for the devious person is an abomination to the LORD, but the upright are in his confidence.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse reveals a beautiful, intimate aspect of God's relationship with the upright: He shares His "secret" with them. This isn't just about knowing hidden knowledge, but about experiencing deep friendship and counsel, a familiarity that's completely off-limits to those who twist and turn away from Him.
for the devious person is an abomination to the LORD, but the upright are in his confidence.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse comes at the end of a section where wisdom has been contrasting the paths of the upright and the wicked, highlighting the blessings of righteousness and the dangers of foolishness. It serves as a concluding thought, reinforcing why the upright are favored and the crooked are despised by God, setting the stage for further teachings on how to live wisely.
Ever wonder what truly offends God? This verse calls out a specific kind of person that the Lord detests.
The word translated 'froward' describes someone who is perverse, crooked, or stubbornly goes against what is right and good. It’s not just a casual mistake, but a deep-seated twisting away from God’s ways.
A Deliberate Rejection
This isn't about someone who trips and falls; it’s about someone who deliberately bends away from the path of uprightness. They are contrary to God’s will and His law.
God's Intense Dislike
For God to call such a person an 'abomination' (or 'detestable thing') speaks volumes. It signifies something impure and utterly abhorrent to His holy nature. This intense dislike isn't about God being petty; it’s about His perfect hatred for sin and rebellion.
While the devious are pushed away, the text speaks of a special closeness for the upright. What does this 'secret' really mean?
The contrast is stark: if the perverse are an 'abomination,' the upright are in God's 'confidence.' This doesn't mean they are sinless, but that their hearts are oriented towards God, seeking His way.
Divine Fellowship
The 'secret' (or 'counsel' or 'friendship') implies intimate knowledge and fellowship. It’s like having access to the inner circle, being privy to God's thoughts and plans.
Revelation and Trust
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God reveals His mind, His covenant, His purposes, and His comforts to those who walk with Him. This isn't a random lottery; it's the natural outcome of a relationship built on trust and a desire for righteousness. God shares His heart with those who have His heart.
Understand the original words
naloz · Hebrew Adjective
A person who is twisted, crooked, or perverse in their moral character. It describes one who deviates from the straight path of righteousness and truth.
to'ebah · Hebrew Noun
Something that is morally repulsive or detestable to God. In the Old Testament, it often refers to actions, idols, or attitudes that are fundamentally incompatible with God's holy character.
Yahweh · Hebrew Noun
The LORD, the self-existent, covenant-keeping God of Israel. Using the divine name emphasizes His personal relationship with His people and His authority as Creator and Judge.
yashar · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Those who walk in integrity and moral straightness. It describes individuals whose lives are characterized by alignment with God's standards and ethical uprightness.
sod · Hebrew Noun
A term signifying close fellowship, intimacy, or a secret counsel. It implies that God shares His covenantal friendship and protection with the righteous.
This passage echoes Proverbs 3:32 by stating that the Lord's 'secret is with the righteous' and he 'makes known to them his covenant,' highlighting the intimacy and revelation God shares with those who fear him.
Amos 3:7Just as God reveals His plans to His prophets, this verse explains that the Lord 'does nothing without revealing His secret to His servants,' aligning with the idea that God confides in the upright.
John 15:15Jesus tells His disciples, 'No longer do I call you servants, but friends; for the friend of the master makes known to him everything he is doing,' mirroring the concept that God shares His 'secrets' with those He considers righteous and close.
Romans 8:28This verse assures believers that 'all things work together for good' for those who love God, implying God's active, intimate involvement in the lives of the righteous, which aligns with Him sharing His 'secret' with them.
1 Corinthians 2:10The Apostle Paul writes that 'God revealed them to us through the Spirit,' referring to the things God has prepared for those who love Him, reinforcing the theme that God discloses His hidden wisdom and purposes to the righteous.
gillProverbs 3:32: "For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous."
For the froward is abomination to the Lord,.... The perverse man, that pleases not God, and is contrary to all men, as the Jews were; one froward in his words and actions: "who transgresses the law", as the Arabic version renders it; one that acts contrary to the nature, will, and word of God; and such an one is not only abominable in his sight, but an "abomination" itself; it is sin, which is tha…
jfbProverbs 3:32: "For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous."
32-35. Reasons for the warning.froward—(Pr 2:15).secret … righteous—in their communion (Am 3:7).
The verse reveals a beautiful, intimate aspect of God's relationship with the upright: He shares His "secret" with them. This isn't just about knowing hidden knowledge, but about experiencing deep friendship and counsel, a familiarity that's completely off-limits to those who twist and turn away from Him.
This verse comes at the end of a section where wisdom has been contrasting the paths of the upright and the wicked, highlighting the blessings of righteousness and the dangers of foolishness. It serves as a concluding thought, reinforcing why the upright are favored and the crooked are despised by God, setting the stage for further teachings on how to live wisely.
This verse comes at the end of a section where wisdom has been contrasting the paths of the upright and the wicked, highlighting the blessings of righteousness and the dangers of foolishness. It serves as a concluding thought, reinforcing why the upright are favored and the crooked are despised by God, setting the stage for further teachings on how to live wisely.
"for the devious person is an abomination to the LORD, but the upright are in his confidence." — The verse reveals a beautiful, intimate aspect of God's relationship with the upright: He shares His "secret" with them. This isn't just about knowing hidden knowledge, but about experiencing deep fr…
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Last reviewed October 2026