Proverbs 6:16 Meaning: What Mean by "Six Things God Hates"?
There are six things which Yahweh hates; yes, seven which are an abomination to him:
These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
There are six things which Jehovah hateth; Yea, seven which are an abomination unto him:
These six hath Jehovah hated, Yea, seven are abominations to His soul.
These six [things] doth Jehovah hate, yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
Meaning in one sentence
Proverbs 6:16 uses a memorable six-seven pattern to list sins God hates. Learn what these seven things are and why they matter for daily living.
Context
This verse sits near the end of a passage that paints a portrait of a certain kind of person, what the Hebrew calls a “man of Belial,” a worthless, wicked individual (v. 12). The chapter has already warned against laziness and deceit. Now it pulls back the curtain on the inner life of someone who sows discord and hurts others. Verse 16 introduces a list of seven things that God finds detestable, all of which flow from this same character. The numbering is a deliberate pattern, meant to make you stop and pay attention.
The passage does not stand alone. It follows a vivid description of this person’s body language, winking eyes, signaling feet, pointing fingers, and his habit of constant scheming (vv. 13-14). The list in verses 17-19 spells out exactly what kind of conduct God opposes at the level of the heart and hands. This is not an abstract theological list; it is a mirror held up to the reader.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words carry the weight of this verse. The verb sane (to hate) describes God’s settled opposition. It is not a flash of anger but a deep, personal stance against what is wrong. The same word is used in Psalm 11:5: “His soul hates the wicked and him who loves violence.” This is the language of covenant loyalty, God hates what destroys His people.
The word for “abomination” is to’evah, used elsewhere for idolatry and unclean practices (Deuteronomy 18:12). It means something that nauseates, not just a bad idea but a violation of the holy. Then the verse adds “to his soul”, the Hebrew nephesh, the same word used for the inner life of a person, the seat of emotion and desire. God is not indifferent. He feels about sin what a parent feels about someone harming their child.
How Christians Read This Verse
Most Christian readers have seen this list as describing the same worthless person from the preceding verses. The Geneva Bible (1599) notes that “his soul abhorreth seven.” Matthew Henry says the first six flow from a corrupt heart, and the seventh, sowing discord, is the worst because it breaks brotherly love. Some, like the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary, see the pattern as a Hebrew device to grab attention and build toward a climax, with the seventh as the non plus ultra of what God hates. Across traditions, the consensus is that this list is not exhaustive but representative of the kind of character God stands against.
A common misunderstanding
Living This Out
This week, ask yourself: do any of these seven things have a place in my life? Pride in my heart? A lie I have told? Anger that is ready to hurt? A habit of stirring up conflict rather than making peace? The list is not meant to shame you but to invite you into a different way. Jesus came to change us from the inside out, so that what God hates, we learn to hate too, and what He loves, we learn to love. It is a small step, but a powerful one: choose today to refuse one of these seven things in your conversations or your thoughts.
Main takeaway: God hates pride, lies, violence, evil schemes, cruelty, false witness, and discord, not as a mood, but as His settled opposition to what harms His children.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God loves you so much that He hates the things that hurt you. Lying, hurting others, and starting fights are like poison. God wants us to love what He loves and run away from what He hates.
For ages 9, 12
This verse uses a memory trick: six, then seven things God hates. The seventh is the worst: causing fights between friends. God cares about how we treat each other. He wants you to use your words to build peace, not break it. So when you are tempted to start a rumor or take sides, remember: God notices, and He wants better for you and for everyone.
Questions People Ask
What are the seven things God hates in Proverbs 6:16-19?
The list includes: proud eyes (haughty looks), a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that rush to do evil, a false witness who tells lies, and someone who sows discord among brothers and sisters. The seventh item is often seen as the climax of the list.
Why does God hate these seven things?
Each of these sins directly harms people and breaks the trust and peace that God designed for human relationships. Lying destroys honesty, violence takes life, and sowing discord tears apart communities. God hates them because He loves what is good and He loves the people these sins hurt.
What does 'abomination to his soul' mean?
The Hebrew word translated 'abomination' (to'evah) refers to something deeply repulsive, often used for idolatry or uncleanness. Adding 'to his soul' (nephesh) shows this is not a mild dislike but a profound, personal revulsion from the core of God's being. It is the strongest language for divine disapproval.
Is the 'six...seven' pattern just for effect?
It is a Hebrew poetic device that builds to a climax. The pattern suggests the list is not exhaustive but representative, and it calls special attention to the seventh item. In this context, sowing discord is the culmination of the sin that God detests most among these seven.
Does Proverbs 6:16 mean God hates people?
No. The verse says God hates these seven actions and attitudes. It is the conduct that is abominable, not the person themselves. Throughout Scripture, God loves people and seeks their good, but He stands firmly against the sin that destroys them. The list is a warning, not a verdict on any individual.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study