Breakdown of Proverbs 16:6-7

"By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil. When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him." — What's easy to miss is that the verse isn't saying our mercy and truth earn atonement; rather, God's steadfast love and faithfulness are the very basis upon which our iniquity is covered. This fo…

Proverbs 16:6-7 Meaning Explained

All verses

Proverbs 16:6-7

By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil. When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

English Standard Version (ESV)

What's easy to miss is that the verse isn't saying our mercy and truth earn atonement; rather, God's steadfast love and faithfulness are the very basis upon which our iniquity is covered. This foundation of divine faithfulness then empowers us, through a genuine fear of the Lord, to actively turn away from evil.

What Proverbs 16:6-7 means

This verse appears in the midst of a section where Solomon is exploring the nature of true wisdom and righteousness, contrasting it with foolishness and wickedness. It follows discussions on how God scrutinizes motives and how the tongue can bring life or death, setting up a conversation about how sin is dealt with and how one lives rightly before God.

God's Mercy and Truth Pave the Way

Ever wondered how iniquity is truly dealt with? This verse points beyond mere rituals to something deeper.

The verse begins with a powerful statement: 'By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for.' While this might sound like we can earn our way to forgiveness, the ancient wisdom here is pointing to God's own character and actions.

God's Initiative

Think of 'steadfast love' (often translated as mercy) and 'faithfulness' (truth) as describing God's unwavering commitment to us. It's God's mercy, extended through the covenant, and His faithfulness in fulfilling His promises, especially the promise of a Redeemer, that truly makes atonement possible. This isn't about us performing good deeds to cover our sin, but about God's gracious provision that we then appropriate through faith.

A Moral Foundation

This doesn't mean our actions are irrelevant! Instead, a life lived in 'steadfast love and faithfulness' is the result of receiving God's atonement. It's how we seal the gift of forgiveness and assurance, demonstrating a new life that flows from being made right with God.

The Fear of the Lord: Your Guardrail

What does it truly mean to 'fear the Lord,' and how does it keep us from going astray?

The second part of the verse offers a vital balance: 'and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil.' This isn't about a cowering, paralyzing terror, but a deep, reverent respect and awe for God.

A Healthy Awe

The 'fear of the Lord' is a profound recognition of God's holiness, His power, and His justice. It acknowledges that God is sovereign and that His ways are far above our own. This reverence naturally leads us to want to align our lives with His will.

Turning from Wrong

When we truly fear God, we understand the gravity of sin not just as a mistake, but as an offense against a holy God. This understanding becomes a powerful guardrail, keeping us from repeating foolishness or deliberately straying into wickedness. It's the internal compass that directs us away from paths that displease Him, even when faced with temptation.

Understand the original words

Original language

steadfast loveחֶסֶד

chesed · Hebrew Noun

A covenantal attribute of God representing loyal, committed, and persistent love; it is often translated as 'lovingkindness' or 'mercy' and reflects God's active, faithful devotion to His people.

faithfulnessאֱמֶת

emeth · Hebrew Noun

Relates to truth, reliability, and stability; it describes the character of one who is trustworthy, constant, and in alignment with God’s revealed truth.

iniquityעָוֹן

avon · Hebrew Noun

Moral perversion, twistedness, or guilt; it refers to acts that miss the mark of God's holiness and require a means of covering or payment to be rectified.

atoned forכָּפַר

kaphar · Hebrew Verb

To cover, cleanse, or make reconciliation; it implies the removing of the barrier created by sin between God and humanity, ultimately pointing toward the sacrificial work of Christ.

Historical context

Written: Likely composed during the divided monarchy, between the 10th and 5th centuries BC.
Author: Traditionally attributed to King Solomon, though other figures like Agur and Lemuel are also mentioned as contributors to the collection.
Location: The book is a collection of wisdom sayings, likely compiled in Jerusalem.
Genre: Wisdom literature, characterized by the use of proverbs, parables, and poetic parallelism.

Key themes

01God's covenant mercy
02Faithful atonement
03Reverence and righteousness
04Turning from evil

Cross-references

Micah 6:8

This passage echoes Proverbs 16:6 by highlighting that God requires 'justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God,' rather than mere sacrifices, showing that true atonement and turning from evil are rooted in moral action and God's character.

Psalm 51:7

In response to his sin, David prays, 'Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow,' illustrating the desire for inner cleansing and atonement that aligns with the idea of iniquity being purged, though emphasizing God's action.

Romans 3:23-26

This New Testament passage explains that all have sinned and fall short, but through Jesus Christ's sacrifice, God provides atonement. This connects to Proverbs by showing that the 'purging of iniquity' ultimately comes through God's merciful and faithful provision in Christ, not just human actions.

Proverbs 3:3-4

These verses directly link 'steadfast love and faithfulness' (or mercy and truth) with not forsaking them, and promise that doing so will lead to favor and good repute. This shows a consistent theme in Proverbs that moral qualities are deeply valued by God and lead to positive outcomes.

Luke 11:42

Jesus critiques the Pharisees for neglecting 'the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness,' while still upholding outward practices. This highlights the core truth in Proverbs 16:6 that true righteousness involves these moral virtues, which are essential for an authentic relationship with God.

Scholarly commentary

Proverbs 16:6: "By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil."

(6) Mercy and truth.— See above on Proverbs 3:3 . Mercy and truth cannot, of course, in themselves “purge iniquity,” only so far as they are signs of the “faith which worketh by love” ( Galatians 5:6 ), which accepts the salvation offered by God ( Romans 1:16-17 ). (Comp. the statement with regard to charity, 1Peter 4:8 .) By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.—Or, rather, escape mis…
ellicott

Proverbs 16:6: "By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil."

By mercy and truth; either, 1. By God’s mercy or grace, and by his truth in performing his promises made to sinners in Christ. Or, 2. By men’s mercy and truth, as those very words are jointly used, Proverbs 3:3 20:28 , and elsewhere; and as, in the following clause, the fear of the Lord is a grace or disposition in men; by a merciful, and just, and faithful frame of heart and course of life…
poole

Frequently asked questions

What does Proverbs 16:6-7 mean?

Explain the meaning of Proverbs 16:6-7

What is the context of Proverbs 16:6-7?

Study this verse in Sola

Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.

Open in Sola app Get the app

Ask a follow-up

Ask Sola about this verse

Ask Sola things like:

“What does "steadfast love" mean in the original Hebrew?”
“Why did Traditionally attributed to King Solomon, though other figures like Agur and Lemuel are also mentioned as contributors to the collection. write Proverbs 16:6-7?”
“How does god's covenant mercy show up in Proverbs 16:6-7?”

Ask in the Sola app Get the app

Live chat about Proverbs 16:6-7 is available in the Sola app.

This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.