Proverbs 12:22 kjv
Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.
Proverbs 12:22 nkjv
Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, But those who deal truthfully are His delight.
Proverbs 12:22 niv
The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.
Proverbs 12:22 esv
Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are his delight.
Proverbs 12:22 nlt
The LORD detests lying lips,
but he delights in those who tell the truth.
Proverbs 12 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 6:16-19 | There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination...a lying tongue. | God actively detests lying. |
| Ps 5:6 | You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. | God's ultimate judgment on liars. |
| Rev 21:8 | But as for the cowardly, the faithless...and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire... | Eternal condemnation for the unrepentant liar. |
| Zech 8:16 | These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another... | Divine command for truth in relationships. |
| Eph 4:25 | Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth... | Christian exhortation to abandon lies and speak truth. |
| Col 3:9 | Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices. | Lying is incompatible with new life in Christ. |
| Ps 34:13 | Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. | Call for pure, non-deceptive speech. |
| John 8:44 | You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires...for he is a liar and the father of lies. | The devil as the origin and personification of lies. |
| Prov 16:13 | Righteous lips are the delight of a king, and he loves him who speaks what is right. | Analogous human principle regarding truthful speech. |
| Ps 15:1-2 | O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly...who does not slander with his tongue... | Qualifications for dwelling with God include truthfulness. |
| Prov 11:20 | Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the LORD, but those of blameless ways are his delight. | Broadens God's hatred for perversion and love for integrity. |
| Titus 1:2 | ...in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began. | God's unchanging and inherent truthfulness. |
| Num 23:19 | God is not a man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. | God's infallible truthfulness and faithfulness. |
| Isa 63:8 | For he said, "Surely they are my people, children who will not deal falsely"; and so he became their Savior. | God's expectation of truth from His people. |
| Prov 2:7 | He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity. | Blessings promised for those walking in integrity. |
| Prov 12:19 | Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. | The lasting nature of truth versus the transience of lies. |
| Prov 10:9 | Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. | Security and exposure tied to integrity versus deceit. |
| Jer 9:5 | ...They have taught their tongue to speak lies...They weary themselves committing iniquity. | The practiced nature and spiritual toll of habitual lying. |
| 1 John 2:21 | I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. | Affirmation that falsehood is antithetical to truth. |
| Prov 13:5 | The righteous hates falsehood, but the wicked brings shame and disgrace. | The righteous align with God's hatred for falsehood. |
| Prov 8:7 | For my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips. | Wisdom itself declares and values truth above wickedness. |
| Ps 119:163 | I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law. | The psalmist's personal alignment with God's hatred of lies. |
| Ps 40:4 | Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie! | Blessing for trusting God and avoiding deceptive paths. |
| Ps 31:5 | Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God. | Acknowledges God as the ultimate faithful God. |
| Matt 5:37 | Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil. | Simple truthfulness advocated by Jesus. |
Proverbs 12 verses
Proverbs 12 22 Meaning
Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who are trustworthy and consistently truthful in word and deed bring Him profound pleasure and delight. This verse reveals God's character as One who utterly abhors deceit and falsehood, while holding honesty, integrity, and faithfulness in the highest regard as virtues reflecting His own nature.
Proverbs 12 22 Context
Proverbs is a wisdom book offering concise, moral instruction often in contrasting parallelisms. Chapter 12 specifically differentiates between the righteous and the wicked across various aspects of life, frequently emphasizing the power and consequence of speech and integrity. For example, Prov 12:17 speaks of giving truthful testimony, and 12:19 highlights the lasting nature of truth versus fleeting lies. Historically, Israelite society valued covenant fidelity (emeth) and trustworthy dealings as foundational to community and relationship with God. This stood in contrast to surrounding pagan cultures, which sometimes saw strategic deception as a valid tool, and whose deities often reflected caprice rather than truthfulness. Proverbs 12:22 functions as a strong statement about YHWH's character as inherently truthful, serving as a direct theological polemic against any belief system or societal norm that might excuse or promote deceit.
Proverbs 12 22 Word analysis
- Lying lips: Hebrew sif-tei shaqer (שִׂפְתֵי־שָׁ֑קֶר).
- Siftei (שִׂפְתֵי): Literally "lips of," it refers to the organ of speech, emphasizing the active role in communication. This indicates that spoken falsehood, deliberate vocal untruths, are the subject.
- Shaqer (שָׁ֑קֶר): Meaning "falsehood," "deceit," "lie," or "fraud." It refers to an untruth or a breach of faith. It denotes intentional misrepresentation aimed at deceiving.
- are an abomination: Hebrew to'evat (תּוֹעֲבַת).
- To'evat: "Abomination," "detestable thing," "loathsome thing." This term signifies something utterly repugnant and offensive to God, often associated with things violating His covenant, holiness, or moral law (e.g., idolatry, dishonest weights, certain immoral practices). It implies deep moral disgust and absolute rejection by God.
- to the LORD: Hebrew laYHWH (לַֽיהוָה).
- LaYHWH: "To the LORD." This explicitly names YHWH, the personal, covenant God of Israel, as the one offended. It elevates the prohibition from mere social etiquette to a divine command and revelation of God's character. The sin of lying is directly against God Himself.
- but those who deal faithfully: Hebrew o-seh emunah (עֹשֵׂי אֱמוּנָה).
- O-seh: "Doers of," "makers of," or "those who perform." It points to active practice, a consistent way of living, rather than just occasional acts or intentions.
- Emunah (אֱמוּנָה): "Faithfulness," "reliability," "truthfulness," "steadfastness." This profound biblical concept speaks of integrity of character, trustworthiness, and consistency between one's words and actions. It implies firm trust and unwavering loyalty, reflective of God's own nature.
- are His delight: Hebrew retzono (רְצוֹנוֹ).
- Retzono: "His desire," "His pleasure," "His good will," "His favor." This expresses profound divine satisfaction and joy. It is the polar opposite of "abomination," indicating that such people find grace, acceptance, and blessing in God's eyes.
Words-group analysis:
- "Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD": This powerful declarative statement draws a direct and severe connection between any form of spoken deceit and God's utmost repugnance. It emphasizes that dishonesty, specifically expressed through speech, is not just frowned upon, but profoundly offensive to the divine nature and holiness of YHWH. The use of "abomination" underscores its grave spiritual weight.
- "but those who deal faithfully are His delight": This clause serves as a strong counterpoint, illustrating God's opposite disposition towards truth and integrity. It speaks of individuals whose actions are characterized by emunah – a steadfast, reliable, and truthful character. God's response is one of deep satisfaction, pleasure, and favor. The contrast is stark: God's ultimate rejection of falsehood is paralleled by His profound approval of faithfulness, highlighting the two defining poles of His moral judgment.
Proverbs 12 22 Bonus section
The concept of emunah in this verse extends beyond simple verbal honesty; it embodies a consistent trustworthiness and integrity that is an attribute of God Himself (e.g., Ps 31:5). Thus, when humans "deal faithfully," they reflect a divine characteristic, making this verse a call to emulate God's own reliability and truth. The Hebrew structure employs a rhetorical device of contrasting parallel terms (to'evah vs. ratzon), intensifying the impact of the message and underscoring the absolute difference in God's response. This isn't just about societal peace; it's about eternal standing and divine favor. The to'evah spoken of is an inward corruption manifested outwardly through the lips, pointing to the heart's disposition towards either truth or deceit. God looks not just at the words, but the character from which they flow.
Proverbs 12 22 Commentary
Proverbs 12:22 provides a fundamental moral principle rooted in God's very being. It starkly contrasts divine abhorrence for falsehood with divine delight in faithfulness. "Lying lips" refers to any communication intended to deceive or mislead, signifying that God sees deceit as an utter moral offense (to'evah), akin to practices that violate the most sacred aspects of His character and covenant. This emphasizes that dishonesty is not a minor fault but a direct affront to God's holy nature. In vivid contrast, God takes immense "delight" in "those who deal faithfully." This implies not merely truth-telling in isolated instances, but a consistent lifestyle marked by emunah—integrity, trustworthiness, and reliability in every word and deed. God's pleasure is not contingent on flawless performance, but on the cultivated character of genuine faithfulness, which reflects His own steadfastness and truth. This verse calls believers to align their communication and character with the nature of God Himself, fostering trustworthiness in all interactions as a means of honoring Him. For instance, speaking truth even when it's uncomfortable, upholding promises, or maintaining honesty in business dealings are practical expressions of "dealing faithfully" that delight the Lord.