Proverbs - 11:20



20 Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to Yahweh, but those whose ways are blameless are his delight.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Proverbs 11:20.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.
They that are perverse in heart are an abomination to Jehovah; But such as are perfect in their way are his delight.
A perverse heart is abominable to the Lord: and his will is in them that walk sincerely.
The perverse in heart are abomination to Jehovah; but they that are perfect in their way are his delight.
An abomination to Jehovah are the perverse of heart, And the perfect of the way are His delight.
They that are of a fraudulent heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.
The uncontrolled are hated by the Lord, but those whose ways are without error are his delight
They that are perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD; But such as are upright in their way are His delight.
A depraved heart is abominable to the Lord. And his will is with those who walk in simplicity.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the Lord,.... Such as are men of perverse dispositions and principles; that are contrary to the light of nature, the law of God, and Gospel of Christ; who, like the Jews of old, please not God, and are contrary to all men, to all good men; as antichrist and his followers, these work abomination, and make a lie, and speak lies in hypocrisy; are double hearted men, hypocrites, that say one thing and mean another; and, under the pretence of religion, do the vilest things: such of all men are abominable in the sight of God, and will have their portion in the lake of fire, in the hottest place in hell, as hypocrites will, Revelation 21:8;
but such as are upright in their way are his delight; or, "in the way"; there being no need of a supplement: such as are in the way, Christ, and walk by faith in him, and in the paths of truth and holiness, in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless, who are the "undefiled in the way", as in Psalm 119:1, where the same words are used as here: or, are "perfect" in Christ; though not in faith, nor in their walk and conversation; yet are sincere, Israelites indeed, and walk uprightly according to the truth of the Gospel. These the Lord takes delight and pleasure in; he is well pleased with their persons in Christ; and in their walk and works, as they flow from right principles, and are directed to right ends, and being upright in all; see Psalm 84:11.

Nothing is more hateful to God, than hypocrisy and double dealing, which are here signified. God delights in such as aim and act with uprightness.

(Compare Proverbs 11:5).
froward--as in Proverbs 2:15, opposed to the simplicity and purity of the upright.
in their way--or, "conduct."

The following proverbs are especially directed, as connected with this כן, against the contradiction of the external appearance and of the masked internal nature.
20 An abomination to Jahve are the crookedly dishonest of heart,
And they who are of honest walk are his delight.
We read, Proverbs 2:15; Proverbs 8:8, עקּשׁ (the form of the transgressions); but here, where the "crookedness" is transferred to the heart, we require another word, which renders the idea of falseness, the contrary of directness, lying in it, without any mixture of the fundamental conception flexuosus or tortuosus. תּמימי דרך are not only those whose walk is externally without offence and blameless, but, in conformity with the contrast, those whose manner of conduct proceeds from a disposition that is pure, free from deception and concealment. Jerome, et voluntas ejus in iis qui qimpliciter ambulant. But the word is not bit

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