Proverbs 6:19 kjv
A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Proverbs 6:19 nkjv
A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.
Proverbs 6:19 niv
a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
Proverbs 6:19 esv
a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.
Proverbs 6:19 nlt
a false witness who pours out lies,
a person who sows discord in a family.
Proverbs 6 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 133:1 | Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! | Goodness of unity |
| Rom 12:16 | Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. | Harmony and humility |
| 1 Cor 1:10 | I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you. | Plea for unity in the church |
| Eph 4:3 | Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. | Upholding peace and unity |
| Php 2:2 | Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. | Oneness of mind and love |
| Jas 4:1 | What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not your passions... | Source of strife |
| Gal 5:19-21 | Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality... strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy... | Works of the flesh, including discord |
| Rom 16:17 | I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine... Avoid them. | Warning against those causing division |
| 2 Tim 2:23 | Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies, which only breed quarrels. | Avoid foolish arguments |
| Tit 3:9-11 | But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless... | Warning against divisiveness and quarrels |
| Pro 10:12 | Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses. | Love as an antidote to strife |
| Pro 15:18 | A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger allays contention. | Anger causes strife |
| Pro 16:28 | A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. | Deception and gossip causing strife |
| Pro 17:14 | The beginning of strife is like releasing water; therefore check a quarrel before it overflows. | Strife spreads quickly |
| Pro 18:6 | A fool's lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating. | Foolish talk leads to conflict |
| Pro 3:32 | For the devious are an abomination to the Lord, but with the upright is His friendship. | The devious are an abomination |
| Ps 5:6 | You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. | God's abhorrence for liars |
| Mat 5:9 | Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. | Peacemakers are blessed |
| Lev 19:16 | You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor. | Prohibition against slander |
| 2 Cor 12:20 | For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander... | Corinthian strife as a warning |
| Jude 1:19 | It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. | Divisions are caused by unspiritual people |
| 1 Pet 4:8 | Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. | Love maintains unity |
| Jn 13:34-35 | A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. | Love as a sign of discipleship |
| 1 Jn 4:20-21 | If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. | Loving brethren reflects love for God |
| Jer 9:4 | Let everyone be on guard against his neighbor, and do not trust any brother, for every brother is a deceiver, and every neighbor goes about as a slanderer. | Deception among "brothers" is dangerous |
Proverbs 6 verses
Proverbs 6 19 Meaning
Proverbs 6:19 identifies the spreading of contention and division within a community, especially among those who should be united, as a grievous sin that the Lord utterly detests. This act of deliberately inciting conflict and tearing down communal harmony is placed at the climax of a list of seven things abominable to God, highlighting its severe offense against His nature and His desire for unity and peace among His people. It describes someone who actively cultivates and spreads animosity among individuals who are bound by kinship, faith, or common purpose.
Proverbs 6 19 Context
Proverbs 6:19 is the culmination of a list of "six things" and ultimately "seven things" (expanded by adding one, creating a climax, typical of numerical proverbs) that the Lord hates or finds abominable, beginning in verse 16. This entire section serves as a moral inventory of character traits and behaviors that directly contradict God's righteous nature and His desire for humanity. Each item on the list—haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies—describes aspects of arrogance, deception, violence, and malicious intent. The final item, "he who sows discord among brethren," is often considered the climactic and most egregious offense because it attacks the very foundation of community, family, and divine order—unity. In ancient Israel, community was paramount, and strife among fellow Israelites or family members directly undermined the covenant relationship God desired with His people and between them. This proverb also implies a warning against anyone who deliberately and mischievously instigates quarrels, particularly in places where peace should reside, such as within a family or a worshipping congregation.
Proverbs 6 19 Word analysis
- He that soweth: The Hebrew word for "soweth" is yarah (יָרָה), which means to cast, throw, shoot, or rain. In the context of "sowing," it carries the idea of deliberately scattering seeds, but here, it implies scattering destructive ideas, rumors, or provocations. This isn't accidental conflict; it's an intentional and active planting of dissension. It signifies malicious premeditation.
- Discord: The Hebrew term is maddown (מַדּוֹן), signifying contention, strife, or quarrel. It denotes deep-seated arguments, animosity, and sharp disagreements, not mere differing opinions. This word captures the chaotic and destructive outcome of the "sowing" action. It can lead to severe fractures in relationships.
- Among brethren: The Hebrew phrase bên-ʼaḥîm (בֵּין אַחִים) literally translates to "between brothers" or "among brothers." This highlights the specific and particularly offensive nature of the discord. "Brethren" here refers to those closely associated—family members, fellow countrymen (Israelites), or later, fellow believers in the community of faith. Causing division within this sacred bond is an especially grievous sin because it undermines the very fabric of unity God desires. It violates natural affinity and spiritual fellowship.
Words-group analysis
- He that soweth discord: This phrase describes an individual who actively and intentionally introduces conflict. It's a calculated, persistent effort to disrupt harmony, rather than a spontaneous argument. This person doesn't just get involved in a quarrel; they initiate it, cultivating an environment of tension and mistrust. It marks a destructive and malicious character trait, where division is the deliberate aim.
- Discord among brethren: This grouping emphasizes the specific target and the tragic result. The "brethren" imply a shared bond—family, tribe, nation, or church. The "discord" tears at this fundamental unity, turning affection into animosity, cooperation into competition, and peace into contention. This is considered so abominable because it shatters the very peace and cohesion that God ordained for His people.
Proverbs 6 19 Bonus section
The number seven in Proverbs 6:16-19 often signifies completion or perfection in biblical numerology. Thus, the list of "seven abominations" represents a full spectrum of wickedness or a culminating expression of evil. That "sowing discord among brethren" is the seventh and final item suggests it is not merely one sin among others, but perhaps the gravest, encompassing or magnifying the destructiveness of the preceding six (haughty eyes, lying tongue, violent hands, wicked heart, swift feet to mischief, false witness). It effectively takes the self-centered pride (haughty eyes), the deceit (lying tongue/false witness), and the malicious intent (wicked heart, swift feet to evil) and applies them in a way that directly harms the foundational unit of human society—the unified community. This act directly opposes the divine ideal of shalom (peace, wholeness, completeness) and fraternal love, rendering the sower an enemy of God's heart.
Proverbs 6 19 Commentary
Proverbs 6:19 encapsulates one of the most detestable human behaviors in God's eyes: the deliberate incitement of division. Placed as the climax of the seven abominations, it underscores the profound evil of intentionally disrupting the harmony among those who should be united by common bonds—whether family, community, or faith. This action is not passive but active, a malicious "sowing" of animosity like scattering seeds of poison, leading to widespread strife and broken relationships. It stands against the very nature of God, who is a God of peace and unity, and His command for His people to dwell together in love. The individual who engages in such behavior directly opposes the building up of the Body of Christ and seeks to tear it down, thus inviting divine wrath. The impact of this sin reverberates beyond the immediate conflict, fostering an environment of suspicion and betrayal that erodes trust and hinders the witness of believers to the world.