Pro 6:19 | KingComments | STEP | These verses connect to the previous verses about the perverse man and especially to . To present some of that man’s vices to his son, the father uses for his teaching the form of a number proverb, “six ... yes, seven” ( ; ; ; ; ; ). This means that the vices he lists are not an exhaustive enumeration of them. Sexual sins and stealing, for example, are not mentioned. What the LORD “hates”, what is “an abomination to Him”, are things that are totally foreign to Who He is. The seven things the LORD hates, and therefore we should also hate, are specific personal attitudes and behaviors. 1. “Haughty eyes” ( ) are eyes with a proud look that betrays arrogant ambition. It is a “haughty gaze” ( ). 2. “A lying tongue” is a misleading tongue, a tongue that speaks words that create a false impression in the listener, leading him astray. We see this with the false prophets, who mislead God’s people ( ). A false tongue causes injury ( ), but it will one day silence ( ). 3. “Hands that shed innocent blood”, are killer hands that killed an innocent person. King Manasseh “shed very much innocent blood until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another” ( ). In these three characteristics – pride, lying and murder – we see the deadly sins of satan who fell into pride and is therefore “a murderer of men from the beginning” and “a liar” ( ). 4. “A heart that devises wicked plans” ( ) is another abomination to God. It is in the heart that deliberations take place. Other people do not see these, but God does. He abhors when people devise sins in their hearts. 5. “Feet that run rapidly to evil” ( ; ), testify to a dark enthusiasm and devilish speed to carry out the evil contrived and cause suffering in others. 6. “A false witness [who] utters lies” ( ), we can connect with the previously mentioned false tongue (see 2.). No body parts are now used to denote persons, but it concerns the whole person. Here we are concerned with violation of the ninth commandment: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” ( ). 7. “Who spreads strife among brothers”, is a general description of one who causes and stirs up division and strife (cf. ). Possibly this is a depth of things the LORD hates. In we can see in the phrase “yes, seven” the special emphasis placed on this seventh evil. Strife among brothers is the result of the foregoing. The abominations 1-6 culminate in this. The counterparts of these seven hateful abominations are (1) humility, (2) speaking truth, (3) preserving life, (4) pure thoughts, (5) being zealous to do good things, (6) honest witnesses, and (7) peaceful harmony.

‏ Proverbs 6:19

Things Which the LORD Hates

These verses connect to the previous verses about the perverse man and especially to Pro 6:14. To present some of that man’s vices to his son, the father uses for his teaching the form of a number proverb, “six ... yes, seven” (Pro 6:16; Pro 30:15 ; 18 ; 21 ; 24 ; 29; Job 5:19; Ecc 11:2; Amos 1:6 ; 9 ; 13 ; Amos 2:1 ; 4 ; 6; Mic 5:5). This means that the vices he lists are not an exhaustive enumeration of them. Sexual sins and stealing, for example, are not mentioned. What the LORD “hates”, what is “an abomination to Him”, are things that are totally foreign to Who He is.

The seven things the LORD hates, and therefore we should also hate, are specific personal attitudes and behaviors.

1. “Haughty eyes” (Pro 6:17) are eyes with a proud look that betrays arrogant ambition. It is a “haughty gaze” (Isa 10:12-14).

2. “A lying tongue” is a misleading tongue, a tongue that speaks words that create a false impression in the listener, leading him astray. We see this with the false prophets, who mislead God’s people (Jer 14:14). A false tongue causes injury (Pro 26:28), but it will one day silence (Pro 12:19).

3. “Hands that shed innocent blood”, are killer hands that killed an innocent person. King Manasseh “shed very much innocent blood until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another” (2Kgs 21:16 ; 2Kgs 24:3-4).

In these three characteristics – pride, lying and murder – we see the deadly sins of satan who fell into pride and is therefore “a murderer of men from the beginning” and “a liar” (Jn 8:44).

4. “A heart that devises wicked plans” (Pro 6:18) is another abomination to God. It is in the heart that deliberations take place. Other people do not see these, but God does. He abhors when people devise sins in their hearts.

5. “Feet that run rapidly to evil” (Isa 59:7; Rom 3:15), testify to a dark enthusiasm and devilish speed to carry out the evil contrived and cause suffering in others.

6. “A false witness [who] utters lies” (Pro 6:19), we can connect with the previously mentioned false tongue (see 2.). No body parts are now used to denote persons, but it concerns the whole person. Here we are concerned with violation of the ninth commandment: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exo 20:16).

7. “Who spreads strife among brothers”, is a general description of one who causes and stirs up division and strife (cf. Rom 16:17-18). Possibly this is a depth of things the LORD hates.

In Pro 6:16 we can see in the phrase “yes, seven” the special emphasis placed on this seventh evil. Strife among brothers is the result of the foregoing. The abominations 1-6 culminate in this.

The counterparts of these seven hateful abominations are (1) humility, (2) speaking truth, (3) preserving life, (4) pure thoughts, (5) being zealous to do good things, (6) honest witnesses, and (7) peaceful harmony.