These six [things] doth Jehovah hate, yea, seven are an abomination unto him
Proverbs 6:16 opens a short list with an odd count: six things God hates, then seven. Why count this way, and what is that hatred aimed at?
The list follows a portrait of a troublemaker in verses 12–15. One commentator notes how the evils are presented differently from there on.
William KellyLaziness is unworthy, and it is bad and unwise to be idle. It is far worse to be active in evil, for this works endless harm to others. The Holy Spirit first draws a portrait of the dangerous man in verses 12 to 15. Then, in verses 16 to 19, He presents the evils on their own, apart from the closing one — and they are strongly hateful to Jehovah.
The rising count is not a slip. It draws the eye forward, and it also signals that the list is a sample rather than a complete inventory.
L. M. GrantThough this is not a complete list of all the things the Lord hates, it is clear that many other evils grow out of these, and if so, then of course the Lord hates them too. It mentions six things first, then adds a seventh, as though the seventh is an afterthought, or is meant to draw special attention. People may think a proud look is a small thing, but even this is an abomination to the Lord (v. 17). "A lying tongue" nearly always points to hypocrisy — a wish to misrepresent the facts, usually for personal gain. This is so common that people think lightly of it, but God does not!
This could sound like God picking out people to loathe. One writer explains the direction of that hatred.
L. M. Grant"A false witness who breathes out lies" can only expect God's hatred (v. 19). God does not single out the individual to hate him. But God's hatred of falsehood is absolute. So anyone who chooses falsehood is placing himself on the side of falsehood, and comes under that same dreadful hatred.
One writer sets the items of the list against the life of Jesus, and each one is His exact opposite.
William KellyHaughty eyes come first, or a proud look. What a contrast with Him who made heaven and earth and everything in them, when He was willing to become man here below! He was the dependent and obedient man, gentle and humble in heart. He always looked up and did only what pleased His Father. He was full of compassion toward suffering people, and ready to forgive the sinful. "A lying tongue" comes next. Jesus was not only true, He was the truth; He alone. Far from Him were "hands that shed innocent blood," since He was Himself the holy sufferer to the very end. But in man there may be something worse still: "a heart that devises wicked plans," in hateful and unmistakable likeness to the evil one. What could be more opposed to Jehovah and His Anointed?
The seventh item is sowing discord. One writer weighs it against what it cost to bring believers together.
J. T. MawsonDivisions among the children of God are not of God, but are of the flesh and the devil, and they please a scoffing world very well. The one who "sows discord among brothers" is one of the seven abominations in God's sight; He hates him (Prov. 6:19), and no wonder, since Jesus died to make them one and to bring them into harmony with God.
It usually starts in a very ordinary way:
L. M. GrantThere are various ways of sowing discord, and it often begins with talebearing. That is far worse than people think. A story can be stretched so badly that the damage will likely never be undone. Let us be careful not to put anyone in a bad light without need. Of course, if someone is clearly an enemy of God, we may need to warn others of his evil character. But that is different from sowing discord among brothers.
God expects His people to share that hatred. One writer admits we find this hard.
Frank WallaceIt is very difficult for us as Christians to hate, and to hate in a righteous, spiritual way... The Lord Jesus hated things because they stood against His God, and we must have those features too. God expects His people to hate them, to root them out of our own lives first, and to allow no room for them in others.
- Sample, not survey. The rising count from six to seven shows the list is not complete. Other evils grow out of these, and God hates them too.
- Small sins, named. A proud look and a lying tongue head the list — things people treat lightly, and God does not.
- Sides, not targets. God's hatred of falsehood is absolute. Whoever chooses falsehood steps onto its side and comes under that hatred.
- Christ, the reverse image. Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood — each is the exact opposite of Jesus.
- Discord, the climax. The list keeps the seventh for last. Dividing God's children undoes what Jesus died to make one, and it starts with talebearing.
haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood;
Proverbs 6:17 sits inside a short list God Himself draws up: six things He hates, with a seventh added for weight. This verse holds the first three items — the eyes, the tongue, the hands — and it raises a sharp question: why does God put a mere look beside murder?
The chapter has been warning against laziness before it reaches this list.
William KellyLaziness is unworthy, and it is bad and unwise to be idle. But it is far worse to be active in evil, because this does endless harm to others. The Holy Spirit first draws a portrait of the dangerous man in verses 12 to 15. Then, in verses 16 to 19, He presents the evils impersonally, except at the end — and these are the evils Jehovah emphatically hates.
So the same evils are stated twice — once as a man you could point at, once as qualities that could turn up in anyone. That double witness is deliberate:
William KellyThey are set out in a more abstract style, which need not be in the same person. So in the mouth of these two divine testimonies every word might be the more established.
The count is not padding. The list also reaches beyond the seven items it names.
L M GrantThis is not a complete list of all the things the Lord hates. Yet many other evils clearly grow out of these, and if so, then of course the Lord hates them too. Six things are mentioned first, then comes "Yes, seven," as though the seventh is an afterthought, or is meant to draw special attention.
Pride heads the list, and it shows in nothing more than a look. That is the point of putting it first.
An Outline of Sound WordsPride is the first thing mentioned by the Lord, and it is the leading member of the seven things that are an abomination to the Lord (Prov. 6:17); it was the cause of Satan's downfall (Ezek. 28:17), and the cause of the fall of many another, as Scripture teaches: "One's pride will bring him low" (Prov. 29:23), and "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Prov. 16:18). Pride marks nations, people, and cities alike.
Kelly sets the proud look against the humility of the Creator who became a man:
William KellyHaughty eyes come first, or a proud look. What a contrast with Him who made heaven and earth, and everything in them, when He stooped to become man here below! He was the dependent and obedient man, meek and lowly in heart. He always looked up and did only what pleased His Father. He was full of compassion toward suffering people, and ready to forgive the sinful.
The second item is the one people excuse most easily, and that is the danger in it.
L M Grant"A lying tongue" almost always shows hypocrisy. It is a wish to misrepresent the facts, usually for some personal advantage. Lying is so common that people make light of it — but not God!
God measures lying against His own glory:
William KellyJehovah concerns Himself about every lie. Lying lips are an abomination to Him, just like an idol set up to rival and ruin His glory. So those who not only speak but deal truly are His delight.
No one defends the third item. But the first murder happened before any law forbade it.
L M GrantEveryone's conscience speaks out against this, but some ignore their conscience completely. Cain did, when he killed his brother Abel (Gen. 4:8). No law such as "You shall not murder" existed then. Yet Cain knew he was a guilty man, and his lying proves it. God asked him, "Where is Abel your brother?" (Gen. 4:9).
Cain joins two of the three: his hands did the deed, and his tongue covered it.
This list is not for spectators.
Frank WallaceIt is often very difficult for us to hate as Christ hated, because some personal matter may stir up our hatred and our anger. But the Lord Jesus hated things because they stood against His God, and we too must have those features... God expects His people to hate them too, to make sure we first get rid of them in our own lives, and to make sure we allow them no room in others.
- Root. The list is not complete; many other evils grow out of these few, so God hates those too.
- Look. Pride comes first because it is the leading member — the cause of Satan's downfall and of many a fall since.
- Tongue. Lying is so common that people think lightly of it; God concerns Himself about every lie.
- Hands. Cain shed innocent blood before any law said "You shall not murder" — and his lying answer proved he knew.
- Mirror. Christ is the opposite of the proud look, and God's people must hate what He hates — starting in their own lives.