Proverbs 6:12-13
A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech, winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's easy to miss is that "walking" with a froward mouth isn't just about speaking crookedly; it implies a habitual, intentional way of life. This person isn't just saying wrong things; their very movement through life is characterized by perverse speech, a constant companion in their wickedness.
This verse kicks off a section describing a worthless, deceitful person, contrasting them with the diligent and trustworthy. It follows warnings against laziness and immediately launches into the character traits of someone who is actively wicked, beginning with their crooked speech and deceitful actions, all leading up to God's ultimate judgment against such behavior.
The Bible calls some people 'worthless' or 'wicked.' But what does that really mean, and how is it revealed?
Proverbs 6:12 introduces us to a specific kind of person, described as "a worthless person, a wicked man." The Hebrew term translated here as "worthless" (often associated with 'Belial') essentially means 'without value' or 'unprofitable.' This isn't just someone who makes occasional mistakes; it points to a character that is fundamentally flawed and detrimental.
This deep-seated character issue isn't hidden. The verse says this person 'goes about with crooked speech.' This suggests a habitual pattern of dishonesty, manipulation, and perversion in their words. It's not just about what they say, but the way they say it – with intent to deceive, harm, or sow discord. Their speech is a direct reflection of their inner unprofitableness and wickedness.
The way someone speaks isn't usually a one-off event. What does 'goes about' tell us about the persistence of their words?
The phrase 'goes about' isn't accidental. It implies a continuous, habitual action. This isn't a person who occasionally stumbles into saying something wrong; rather, it describes someone whose very mode of operation involves dishonest or twisted communication.
Think of 'walking' as a metaphor for someone's lifestyle or their consistent way of engaging with the world. A 'worthless person' consistently walks with a 'crooked mouth.' This means their lies, slander, flattery, or deceitful talk are not isolated incidents but are woven into the fabric of their daily interactions. Their speech becomes a tool they regularly use to navigate life, often to their own advantage and the detriment of others.
Understand the original words
beliya'al · Hebrew Noun
A term describing someone morally depraved, useless, or base. It refers to a person characterized by a lack of integrity and a disregard for God's law.
aven · Hebrew Noun
A person who is morally corrupt, ungodly, or lawless. In Scripture, this describes someone who willfully acts in rebellion against God's standards.
tahpukoth · Hebrew Noun
Speech that is deceptive, distorted, or dishonest. It refers to communication that deviates from truth and integrity, intended to mislead or manipulate others.
This Psalm directly describes a wicked person who uses their tongue to spread evil and lies, mirroring the 'crooked speech' mentioned in Proverbs. It highlights God's awareness of and judgment against such harmful communication.
Proverbs 10:32This verse directly contrasts the speech of the righteous with the wicked, stating that the lips of the wicked 'utter what is perverse.' This reinforces the idea that 'crooked speech' is a defining characteristic of a worthless person.
Matthew 12:34Jesus speaks about how the overflow of the heart determines what comes out of the mouth. This connects the 'froward mouth' in Proverbs to the inner disposition, showing that outward speech is a reflection of inward wickedness.
James 3:8James powerfully describes the tongue as an untamable, restless evil, full of deadly poison. This passage speaks to the destructive nature of 'crooked speech' and why it's so antithetical to a life pleasing to God.
bensonProverbs 6:12: "A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth."
Proverbs 6:12-15 . A naughty person — Hebrew, a man of Belial, a wicked man, whose continual practice it is, in one way or other, to work wickedness; walketh with a froward mouth — Makes it his business, by lies; or flatteries, or slanders, or perjuries, to maintain himself in his idle courses. And if the slothful are to be condemned that do nothing, much more those that act wickedly, and contrive to do all the ill t…
clarkeProverbs 6:12: "A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth."
A naughty person - אדם בליעל adam beliyal, "Adam good for nothing." When he lost his innocence. A man apostata; Old MS. Bible. A wicked man - איש און ish aven. He soon became a general transgressor after having departed from his God. All his posterity, unless restored by Divine grace, are men of Belial, and sinners by trade; and most of them, in one form or other, answer the character here given. They yield their m…
What's easy to miss is that "walking" with a froward mouth isn't just about speaking crookedly; it implies a habitual, intentional way of life. This person isn't just saying wrong things; their very movement through life is characterized by perverse speech, a constant companion in their wickedness.
This verse kicks off a section describing a worthless, deceitful person, contrasting them with the diligent and trustworthy. It follows warnings against laziness and immediately launches into the character traits of someone who is actively wicked, beginning with their crooked speech and deceitful actions, all leading up to God's ultimate judgment against such behavior.
This verse kicks off a section describing a worthless, deceitful person, contrasting them with the diligent and trustworthy. It follows warnings against laziness and immediately launches into the character traits of someone who is actively wicked, beginning with their crooked speech and deceitful actions, all leading up to God's ultimate judgment against such behavior.
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"A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech, winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger," — What's easy to miss is that "walking" with a froward mouth isn't just about speaking crookedly; it implies a habitual, intentional way of life. This person isn't just saying wrong things; their very…
