Walking with the Wise #31: What GOD Hates

“There are six things that the LORD hates,

seven that are an abomination to Him:

haughty eyes, a lying tongue,

and hands that shed innocent blood,

a heart that devises wicked plans,


feet that make haste to run to evil,


a false witness who breathes out lies,


and one who sows discord among brothers.”

—Proverbs 6:16-19

If we love certain things, then we will most likely hate other things. For example, if I love the Chicago Bears, then I will probably hate the Green Bay Packers. And that is just at the popular level. On a deeper level, I love my children and hate anything that might violate, threaten, or harm them.

There are certain things that God hates. The Hebrew word for “hate” is quite powerful. It denotes an emotional attitude whereby one despises something or someone. And there are certain things that God hates, things that are morally despicable and repugnant to His pure nature.
He hates anything that would hinder, harm, or hurt us.

Solomon wrote that, “The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil”—Proverbs 8:13. If we are to love God, then we must align ourselves with His truth—which means loving what He loves and hating what He hates.

In today’s passage, Solomon uses a numerical description in order to call our attention to what God hates. He then gives a list of seven different things: (1) haughty eyes, (2) lying tongue, (3) hands that shed innocent blood, (4) a heart that devises wicked plans, (5) feet that make haste to run to evil, (6) a false witness who breathes out lies, and (7) one who sows discord among brothers.

This is not to say that there are only six things that God hates; there are many more things that are not included in this list (cf. 30:15-16, 18-19, 21-31). It appears that by using seven to declare that which is an abomination, the last item on the list is to receive the greatest amount of attention. Anyone could agree that the first six are bad, but the seventh is particularly deplorable because it affects so many. And not only that, but it breeds all of the others. Whenever there is that type of discord among brothers, the name of Christ is impugned, and unbelievers are repelled from Christ.

The question for us is: Do we hate what God hates? Do we see our sin as despicable? Or do we minimize it by labeling it as a mistake or character flaw? We must call sin what it is—horrid in the sight of God. Those who try and excuse their sin are simply speaking empty words. And it is because of such words that “the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience”—Ephesians 5:6.

Jesus Christ came to save sinners (Luke 19:10). And as He heralds the truth of God’s love for the world and the coming wrath of God, He testifies against this world system that its works are evil (John 7:7). We must radically reorient ourselves to God’s Word and the truth therein. He gave us His Word so that we might have life and so that we would avoid and hate the sin that so easily entangles us. I pray that we may embrace the Savior who has given us life! He is the only one who can set us free from our sin! He is the only one who died and rose again, enabling salvation for all who place their hope and faith in Him. And not only that, but those who place their faith in Him get a place to live forever (heaven), a people to live with (the people of God), and a purpose for living (to glorify God).

Do you hate what God hates? Have you placed your faith in the Savior who died for you? Don’t wait; do it today. Trust in the one who died for you, enabling you to have eternal life. Amen.