God is a tender, compassionate God who is rich in mercy and grace, but He is also a God of justice—One who hates and abhors sin in every form. Preachers often seem to fail in reminding people that while our God is essentially a God of love, He also has the capacity to hate.
John the Baptist’s preaching (in contrast to much of the preaching one hears today), was down-to-earth and right to the point. He cut no corners. He played no favorites. He had no reputation to defend. His delivery may not have been in line with good homiletics, but he spoke clearly and let the chips fall where they may. We will need to take the same approach as we examine the seven things that God hates, as outlined in Proverbs 6:16-19. The passage clearly declares that God hates a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. This is not a complete list of things that are an abomination to God. The word “abomination” appears 174 times in the Bible. In Proverbs 6 we are given a list of seven “specials”—seven things that are extremely disgusting in the eyes of God. It is important for every Christian to take a serious look at those things which are disgusting to God.
1. God Hates a Proud Look
Pride is basically an exaggerated sense of self-esteem. Pride is putting ourselves on a pedestal above others. Pride is an arrogant, almost boastful, inflated opinion of one’s own worth and ability. Pride takes many different forms:
There is a pride of intellect—an arrogance that assumes one knows more than others. We might excel in one area, but all of us are just plain stupid in other areas of knowledge.
There is a pride of power—the passion to achieve, to dominate, and to give orders.
There is a pride of nation—the deification of one’s national homeland, a false pride that results in racism and bigotry toward others.
There is a spiritual pride—the pride of those who glory in their own spiritual attainments. (If only everyone else in the church would be like we are—or think like we do!)
There is a pride of face—an unreasonable self-esteem connected with the way one appears on the outside.
Some say that it doesn’t matter how one grooms the body. They declare that pride is all in the heart. But Proverbs 6 says that God hates “a proud look”—and that’s on the outside! Surely the angels of God would shrink away from some of the fancy, fashionable, decorated church members of our day. In Heaven, such persons would not be satisfied at all. The simple white robes which the saints of God will wear in the eternal world would not suit their tastes! One of the things which God despises is “a proud look.” God’s people will focus on appearing with simplicity and modesty, and without any indication of vanity and haughtiness.
Over and over again, we are told in the Scriptures that God resists the proud. Over and over again, all of us should fall on our knees and ask God to deliver us from every trace of conceit and undue self-esteem.
2. God Hates a Lying Tongue
A “lie” is a statement that is distorted and untrue. It is a falsehood that causes an incorrect impression. A lie is any action that is intended to mislead, or to deceive another.
The Bible says that God hates every form of lying, and in fact God’s Word declares that no liar shall have any part in the kingdom of heaven (Revelation 21:8). A lying tongue is contrary to everything that is precious to God. Our God is a lover of truth (Numbers 23:19), and He loathes any activity that is contrary to the absolute truth.
There are many forms of lying, but the most common evidence of a lying tongue among some of God’s people is the activity of slander. Slander is the uttering of malicious charges which damage the reputation of others. Slander is usually done by twisting another’s words, by misquoting the statements of others, by repeating a story that reflects on the character of others, or by jumping to a quick conclusion about another person without knowing or carefully checking the facts.
Slander is often the result of gossip. Gossip is indulging in needless chatter about other people. It usually involves personal, detailed talk about unnecessary things. Gossipers do not necessarily try and deceive or twist words. They simply want to keep up to date about the details surrounding the lives of others, and so they usually have something new to tell about others. The persons who engage in idle chatter about the affairs of other people, share the information with others, and they in turn tell still others—and the final tale (after is passes through several heads) usually contains more falsehood than truth. And so the gossiper can easily become a party to passing on lies.
The early Pietists and Anabaptists were known for their modesty and reserve and quiet way of life. The Scriptures command a meek and quiet spirit. All of us need to resolve to live more quietly. He that has knowledge spares his words (Proverbs 17:27). One little proverbial saying expresses the truth this way: It is easier to learn to speak in several languages, than it is to be quietin one. One of the most subtle ways for good well-meaning people to get caught up with lying, is to engage in passing along malicious reports about others—reports which are unkind and are frequently untrue.
3. God Hates Hands That Shed Innocent Blood
Human life is sacred to God. Death is a tremendous doorway, a doorway through which human beings pass into one of two eternal destinies. Only God has a right to open that door, and therefore the commandment, “Thou shalt not kill.”
We all marvel at the progress made by the medical profession in securing and saving life, and yet at the same time all of us are probably shocked at how lightly the life of others is regarded in our day. In some of our big cities, more than a dozen persons are stabbed or shot and killed every weekend. Modern music, movies and television are filled with images of violence and killing. A society that allows television violence in the living room each evening, should not be surprised to find lawlessness and violence on the increase. One of our nation’s leading news magazines reported recently that by the age of 16, the average child sees 200,000 acts of violence on television. And children who watch violence on television become so insensitive to death, that when people are being killed, they sometimes giggle and crack jokes, and even applaud the one who is doing the killing. One of the most beneficial steps parents can take is to get rid of the television set, and the VCRs that go with it. God hates hands that shed innocent blood.
We must all be reminded too that killing during times of national warfare involves the shedding of innocent blood. It is the murder of the masses (by huge armies) instead of the murder of one person (by another person). It involves dropping bombs from airplanes which set on fire the bodies of many who are innocent. Killing in times of war is no different from the murder committed by gangsters and professional gunmen. In light of God’s respect for human life and His hatred for the shedding of human blood, does anyone think that God will look down on the bloody hands of a soldier on the judgment day and say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”?
Mother Teresa (winner of a Nobel Peace Prize) shared another important fact when she was speaking to a roomful of American political leaders. She tied the practice of abortion to the rising rates of violence in the streets. Mother Teresa said, “If we accept the policy that a mother may kill her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill each other?”
4. God Hates a Heart That Devises Wicked Plans
The “heart” is the seat of one’s physical, spiritual, and mental life. The word “heart” is used in Scripture to designate the whole inner person—including the motives, affections, feelings, desires, and thoughts. Proverbs 4:23 says that “out of the heart are the issues of life.”
Problems related to the heart are much discussed these days. People with high blood pressure or elevated cholesterol counts, are watching the progress of their hearts closely. But all of us have to deal with a heart disease of a different kind. Because “the heart is deceitful above all things and is desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9), we must guard carefully our actions and our speech, and especially our reactions to various situations that arise in life.
Someone surprises us with a question we would rather not answer, so we try to evade the truth.
Another car collides with our automobile, and we become upset and angry.
A fellow worker at our place of employment gives us a hard time, and we respond with sarcastic remarks.
These are problems of the heart. We might be able to keep calm when things go smoothly, but sudden stress reveals a heart that is not under control. Habits and actions and speech are all on the surface, and others can observe them in our daily living. But hidden at a deeper level, we have desires, thoughts, and motives—unseen and unknown by anyone until they express themselves in word or deed.
Man looks on the outward appearance, but “the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). Or, as the Psalmist says, “God knows the secrets of the heart” (Psalm 44:21). The heart of each human being, in its unregenerate state—is a laboratory of evil, teeming with foul imaginations and often hatching out thoughts of revenge. And Christians who have not consistently cast down the imaginations of the carnal mind must keep alert, and must clean house.
Heart-keeping is much like house-keeping. There must be a continual sweeping out of dirt, and a cleaning out of rubbish. We are responsible for our thoughts, and while it is true that we cannot keep the devil from injecting evil thoughts into our minds, it is also true that we need not dwell upon such thoughts. Martin Luther’s statement is still true: “You cannot stop the birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.” We are to place our thoughts into captivity and make them obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). This means that we must make deliberate efforts to censor what we read, to guard what we listen to, and to be careful what we laugh at. God hates hearts that devise wicked imaginations.
5. Feet That Are Swift in Running Into Mischief
If evil thoughts and imaginations are nurtured and fed, they eventually lead to outward acts of sin. Our feet follow where our hearts and minds and thoughts have already gone. Proverbs 23:7 says that as we think in our hearts, so are we. God hates feet that are swift to run into mischief.
The “mischief” spoken of in Proverbs 6:18 refers to evil actions of any kind. The book of synonyms (the Thesaurus) includes the following words as substitutes for “mischief”: impairment, damage, injury, harm, discord, conflict, friction, evil, destruction, etc. Mischief carries with it the idea of hurtful conduct which is often done only as a joke. It is closely related to “foolishness.” And we must remember that “foolishness” is one of the thirteen sins mentioned in Mark 7:22 where Jesus talks about theft and covetousness and blasphemy.
There is a proper place for teasing and good clean fun, but each of us must decide where the line is to be drawn between good clean humor, and what amounts to a pure waste of time and a mischievous use of words. Loud laughter and wise-cracking and foolish joking are really violations of God’s instruction in Colossians 4:5-6.
Many of the activities associated with the celebration of holidays (Christmas, New Year, Halloween, etc.) are examples of mischievous conduct. Vandalizing buildings, upsetting items of personal property, soaping windows, loud yelling, setting off fire-crackers, etc. are not in keeping with the quiet and peaceable life which we are to pray for (1 Timothy 2:2). God hates feet that run into mischief.
6. God Hates False Witnesses That Speak Lies
The lying tongue is an offense so serious that it is mentioned twice in this short series of abominable sins. In addition to gossiping, back-biting, and tale-bearing—it may in this case also refer to perjury when giving a testimony before a court of law. We are living in perilous times. A recent poll on truthfulness among Americans claims that “two out of every three Americans see nothing wrong with telling a lie.” One children’s magazine says that some lying (on the part of children) is considered normal, and in fact, the writer says that “a child’s first few lies are an important step in the development of self-confidence.”
Many who have professed faith in Christ are careful to avoid adultery and drunkenness and outright stealing—but at the same time there are some who seem to delight in assailing the character of others. They criticize and find fault and bear tales—often without knowing the reasons for the actions of those whom they criticize. Unnecessary information (gossip) is passed along to others. It would not be so bad if it would “go in one ear and out the other,” but it usually goes in one ear, gets all mixed up, and then slips out of the mouth of the person to whom it was told—and the final story has a lot of falsehood mixed with it.
God repeatedly warns against going up and down as a talebearer among the people (Leviticus 19:16; Proverbs 17:9; Proverbs 18:8; Proverbs 26:22). We are told in Isaiah 30:15 that “in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” All of us need to pledge today to do less talking and more praying; to give less criticism and more affirmation; to be more strict with ourselves and more gracious toward others.
One little poem says, “There is a little door, that everyone can close, and that’s the little door, just underneath your nose.” If we do that, there will be less talebearing, and as a result, there will be less bearing false witness. God hates false witnesses who speak lies.
7. Those Who Sow Discord Among Brethren
God is pleased when He sees His children living together in harmony and peace. He is deeply troubled when discord and strife surface in the church.
The Thesaurus gives a whole list of words that can be substituted for “discord.” They are disagreement, disunity, disharmony, variance, conflict, noncooperation, friction, tension, enmity, etc. Some who profess faith in Christ are absolute experts at sowing discord. They thrive on tension and sarcasm. They put up roadblocks within the fellowship. They seem unaware of the fact that God says, “I hate discord.”
God has commissioned the church to spread the Gospel to a dying world, but many times we sit in our comfortable pews and shoot at the saints. But one who “speaks evil” of an absent person is giving evidence of a lack of love. There are probably no other sins named in the Bible that are condemned more severely than the sin of needlessly repeating the faults of other people. There is perhaps nothing that God hates more. Titus 3:2 says, “Speak evil of no man.” Ephesians 4:31 says, “Let all evil speaking be put away from you.” James 4:11 says, “Speak not evil one of another.” If we see something in another person that needs correction, we should follow the instructions which Jesus gave as recorded in Matthew 18:15-17, and go and speak directly with the offending person. If the issue is not important enough to use that approach, then we need to pray for the brother or sister, and hope that God will bring change for the better. There is nothing the devil would rather do than disrupt the unity that should exist among God’s people in a local assembly. We must guard against getting caught up in a spirit of fault-finding and in this way sow discord among the brethren. God hates the sowing of discord and unrest among fellow believers.
We need to cooperate with God and seek more and more to sanctify our natures, so that gossiping and slandering and maligning others will increasingly disappear. God will not hold him guiltless who drives wedges between friends and family members and brothers and sisters in Christ.
These have been things which God hates. We must strive to increasingly love the things that God loves, and to hate those things that God hates.
Maybe someone who is reading this article is a member of the Christian church. You have been baptized and received into the fellowship of God’s people, but you have just been play-acting. Your heart has not been in it. You have not been trying to walk close to the Lord. If you have been straying and backsliding, there is no better time than today to start over. Remember one of the beautiful promises of the twenty-third Psalm: “He restoreth my soul.” If you will turn to the Lord in faith and repentance, and with a set-of-mind that is determined by the grace of God to walk according to His Word, there will be new power to move ahead victoriously.
Of course it’s true that God islove (1 John 4:8), but God hates evil. We know this because His word instructs us in this and His word is absolutely reliable. And yes, love and hate are opposites, but they’re not always incompatible. In fact, did you know that the Bible actually instructs us to love good and to hate evil?
Ecclesiastes 3:8 reminds us that there is “a time to love and a time to hate.” And the original Hebrew word used there? Despite how many teachers may try to conclude it’s something else, it literally translates “to hate, be hateful.” The Greek translated it as “to detest,”and the primary word for that was hatred.
Gene, hate and hatred? Isn’t that a little strong? I mean, how in the world does ‘there are things God hates’ fit in with my Christianity of loving my neighbor and praying for those who are against me?
Good thing you asked.
Biblical Hatred
Before you hit me in the head with a hundred verses on love, here’s how Biblical hatred works.
First, recognize that there certainly is evil and God himself hates it. His word says as much.
“And never set up sacred pillars for worship, for the LORD your God hates them.” (NLT)
Deuteronomy 16:22
Next, recognize that if God calls out certain things and detests them, then you and I should, too. You love your children, but if one of them has cancer, you hate that disease. You love spending time with your family, but if a rattlesnake joins your party and poisons your wife with it’s bite, you can hate that snake.
And as you probably already know, its a good idea to know what things God hates.
That’s just the way it is in this fallen world. There’s 2 sides to all of our coins. If there’s good, there’s evil. There is light, and there is darkness. If there is love, then there is hate.
The choice you have to make then is, will you love all that is right and detest what’s wrong? Or will you love sin and hate what is righteous?
These are Things that God Hates
Haughty Eyes
Another way to say that is a prideful look. God hates pride because the prideful exalt themselves above Him, idolizing themselves. That’s what Lucifer did in heaven when, in pride, he sinned against God (Isaiah 14:13-14).
David said in Psalm 131:1that his “heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don’t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp.”
If we’re going to listen to someone talk about the destruction of pride, it might as well be King David. He was no stranger to that process.
There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him…
Proverbs 6:16
A Lying Tongue
Dishonesty. God hates it and we’ve all done it. Once again, something King David was familiar with. Remember when he had sex with his neighbor’s wife, and that guy ended up being one of his most loyal military officers? Remember when David tried to cover that up and ultimately had that man killed? That dishonesty eventually broke David’s spirit and may have been one of his huge regrets that led him to pray and confess as he did in the 51st Psalm.
Hands that Shed Innocent Blood
That’s fairly self-explanatory. Murder is wrong and punishable. There’s an ongoing debate that says pro-life automatically equals anti death penalty. I can’t jump to that conclusion. The typical argument presented is that the life of the murderer is considered to be “precious life” once it’s on trial.
I would agree that the soul of the murderer is precious, and that God loves him and Jesus died for him. While I certainly do not rejoice in capital punishment, I’m not ready to establish my own standard against God’s word that teaches a murderer is to be punished. The intentional, violent spilling of innocent blood is an abomination to God. These are His words, not mine. And God hates the hands that shed innocent blood.
Did you notice how these first 3 things God hates are characteristics of Lucifer? Pride, deceit, and violence…
A Heart that Devises Wicked Plans
Jesus mentions this as well. In Matthew 15:19, he said, “For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander.” That’s 7 things he listed, by the way.
Another way to look at this verse is “a deceitful heart.” Our hearts are deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9) and telling someone to follow their heart is just bad advice. It’s much better if you pursue what God loves and confess what’s in your heart, surrendering those thoughts that you don’t want anyone to know about.
Feet that Make Haste to Run to Evil
Running quickly to sin. How many of us can say, “Whew. At least I don’t do that!” I can say that I don’t live in any habitual sin, but how many times do I hesitate before tearing myself away? Do your eyes linger a little more than they should on that enticing advertisement? Do you ever stew a little too long against someone who irritated you? You may not habitually “run to evil,” but do you always flee from sin as quickly as you should?
Did you notice that these first 5 things God hates deal with the moral characterof a person? They also each represent a body part, working from the head to the heart and then the feet.
A False Witness who Breathes out Lies
This goes beyond the lies of “a lying tongue.” This represents someone who takes an oath and then intentionally spreads lies and misinformation. This can be someone on the witness stand of a courtroom, but it can also include those who misrepresent God.
You’ll never find a sinless pastor, but stay away from Bible teachers and pastors who don’t have accountability in their lives and who misrepresent the Gospel in and out of the pulpit. And when you give your word, keep it true.
One who Sows Discord Among Brothers
These are the saboteurs around you. In the workplace, among your friends, in your church, and probably even in your family, there’s that one person who causes trouble for everyone.
The term ‘among brothers’used in this verse leads me to conclude that this is directed closer to home. This is speaking to the person who stirs up strife among relatives and within the fellowship of the church, causing misery where the nurturing of a family should be.
If this is you, seek forgiveness and stop it. If it’s someone you know, pray about how to address the problem. And then address it. Sorry, we don’t get to ignore things that God says he hates, and he hates strife and confusion within the family, whether it’s in your church or among your relatives.
God is love, but love is not God. When we speak of the God of the Bible, we must draw references from Scripture. If we don’t, we’ll be tempted to craft an idol of what we think the divine should be like. God must hate because he is the essence of true love, and he would not be a good God if he never felt disapproval, just like a father cannot be deemed loving if he feels apathy toward the suffering of his daughter. God both loves and hates — but what are some things that God hates?
I’m studying the book Proverbs for my devotions. Often for my devotional Bible reading, I’ll try to read the Bible in one year, but I like to occasionally switch things up, and instead of a macro view (using a one year Bible reading plan, for example), I like a micro view — where I pick one book of the Bible and study that book with Bible commentaries and other resources.
Proverbs is about wisdom, and ethics and wisdom are closely related. In particular, Proverbs speaks about applying God’s Word. When I first journeyed on my study in Proverbs on a deep level, I was surprised to see so many connections to ethics and wisdom. Being godly and being wise are identical.
Of course, in some sense, all of the Bible teaches ethics, for we study Scripture not just to see what God says, but also to learn how to obey him. The ethical portions of Scripture that often get the most press are the 10 Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount, and rightfully so, for which one of us hasn’t been blessed by obeying those 10 rules or a section from the greatest sermon ever preached?
But, right in the middle of the Bible, we see a small portion of Scripture that provides a big overview on ethical living as well.
These are the seven things God hates listed in Proverbs 6:16-17.
The List from Proverbs
This list is not exhaustive. There are more than seven things that God hates, but here are the seven mentioned in Proverbs 6:16-17:
“There are six things that the Lord hates,
seven that are an abomination to him:
haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that make haste to run to evil,
a false witness who breathes out lies,
and one who sows discord among brothers.”
The passage says “Six things that the Lord hates,” and “seven that are an abomination to him.” I’m including the seventh thing from this list (e.g., one who sows discord among brothers) because it’s something that God hates as well; you can make an argument it’s the thing he hates most on the entire list.
Let’s break down each one.
7 Things God Hates
1. God hates haughty eyes.
Haughty (which rhymes with naughty) seems like a weird word. Interestingly, “haughty” is the word of choice in the ESV, NIV, and NASB. The English word “haughty” in the Bible is used on three occasions (2 Samuel 22:8; Psalm 18:27; Proverbs 6:17). In a nutshell, haughty means “arrogance.”
More broadly, the Hebrew word for haughty is yahir, which means “to build a wall high, and also, as a figurative expression with various interpretations, to elevate the soul of someone.” 1Synonyms for yahir are words like high, exalted, exalted above, and so on. You get the picture: it’s a form of arrogance in which one exalts himself over another person or looks down on someone else.
I regularly go to the gym. Some of the “bros” in the gym who take both legal and illegal supplements like to grunt and make noises as they exercise. I don’t know their motives, but sometimes it seems as if the particularly fit person will “mean mug” others. He stares at people in the gym in a threatening way as if he is trying to demonstrate superiority because of his physique. It seems as if he looks down upon others who are not as physically fit as him.
This is what it looks like to be haughty.
2. God hates a lying tongue.
Your tongue is connected to your mouth, which dictates your words. A lying tongue is the intentional misuse of words to hurt others or to exalt oneself. It is “aggressive deceit intended to harm the other, unfaithfulness, perfidy, even when the result of words” (Quoted in Waltke, 347). An example from Scripture is Judas of Iscariot (Psalm 109:2; Acts 1:20).
Jesus tells us, “for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45). Ultimately, your tongue is connected to your heart. If you fill your life with Scripture, prayer, confession, repentance, and church community, you will have increased awareness of what you say and how it affects people.
3. God hates hands that shed innocent blood.
This means intentionally killing innocent persons. Waltke tells us that these murders are driven by greed (Ezekiel 22:6; 2 Kings 21:16; 347). You can picture a hitman who kills an innocent person they don’t know for money. Or when someone in a powerful position leverages their power to kill innocent lives. “Whereas the godly use property to help others, the avaricious love things and use people” (Waltke, 347).
This particularly hurts the lowly in society who often feel powerless. Power, status, and money should be used to help people, not hurt them. Even more, we should be driven with the desire to love God and neighbor, not tear people down.
4. God hates hearts that devise wicked plans.
The center of this list? The heart (Waltke, 347). The heart here is not the physical organ in your body that pumps blood, but the deep center of who you are as a person: your will, emotions, desires, and so on. You cannot avoid the sins on this list through effort alone, but only through a heart transformed by God. All of your actions are the result of what’s going on inside of you.
5. God hates feet that make haste to run to evil.
“The pair of feet sets the whole person in motion toward the evil he wants to achieve” (Waltke, 347). Haste (or speed) emphasizes the person’s intentional desire to do evil. The person is sprinting, not walking, to evil (Waltke, 347). This shows that this evil is not stumbled upon but purposely planned.
6. God hates a false witness that breathes out lies.
I find it interesting that this one seems to be mentioned twice (see a lying tongue above). What’s the difference between a lying tongue and a false witness that breathes out lies? They are both similar, but the picture here is magnified, with the specific lie being committed to hurt one’s neighbor, whereas a lying tongue can be done not specifically to hurt people, but to advance oneself in a way (Waltke, 347).
A common theme is emerging in this list of seven things God hates: God particularly doesn’t like when our corrupt actions hurt others or are done to exalt ourselves.
7. God hates one who sows discord among brothers.
This is when someone purposely divides others. Derek Kidner speaks of this as “the crowning abomination” (Kidner, 69).
I remember watching The Last Dance, a sports documentary that highlighted the historic run for the beloved Chicago Bulls franchise. The owner was interviewed in the documentary and spoke about what he had heard about a General Manager before hiring him, and he said something like, “I heard he alienates people.” He hired him anyway.
That’s what it means to sow discord: it’s when you alienate people from others. It means to cause disunity, mistrust, and suspicion among others, often motivated by a desire for self-worship. (ESV Study Bible footnote, Proverbs 6:12-14).
Sometimes we choose a new church or leave our career or choose to end a friendship. No doubt, we shouldn’t lie as we leave, but we don’t need to be fully transparent with everyone (not everyone can handle it, nor is hardly ever necessary to get the point across), and we certainly shouldn’t stir the pot for the purpose of creating mistrust among people. This is wicked and cowardly.
As we leave, we should do so quietly, and try our best not to unnecessarily cause division, especially if we have not experienced any injustice. This is hard, and it may mean you have to risk your reputation to do the right thing. But do the right thing anyway.
The 7 things God hates are characteristics of the “worthless person” as outlined in Proverbs (ESV Study Bible footnote, Proverbs 6:12-14). By “worthless,” we do not literally mean zero worth. Every person, whether Christian or not, has worth because every person is created in the image of God. By “worthless person,” Proverbs means the person who doesn’t add value to the lives of others because he or she does not desire to live in accordance with God’s wisdom; they are worthless in terms of righteousness because they have none.
Breaking it Down
Kidner (69) breaks the list down as follows:
- One sin of attitude (17a)
- One of thought (18a)
- Two of speech (17b and 19a)
- Two of action (17c,18b)
- One of influence (19b)
Kinder adds, “the reader can almost catch the superior look and the shifty talk, and may wonder when his own hands were last employed to an innocent person’s detriment” (69).
Yes, it’s important that we read the list of seven things God hates and remember it is speaking of the “worthless” person. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t apply to you if you are a Christian. You can easily break one or all seven on the list, even if you are in Christ. It’s also best, when reading the list, not to quickly think, “So-and-so needs to read this; they are totally sinning by doing X.” That’s easy to do with Proverbs because there’s so much talk of foolishness, and we don’t want to admit that maybe, just maybe, we are the person God wants to convict through his Word. We need to read the list of seven things God hates and consider if we ourselves are committing any of the actions.
How Do I Apply This to My Life?
How do you apply this material to your life?
Here are some suggestions:
1. Praise God for his character. That he is not too heavy-handed (all hate and no love) or that he is not a pushover (all love and no hate). Truly, the character of God is perfect in every way.
2. Pursue humility by doing “. . . nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4). Go out of your way to serve someone who particularly annoys you.
3. Avoid overstatement. Exaggerate only when obviously excitable. Some puffery such as “That’s the best coffee shop in this city — hands down!” is fine; it shows you’re passionate, excitable, and fun. You are revealing your personality. But saying, “Coffee X is way better than Coffee Y” when in fact you have never tasted Coffee Y is, of course, lying. Be precise. Give credit if necessary. Only be transparent and open with those you trust, but aim for truthfulness with all.
4. Fight against injustice. Consider the poor, the widow, the unborn. You can’t always do something against injustice, but you can always pray. Pray that God will judge the wicked or convert them.
5. Fight for unity in your church. Please, please: don’t be divisive in your church. Don’t be quarrelsome. Don’t spread lies or gossip about others. Words can be irrevocably destructible, and sometimes thriving churches die because of a lie. Speak privately with elders if something concerns you. If matters remain unresolved, after a season of prayer and seeking wisdom, then simply leave to another church as peaceably as you can.
Notes:
- Koehler, L., Baumgartner, W., Richardson, M. E. J., & Stamm, J. J. (1994–2000). The Hebrew and Aramaic lexicon of the Old Testament (electronic ed., p. 1202). Leiden: E.J. Brill. ↩
The Bible clearly states God is love (1 John 4:16). While God loves, the Scripture also says that God can hate, a concept that many people find disturbing. It is far simpler to see God as the kind answerer of prayers and the creator of flowers, rainbows, and butterflies.
We commonly think that we sin when we feel hatred for things that offend us or cause injustice. This is not the case. Deuteronomy 16:22 says that God hates evil, even if it’s just evil thoughts.
A coin has two sides as there is light and darkness, or good and evil. There is love as there is hatred. What you have to decide then is whether or not you will love what is right while hate what is evil. In addition, it’s always a good idea to know the 7 things God hates.
What Are The 7 Things God Hates?
1. God Hates Haughty Eyes
An odd term, haughty, seems out of place in this context. In the ESV, NIV, and NASB, “haughty” is the word of choice. Three times in the Bible, the English term “haughty” is used (2 Samuel 22:8, Psalm 18:27, and Proverbs 6:17). Haughtiness may be defined as “pride” in its simplest form, and God hates pride.
Additionally, yahir (the Hebrew word for arrogant) may be translated as “to construct a wall high” or “to raise the soul of someone,” depending on the context. Yahir’s synonyms include terms like “high,” “exalted,” and “exalted above.” An arrogant individual glorifies himself above another person or looks down on others.
2. God Hates A Lying Tongue
Falsehoods of the tongue. We have all done it, and God does not like it. King David committed adultery with the wife of one of his most faithful military officers. Do you recall David’s cover-up attempt that resulted in the murder of that man? When David finally came to terms with his transgression, it is possible that it was one of his greatest regrets that compelled him to pray and confess in the Psalm of David.
However, if you accept Jesus Christ, the Son of the Holy God, into your life, he may cause your mouth to utter only pleasant things.
3. God Hates Hands That Shed Innocent Blood
This entails the intentional killing of an innocent person. God clearly stated this in the 10 Commandments. Murder is a crime that deserves prosecution. The lowest in society are most affected by this since they typically feel helpless. Power, position, and money should be utilized for the benefit of others, not for their own benefit. Instead of seeking to tear others down, we should be motivated by a desire to love God and our neighbor as ourselves.
4. God Hates Hearts That Devise Wicked Plans
God does hate a heart that devises wicked schemes. A person’s heart, rather than the actual organ that pumps blood, refers to the core of his or her personality, including the will, emotions, desires, and so on. You can’t escape the sins on this list unless you have a heart that has been changed by the Holy Spirit. Everything you do is a product of what’s happening in your head.
“A deceptive heart” is another way to interpret this text. Telling someone to follow their heart is a negative piece of advice since the heart is a deceptive thing (Jeremiah 17:9). Pursuing what God values and confessing your views, which you may not want anybody else to know about, is a much superior strategy.
5. God Hates Feet That Make Haste To Run To Evil
A person’s whole being is put in motion toward the evil he desires by a single pair of feet. Using speed (or haste) to commit sin indicates a person’s deliberate purpose to inflict harm. People are speeding toward evil rather than strolling. This proves that this atrocity is not an accident, but rather a deliberate effort.
Do you ever let your feelings against someone who has offended you stay for too long? Do you always retreat from sin as swiftly as you should, even if you don’t “rush to evil?”
6. God Hates A False Witness That Breathes Out Lies
What is the difference between a liar’s tongue and someone bearing false witness? They are similar, but the particular lie is perpetrated with the intent to harm one’s neighbor, while a lying tongue may be used to further one’s own interests.
Always avoid pastors who aren’t accountable for their actions and don’t portray the Gospel in a truthful manner in or out of the pulpit. And when you make a promise, uphold your end of the bargain.
7. God Hates One Who Sows Discord Among Brothers
If you sow discord, you are creating a rift between individuals. What it implies is to create a climate of distrust, fear, or suspicion in the hearts and minds of those around you, frequently driven by a need for self-adoration. A remark on Proverbs 6:12-14 may be found in the.
Changing our religion, leaving our job, or ending a relationship are all choices we make on occasion. No, we shouldn’t lie as we leave, but we don’t need to be completely open with everyone (not everyone can take it, nor is it nearly ever essential to get the message through), and we definitely shouldn’t stir the pot for the goal of causing distrust among people.
When a person causes discord among family members or inside the church, he or she is not doing what is best for the family’s well-being. This is evil and cowardly.
Why Should You Hate Them Too?
When we put our faith in Christ and embrace Him as our Savior, we have been granted the right—the authority—to be adopted as God’s children (John 1:12). To be sons and daughters of God is to keep away from the wickedness of this world. If we want to be like God, we must imitate Him by adoring and despising the things that He dislikes.
As we mature in Christ’s likeness, we should develop an aversion to evil. That’s one way we show our awe and awe-inspiration for Him. The more we adore and dread God’s sanctity, the more we see our own imperfections, because God hates sin. So when we detect evil in ourselves (Matthew 5:3–4, 6), we reject and despise the parts of our nature that would create sorrow for ourselves and for other people (Matthew 5:3).
Proverbs 6:16–19 Talks About What God Hates
Based on the passage from Proverbs, the Lord hates seven things:
“There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.”
— Proverbs 6:16–19none
While there are many more that should be avoided, this list encompasses the vast majority of the heinous acts for which God has pronounced judgment. The seven things that God hates are the sins that involve the individual’s deepest desires.
How To Avoid These Things And To Apply It To Your Life?
As children of God, we may find ourselves asking, “What can we do to avoid the things God hates?” Consider the following suggestions:
It is possible to cultivate humility by, among other things, acting without selfish ambition or arrogance and instead considering the needs of others more important than your own (Philippians 2:3–4).
It’s also important to combat injustice. Be mindful of those who are less fortunate than you. There are times when you can’t help but hope for justice. Pray for God to either punish or convert the wicked.
Finally, avoid causing division in your church. Don’t propagate falsehoods or gossip about other people. Words have the power to destroy, and some congregations have been wiped out because of fabricated stories. If you’re worried about anything, talk to a trusted adult in your life. After a period of prayer and contemplation, if the situation is still unresolved, leave the church in peace.
Other Things God Hates
Aside from the seven things God hates, the Scripture also outlines what God abhors (Exodus 20:1–17). Here are other things God hates:
- Bowing to any deity other than Him
- Worshipping any graven image or concept instead of God
- Taking His name in vain.
- Forgetting the Sabbath Day
- Disrespecting your parents
- Murder
- Adultery
- Thievery
- Lying to defame another’s a good name
- Desiring what others have
Again, this is all about love beyond ourselves: loving God first and loving others as we ought. We contribute to global warfare when we disregard God and disregard our neighbors. Another thing that God abhors is discord. Even Christians tend to quarrel and fight with one another. Where there is conflict, there are more murders, adulteries, thefts, lies, and jealousy.
Conclusion
God’s words may be convicting and even harsh at times. Yet, God’s word is valuable since it builds us up and prepares us to exalt Him. Discovering the things God abhors and being truthful about them is a valuable trait to take home.
When we ultimately see our mistake and return to Him, He welcomes us back with open arms. Yes, God despises sin, but He loves all sinners who repent. As John 3:16 states, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life[1].”
When reading God’’s Word our tendency is to turn first to the passages which bring comfort and encouragement. Sometimes, however, it is necessary to turn to those verses ““useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training…”…” –- look up 2 Timothy 3:16-17. These verses bring before us the kind of teaching we are always needing, so before examining the seven things which God hates, let’s make three observations about this portion of scripture.
- 1. These verses clearly emphasise the moral hideousness of the human heart and of the world in which we live. The seven evils mentioned are all around us. These verses, therefore, declare the depravity of man. This is not a popular subject and in many quarters is no longer believed; but whether men believe that the human race is depraved or not, it does not alter the fact. It is all too apparent as we watch trends in literature, programmes on television, and the kinds of pictures and plays which are advertised. Wherever we look we see the great sinfulness of sin (Isaiah 1:5-6; Jeremiah 17:9). How great is the moral hideousness of the human heart!
- 2. These verses remind us of the holiness and purity of God and of His hatred of sin. These are the seven sins which are called ““detestable””. How much does God hate sin? In a former dispensation God hated sin so much that He destroyed most of the human race which He had created (Genesis 6:5-7). But to find out how much God hates sin we must look at Calvary to remind ourselves that so great was the divine hatred against sin that God actually surrendered His own Son to the fearful suffering and anguish of a Roman gibbet, so that sin might once and for all be dealt with –- look up Philippians 2:8. How holy God is, and how much He hates sin!
- 3. These verses remind us that the true ambition and desire of God’’s people is, or should be, to live without these offensive sins which God hates. Thank God, it is possible to live a life that is pleasing to Him! He has provided victory over all the things that grieve Him. We are to be different people, and we may be (Romans 8:37; Ephesians 4:30).
What, then, are the seven things that God hates?
1. A Proud Look –- ““haughty eyes””
Pride is the primary sin (James 4:6). It was through pride that the Devil fell. What an insidious thing pride is! That is why the Apostle Peter speaks about the virtue of humility (1 Peter 3:4; 5:5). What did Jesus say in Matthew 11:29-30?
2. A Lying Tongue
But surely Christians do not lie? Unfortunately they do sometimes. But surely it’s alright to tell ‘‘white’’ lies? Is it? God hates “”a lying tongue””. But surely it’s impossible to get on in business these days without telling the occasional lie? God hates ““a lying tongue””; see what Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:25. We need to pray David’s prayer in Psalm 120:2.
3. Heartless Cruelty –- ““hands that shed innocent blood””
We quite naturally think of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1-15). In the New Testament we read about Cain, who shed innocent blood when he killed Abel (1 John 3:11-12,15). Do you hate anyone? Then in God’’s sight you are a murderer, and God hates murderers.
4. Vicious Scheming –- ““a heart that devises wicked schemes””
We are reminded here of the source of evil which begins inside. See what Jesus said (Matthew 15:18-19). How different was Dorcas in Acts 9:36; and Barnabas (Acts 11:24).
5. Mischievous Eagerness –- ““feet that are quick to rush into evil””
Here are feet that run to do mischief! This is the Devil’’s work because he ““prowls around like a roaring lion”” (1 Peter 5:8). God hates this mischief. What are your feet doing? Are they the beautiful feet of Romans 10:15?
6. Social Slander –- ““a false witness who pours out lies””
An old writer has said, “This is an accursed thing! It works oftentimes by other means than words: by a look or a shrug of the shoulders it levels its poisoned arrows; it has broken many a virtuous heart and stained many a virtuous reputation. It has nodded away many a good name, and winked into existence a host of suspicions, that have gathered round and crushed the most chaste and virtuous of our kind. It often works in the dark, and generally under the mask of truthfulness and love.”” God hates slander –- see what He says about it in Ephesians 4:29 and 32.
7. Divisive Strife – – “a man who stirs up dissension among brothers””
This perhaps is the worst of the seven sins. Another old writer refers to the man who “by “tale bearing, untrue stories, half-truths, subtle insinuations, produces the disruption of friendships and the break-up of fellowship…”…” God hates this!
This is a dreadful subject but perhaps it is needed, and we must ask the question, How can we be released from these things which God hates and filled with those things which He loves?
- 1. We must be honest with ourselves and with God; let the searchlight of His Word and of the Holy Spirit come into our hearts and reveal the things which displease Him. Then we must admit our wrong, confess our sin and forsake that which grieves the Lord (2 Corinthians 7:1).
- 2. We must seek and receive the cleansing of Christ’s precious blood. Thank God, this is available for the saint and for the sinner! (1 John 1:7).
- 3. We must rely upon the Holy Spirit for victory (2 Corinthians 3:17).
Too
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Verses 16-19 of Proverbs 6 list of some of the things that God hates. Discuss these verses with your children, and have them draw pictures to illustrate each of the sins listed.
Below each sin are some examples of ways children (and adults) practice these sins. When discussing these, don’t miss the opportunity to make clear that God hates all sin. He hates it so much that we cannot have fellowship with Him apart from faith in His Son, who paid the penalty for our sin and clothes us with His righteousness. Through Him, we are given the grace to love and obey God. Through Him, and only Him, we are given the strength to do what is right, as described in the verses that are listed here with each sin.
1. Haughty eyes (or a proud look)
- Rolling the eyes in response to something said to them,
- Looking down on someone younger, different, or less intelligent
- Setting themselves up as the judge of others
- Thinking they are wiser than their parents and other elders
- Criticizing parents and other authorities
- Arguing with parents
- Disobeying and openly rebelling against authorities
- Ingratitude
- Boasting about one’s accomplishments, status, or knowledge
- Disrespect
“For God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:5-6).
2. A lying tongue
- Not telling the truth about a wrongdoing
- Withholding information that others need to have
- Hypocritical words
- Flattering to gain something from someone
- Exaggerating the facts
- Implying that something is true, or purposely leading someone to an incorrect assumption
- Telling partial truths
- Not honoring parents’ rules when they are absent
- Not offering evidence against a wrongdoer when necessary
- Committing to doing something with no real intention of following through
- Making excuses
- Blaming others for own sinful actions
“Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight”(Proverbs 12:22).
3. Hands that shed innocent blood (Although children may not murdersomeone, they will exhibit anger, indifference, and other emotions that drive them to physically harm others.)
- Bullying
- Hitting, biting, kicking, hurting others
- Striking parents
- Carelessly abusing or killing animals for amusement (such as shooting little birds with a BB gun)
“He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour” (Proverbs 21:21).
4. A heart that devises wicked plans
- Plotting revenge
- Snubbing someone
- Conspiring to deceive or hurt someone
- Lying about a long series of actions in order to cover sin
“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
5. Feet that make haste to run to evil
- Joining with others to do wrong when the authority is not present
- Delighting in doing wrong
“Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14).
6. A false witness who breathes out lies
- Falsely accusing someone of misbehavior and sin
- Misrepresenting a disagreement between people
- Falsely describing the actions of another person in a way that implies his guilt
- Not offering evidence against someone when asked to give testimony
- Covering for someone who has committed a wrongdoing
“Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: so shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man” (Proverbs 3:3-5).
7. One who sows discord among brothers
- Teasing
- Listening to gossip and repeating gossip
- Slandering, repeating truths that will harm another person’s reputation
- Leading others to imagine the worst about someone
- Stirring up disagreements and jealousies
- Arousing suspicions against someone
- Meddling in the disagreements of others
- Taking sides in disagreements
- Envying the success and blessing of others
“Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? … He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour” (Psalm 15:1-3).
A lying tongue
This sin is not so simple as just telling a white lie. People who have a lying tongue are doing it knowingly, willingly, and with the intent to deceive others. By choosing to tell lies, you are becoming more like Satan, who is the father of lies (John 8:44).
John 8:44 - You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
God is the God of truth. In Ephesians 4:25, God wants His children to put away lying and to speak the truth.
Ephesians 4:25 - Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.
Hands that shed innocent blood
This sin means heartless cruelty with the act of murder. The event that sticks in mind most clearly when thinking of this sin is the story of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1-15). Cain shed the innocent blood of his brother and was punished accordingly. Cain’s punishment meant that he was exiled and the land that he farmed no longer responded to him because he shed innocent blood on it.
While we can definitely take this in the literal sense to mean not to murder, there is also another sin here to consider. In the New Testament, Christ clearly says that if you hate your fellow brother and call him a fool, you are a murderer in your heart. God is just and compassionate. He will never stand for cruelty against the innocent.
A heart that devises evil plans
This sin focuses more on the internal, rather than the external like the others. This is specific to scheming and thinking of evil plans within your own heart. In Matthew 15:18,19, Christ says that our thoughts and our heart is the source of evil. The heart itself produces evil thoughts, which later leads to the physical manifestation of those sins - murder, adultery, theft, lies, etc.
Matthew 15:18,19 - But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.
Feet that are swift in running to evil
This sin is referring to those who are quick to rush into mischief or evil. They have no resistance against sin, instead they run boldly in that direction. In 1 Peter 5:8, Peter reminds the believers that the devil is prowling waiting for whom he can devour/bring into sin.
1 Peter 5:8 - Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
We must draw close to God to resist evil and temptations. God is the only one that can help us overcome. We cannot do it on our own. This can be accomplished by prayer and meditation in God’s Word.
A false witness who speaks lies
We may be thinking that this sin is the same as #2. While similar, this sin is specific to slander. These lies can lead to imprisonment, death, and/or destruction of an individual. In Ephesians 4:29, believers are reminded not to have corrupt communications. Our words should be used for the edification of others, not to bring them down.
Ephesians 4:29 - Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
One who sows discord among brethren
The first six on the list are evils which God hates, while this one is considered an abomination to Him. One could say that it is perhaps the worst sin on the list. This sin is mentioned as being an action against brethren. This can mean either within family members or within the church.
God created the church for unity and fellowship. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ. God intended for us to live in harmony with one another. God despises strife amongst His children. Anyone who purposely causes disruption to peace in the body of Christ acts in opposition to God.
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