Proverbs 6:17
haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Proverbs 6:17
haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This verse isn't just listing sins; it's showing how our very bodies become instruments of rebellion. Notice how it moves from "eyes" and "tongue" – things we use to perceive and communicate – to "hands," which enact violence. This progression reveals that even our inner attitudes, like pride, quickly spill out into destructive actions.
This passage lists some of the most detestable things to God, following a description of a wicked person who schemes and deceives. These are the actions and attitudes that ultimately lead to ruin, so the writer enumerates them to highlight the severity of such a character. Following this list, the text will continue to describe the seven things the Lord hates, emphasizing the gravity of these sins.
Why does the Bible focus on 'haughty eyes' instead of just 'pride'?
This verse highlights 'haughty eyes,' literally 'lofty eyes' in the original language. This isn't just about a feeling; it's about a posture, a visible disdain for others. It’s the outward expression of an inner belief that you are superior, that you don't need anyone, especially God. This pride is so offensive to God because it’s the opposite of humility, which is the very foundation for receiving God's grace and strength. Pride blinds us to our own weakness and makes us resistant to spiritual growth.
What makes a 'lying tongue' so detestable to a God of truth?
The 'lying tongue' represents more than just telling untruths. It's about the deliberate distortion of reality, the intentional deception that harms others. Whether it's to slander a neighbor, flatter an enemy, or simply to get ahead, a lying tongue poisons relationships and erodes trust. For a God who is truth itself, falsehood is an abomination. Lying aligns us with the one called the 'father of lies' and is a direct assault on God’s character.
Why is shedding 'innocent blood' listed among the most hateful things?
The final item in this list, 'hands that shed innocent blood,' points to extreme violence and murder. This isn't just about physical killing; it’s about the destruction of life itself, the crushing of God's image in another person. The blood of the innocent cries out for justice, and the Word is clear: God is an avenger of such acts. To spill innocent blood is to defy God’s command for life and to act like the one who 'was a murderer from the beginning.' It's a stark reminder of how precious life is and how heinous its destruction is in God's eyes.
Understand the original words
rum 'ayin · Hebrew Noun phrase
A metaphor for pride, arrogance, or looking down on others. It describes the internal state of a person who exalts themselves above God and their neighbor.
lashon sheqer · Hebrew Noun phrase
Speech that is untruthful or deceitful, reflecting a heart that does not honor the truth of God. It is frequently condemned as a violation of the commandment against bearing false witness.
dam naqi · Hebrew Noun phrase
The intentional taking of human life in a way that violates God's law. It reflects a total disregard for the sanctity of life created in the image of God.
This passage directly echoes the warning against pride, stating that God 'opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' It highlights pride as a barrier to receiving God's favor, just as Proverbs does.
James 4:6This verse reiterates the theme of God's opposition to the proud, saying He 'gives greater grace.' It emphasizes the spiritual danger of haughtiness, a core element of the 'haughty eyes' mentioned in Proverbs.
Psalm 131:1This psalm presents a humble contrast to haughty eyes, with the psalmist declaring, 'O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not haughty.' It beautifully illustrates the internal disposition that shuns pride.
Revelation 21:8This verse lists those excluded from the New Jerusalem, including 'the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as well as murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars.' It connects lying and murder to severe judgment, aligning with the sins condemned in Proverbs.
Matthew 5:21-22Jesus expands the commandment against murder to include anger and contempt, showing that the attitude behind shedding innocent blood—including hatred—is deeply sinful. This connects the physical act to the internal heart attitude.
ellicottProverbs 6:17: "A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,"
(17) A proud look.— Hateful to God, because rendering men unfit to receive grace. Till they acknowledge their weakness, they will not seek for His strength, and without it they can make no progress in holiness. (Comp. 1Peter 5:5 , and Christ’s commendation of the “poor in spirit,” Matthew 5:3 .)
cambridgeProverbs 6:17: "A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,"
17 . A proud look ] Rather, haughty eyes, A.V. margin, R.V. text. Thus the enumeration in the Heb. of the parts of the body: ‘eyes,’ ‘tongue,’ ‘hands,’ ‘heart,’ ‘feet’ is preserved.
This verse isn't just listing sins; it's showing how our very bodies become instruments of rebellion. Notice how it moves from "eyes" and "tongue" – things we use to perceive and communicate – to "hands," which enact violence. This progression reveals that even our inner attitudes, like pride, quickly spill out into destructive actions.
This passage lists some of the most detestable things to God, following a description of a wicked person who schemes and deceives. These are the actions and attitudes that ultimately lead to ruin, so the writer enumerates them to highlight the severity of such a character. Following this list, the text will continue to describe the seven things the Lord hates, emphasizing the gravity of these sins.
This passage lists some of the most detestable things to God, following a description of a wicked person who schemes and deceives. These are the actions and attitudes that ultimately lead to ruin, so the writer enumerates them to highlight the severity of such a character. Following this list, the text will continue to describe the seven things the Lord hates, emphasizing the gravity of these sins.
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"haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood," — This verse isn't just listing sins; it's showing how our very bodies become instruments of rebellion. Notice how it moves from "eyes" and "tongue" – things we use to perceive and communicate – to "ha…