Proverbs 6:17 kjv

A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

Proverbs 6:17 nkjv

A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood,

Proverbs 6:17 niv

haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,

Proverbs 6:17 esv

haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

Proverbs 6:17 nlt

haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that kill the innocent,

Proverbs 6 verses

Proverbs 6 17 Meaning

Proverbs 6:17 identifies the first three of seven actions or character traits that the Lord profoundly detests. These three are: "A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood." This verse emphasizes actions that are directly contrary to God's character of humility, truth, and sanctity of life, revealing the internal disposition of the heart.

Proverbs 6 17 Context

Proverbs chapter 6 begins with a warning against foolish financial practices like co-signing for a stranger, then advises diligence and hard work by observing the ant. Following this, the chapter shifts to condemning moral vices that the Lord abhors, presenting them as a direct antithesis to the wisdom extolled throughout the book. Verse 17 is the first part of a powerful list, Proverbs 6:16-19, which details seven specific "abominations" or "detestable" things to God, serving as a didactic warning to those seeking wisdom and righteousness. This list acts as a foundational moral teaching within the context of training a son or protégé in godly living.

Proverbs 6 17 Word analysis

• A proud look:
  • Hebrew: עֵינַיִם רָמוֹת ('enayim ramot). Einayim (eyes) refers not merely to physical sight but to perspective, understanding, and inner disposition. Ramot (haughty, lofty, lifted up) signifies arrogance, self-exaltation, and a contemptuous attitude towards others and God.
  • Significance: It's more than just a facial expression; it's a window into a heart filled with spiritual pride and an overestimation of self. This inward posture often leads to despising God and others, resisting divine wisdom, and failing to acknowledge dependence on the Creator.
• A lying tongue:
  • Hebrew: לְשׁוֹן שָׁקֶר (lashon sheqer). Lashon (tongue) refers to speech, communication, and declaration. Sheqer (falsehood, lie, deceit) denotes anything that misrepresents truth.
  • Significance: It emphasizes deliberate falsehood intended to deceive, manipulate, or harm. This attacks the very foundation of trust and distorts the divine attribute of truthfulness. Lying often stems from selfishness, fear, or a desire for personal gain, and it creates disorder and injustice within relationships and society.
• And hands that shed innocent blood:
  • Hebrew: וְיָדַיִם שֹׁפְכוֹת דָּם נָקִי (v’yadaiym shofekhot dam naqi). Yadaiym (hands) symbolize action, work, and intentional execution. Shofekhot (shedding, pouring out) denotes the act of taking life. Dam Naqi (innocent blood) refers to the blood of one who is not guilty or who has done nothing to deserve death.
  • Significance: This represents the ultimate act of injustice and violence against God's creation, the taking of a blameless human life. It signifies malicious and unprovoked murder. The phrase "shed innocent blood" profoundly highlights the grievous nature of attacking those who are defenseless, non-belligerent, or legally undeserving of death, emphasizing the extreme depravity of such an act and its profound violation of divine law and human dignity.

Proverbs 6 17 Bonus section

• The progression of the list from internal disposition (proud look) to verbal offense (lying tongue) to violent action (shedding innocent blood) highlights a worsening progression of sin's outward manifestation.
• The phrase "innocent blood" stresses that the offense is not simply killing, but unjust and unwarranted murder, indicating extreme moral corruption.
• These are presented as an "abomination" to the Lord, indicating not just disapproval but intense loathing, marking them as deeply offensive to His nature and antithetical to His kingdom's values.

Proverbs 6 17 Commentary

Proverbs 6:17 presents three core actions and attitudes that stand in direct opposition to God's character and perfect moral order. "A proud look" speaks to an inward arrogance, the root of all sin, which manifests as self-sufficiency and a disdain for divine authority and human humility. This spiritual pride leads to an inability to receive correction or acknowledge one's limitations. "A lying tongue" then describes the corruption of communication, undermining trust and spreading falsehood. It represents a deliberate distortion of reality, disrupting social harmony and defying God, who is truth. Finally, "hands that shed innocent blood" embodies the gravest physical sin against human life, striking at the image of God (Gen 1:27) in others. It signifies premeditated violence, unjustifiable murder, and the utter disregard for human dignity and the sanctity of life given by the Creator. These three, escalating from the internal attitude (pride), to verbal deception (lying), to destructive physical action (murder), reveal a heart utterly devoid of reverence for God and love for neighbor. God hates these because they violate His holy nature, bring chaos, destroy fellowship, and diminish human flourishing.