Proverbs 26:28
A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Proverbs 26:28
A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse reveals a twisted psychology: it's not just that a liar hurts people, but that the very act of inflicting harm with lies breeds a deep, internal hatred for the victims. This hatred then fuels further damage, and the seemingly sweet words of a flatterer are just as destructive, ultimately leading to ruin.
This verse appears within a series of proverbs in chapter 26 that highlight the foolishness and destructiveness of certain types of speech. It contrasts the active malice of a liar, who comes to hate the very people they've harmed, with the subtle danger of flattery, which ultimately leads to downfall. The surrounding verses offer various observations on how fools behave and the consequences that follow, emphasizing the importance of wise words and actions.
Ever wonder why someone who lies about you seems to despise you even more afterward? This verse uncovers a twisted logic at play.
The first half of Proverbs 26:28 reveals a deeply unsettling truth: a lying tongue not only harms its victims but also comes to hate them.
The Cycle of Harm and Hatred
Sweet words can be deadly. Discover how smooth talkers lead themselves and others straight to disaster.
The second part of Proverbs 26:28 shifts our focus to a subtler, yet equally destructive, form of deceptive speech: flattery.
The Downward Spiral of Smooth Talk
Understand the original words
lashon sheqer · Hebrew Noun phrase
An act of communication that purposefully deviates from the truth. In biblical wisdom literature, it is viewed as a source of discord, destruction, and moral decay, serving as a primary tool of the wicked.
peh machaliq · Hebrew Noun phrase
Speech characterized by excessive, insincere praise often used to manipulate or gain personal advantage. It is depicted in Scripture as a form of moral corruption that blinds the victim and ensnares the speaker.
madcheh · Hebrew Noun
The state of being destroyed, brought to nothing, or ruined. In Proverbs, it refers to the inevitable catastrophic consequence that follows sinful behavior and rejection of God's wisdom.
This psalm speaks directly about the destructive power of flattering lips and deceitful tongues, mirroring Proverbs' warning about ruin caused by manipulative speech.
Romans 8:7Ellicott's commentary draws a parallel between the liar hating their victim and the 'carnal mind' being in 'enmity against God' because it hates being reminded of its own wrongdoing.
Luke 6:26Jesus warns his followers directly about the danger of flattering words, equating them with persecution when he says, 'Woe to you when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers treated the false prophets.'
Matthew 23:14Jesus condemns the religious leaders for their outwardly pious but inwardly corrupt practices, including their fraudulent dealings which ultimately lead to ruin, showing a parallel to the 'flattering mouth working ruin'.
James 3:5-6James describes the tongue as a 'small fire' that can set a whole forest ablaze, powerfully illustrating how destructive and ruinous mere words, whether lying or flattering, can be.
pooleProverbs 26:28: "A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin."
Hateth those that are afflicted by it, because by his calumnies he hath made them his enemies. A flattering mouth; which, though it be more smooth and plausible than a slandering mouth, yet is in truth no less pernicious, betraying others either to sin, or to danger and mischief.
gillProverbs 26:28: "A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin."
A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it,.... That is, a man of a lying tongue, that is given to lying, hates those that are hurt and crushed by his lies; the reason why he hurts them with his lies is because he hates them; and, having hurt them, he hates them, being made his enemies, and from whom he may expect and be in fear of revenge: moreover, he hates those that are tro…
The verse reveals a twisted psychology: it's not just that a liar hurts people, but that the very act of inflicting harm with lies breeds a deep, internal hatred for the victims. This hatred then fuels further damage, and the seemingly sweet words of a flatterer are just as destructive, ultimately leading to ruin.
This verse appears within a series of proverbs in chapter 26 that highlight the foolishness and destructiveness of certain types of speech. It contrasts the active malice of a liar, who comes to hate the very people they've harmed, with the subtle danger of flattery, which ultimately leads to downfall. The surrounding verses offer various observations on how fools behave and the consequences that follow, emphasizing the importance of wise words and actions.
This verse appears within a series of proverbs in chapter 26 that highlight the foolishness and destructiveness of certain types of speech. It contrasts the active malice of a liar, who comes to hate the very people they've harmed, with the subtle danger of flattery, which ultimately leads to downfall. The surrounding verses offer various observations on how fools behave and the consequences that follow, emphasizing the importance of wise words and actions.
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"A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin." — The verse reveals a twisted psychology: it's not just that a liar hurts people, but that the very act of inflicting harm with lies breeds a deep, internal hatred for the victims. This hatred then…