity; God deals with the righteous as a man does with his intimate friend, converses freely with him, and discloses his secrets to him: and the word is rendered "confabulation" by the Targum, Syriac, and Vulgate Latin versions; see ( Job 29:4 Job 29:5 ) ( Psalms 25:14 ) .

Proverbs 3:32 In-Context

30 Be not ready to quarrel with a man without a cause, lest he do thee some harm.

31 Procure not the reproaches of bad men, neither do thou covet their ways.

32 For every transgressor is unclean before the Lord; neither does he sit among the righteous.

33 The curse of God is in the houses of the ungodly; but the habitations of the just are blessed.

34 The Lord resists the proud; but he gives grace to the humble.