Proverbs 6: 16 - 19

Note: In the NIV Version (and most other English translations), when the word "LORD" is completely capitalized, it is being translated from the Hebrew name "YHWH" and when it is written as "Lord" it is translated from the Hebrew name "Adonai." It is also held that the only "name of God" in the Tanakh (Old Testament) is YHWH. Where as words such as Elohim (God), El (mighty one), El Shaddai (almighty God), Adonai (master), El Elyon (most high God), Avinu (our Father), etc. are not names, but titles, highlighting different aspects of YHWH, and the various roles which He has. This is similar to how a man may be called by his name, or by 'Dad', 'Husband', 'Boss', 'Sir', 'Son', etc, however his personal name is the only one that can be correctly identified as his name. In the Tanakh, YHWH is the personal name of the God of Israel, where as the other words are titles which are ascribed to Him.

These next four verses of Proverbs 6 are about 7 things that the Lord hates or finds “detestable.”

Here are the verses that cover the whole subject, but today, we will look closely at the first two:

Proverbs 6: 16 - 19 (NIV)

16 There are six things the LORD hates,

seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes,

a lying tongue,

hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,

feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies

and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

The first thing listed is “haughty eyes.” The online dictionary defines “haughty” as “having or showing arrogant superiority to, and disdain of those one views as unworthy. This is exactly the opposite of the attitude that God would have us show to others.

God asks us to serve others. This is what Jesus had to say to his disciples in Matthew 20:26-28 : 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (NKJV)

The second thing listed is “a lying tongue.” In the Book of John, Jesus talks to the Pharisees about lying. He says, “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.” John 8:44 (NKJV) Lies are used to deceive others, and that again, is the opposite of the way that God would have us treat others.

The next thing that is listed is “hands that shed innocent blood.” These would be murderers, and not military people who are fighting a war. Throughout the Bible, there are examples where God was often with His people as they fought wars. As we have seen in past verses of Proverbs, God has often warned against the foolishness that leads people into evil paths that end in murder and death.