When his speech is charming, don’t believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
Parallel Translations
-
When his speech is charming, don’t believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
-
When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
-
When he speaketh fair, believe him not; for there are seven abominations in his heart.
Examined in Scripture Analysis
Contradictions (1)
Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.
Cross-references (7)
Passages linked to Proverbs 26:25 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Proverbs 6:16-19 There are six things which Yahweh hates; yes, seven which are an abomination to him: arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are swift in running to mischief, a false witness who utters lies, and he who sows discord among brothers.
- Psalms 28:3 Don’t draw me away with the wicked, with the workers of iniquity who speak peace with their neighbors, but mischief is in their hearts.
- Jeremiah 12:6 For even your brothers, and the house of your father, even they have dealt treacherously with you! Even they have cried aloud after you! Don’t believe them, though they speak beautiful words to you.
- Jeremiah 9:2-8 Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! For they are all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men. “They bend their tongue, as their bow, for falsehood. They have grown strong in the land, but not for truth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they don’t know me,” says Yahweh. “Everyone beware of his neighbor, and don’t trust in any brother; for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbor will go around like a slanderer. Friends deceive each other, and will not speak the truth. They have taught their tongue to speak lies. They weary themselves commiting iniquity. Your habitation is in the middle of deceit. Through deceit, they refuse to know me,” says Yahweh. Therefore Yahweh of Armies says, “Behold, I will melt them and test them; for how should I deal with the daughter of my people? Their tongue is a deadly arrow. It speaks deceit. One speaks peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, but in his heart, he waits to ambush him.
- Matthew 24:23 “Then if any man tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or, ‘There,’ don’t believe it.
- Psalms 12:2 Everyone lies to his neighbor. They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart.
- Micah 7:5 Don’t trust in a neighbor. Don’t put confidence in a friend. With the woman lying in your embrace, be careful of the words of your mouth!
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (9 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
Private notes
Saved on this device only — never synced or sent anywhere.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain Meaning, many: he useth the number certain, for the…
Meaning, many: he useth the number certain, for the uncertain.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Pro 26:25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not:…
Pro 26:25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for [there are] seven abominations in his heart.
Ver. 25. When he speaketh fair, believe him not.] Nηφε και μεμνησο απιστειν. Take heed whom you trust; "beware of men"; {Mat 10:17} bless yourselves from your pretended friends, and pray with David to be "delivered from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue." {Psa 120:2} Admit they not only speak us fair, but do us many kindnesses; yet believe them as little as David did Saul. Enemies’ gifts are giftless gifts, said one heathen. {a} And timeo Danaos et dona ferentes, saith another. {b}
Read full note →
“Munera magna quidem misit, sed misit in hamo:
Et piscatorcm piscis amare potest?” - Martial.
{a} Eχθρων αδωρα δωρα. - Soph.
{b} Virgil.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain Whose hatred is covered by deceit,.... The hatred of…
Whose hatred is covered by deceit,.... The hatred of whose heart is covered by deceitful words, and strong expressions of love and esteem; so that those to whom they are made are deceived by them. Or, whose "hatred is covered in a waste or desert place" (n); it being not seen; as what is done in desert places is not obvious to view, being little frequented; which agrees with what follows, and keeps up the antithesis between the two clauses: Schultens renders it, with a tumultuous noise, with loud and public acclamations; see Zac 4:7;
his wickedness shall be showed before the whole congregation; in an open court of judicature, where he shall be brought, arraigned, and tried for his wickedness; which, though covertly done, shall be exposed and proved upon him: or before the church of God, where he shall be convicted by the word, and be obliged to acknowledge his sin; and, in a member, be reproved before all, and rejected: or however, at the great day of judgment, before angels and men, when all will be convened together; and where every secret work will be brought, and will be brought to light, and receive its just reward.
Read full note →
(n) "in desolatione", Montanus; "in solitudine", Baynus, Vatablus; "in vastatione", Tigurine version; "in vastitate", Mercerus, Piscator, so Ben Melech.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 25. When he speaketh fair] For there are…
Verse 25. When he speaketh fair] For there are such hypocrites and false friends in the world.
Believe him not] Let all his professions go for nothing.
Read full note →
For there are seven abominations in his heart.] That is, he is full of abominations.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain Seven abominations - Compare Pro 26:16 note. Here “seven”…
Seven abominations - Compare Pro 26:16 note. Here “seven” retains, perhaps, its significance as the symbol of completeness. Evil has, as it were, gone through all its work, and holds its accursed Sabbath in the heart in which all things are “very evil.”
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain Sentiment of Pro 26:24 carried out.
Sentiment of Pro 26:24 carried out.
seven abominations in his heart--that is, very many (compare Pro 24:16).
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 25. When he speaketh fair — Literally, When he…
25. When he speaketh fair — Literally, When he makes his voice gracious — speaks in kind, winning tones — believe him not; do not be deceived by the fair speech of a known enemy.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (25) Seven abominations.—See above on Pro_26:16, and comp. “seven…
(25) Seven abominations.—See above on Pro_26:16, and comp. “seven spirits” (Mat_12:45) and “seven devils” (Mar_16:9).
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain When he speaketh fair, believe him not. When he…
When he speaketh fair, believe him not. When he lowers his voice to a winning, agreeable tone, put no trust in him. Septuagint, "If thine enemy entreat thee with a loud voice, be not persuaded." For there are seven abominations in his heart. His heart is filled with a host of evil thoughts (see on ver. 16), as if seven devils had entered in and dwelt there. (Mat_12:45 Mar_16:9) Ecc_12:10, etc. "Never trust thine enemy; for like as iron rusteth, so is his wickedness. Though he humble himself, and go crouching, yet take good heed and beware of him." Plato"s verdict concerning hypocrisy is often quoted, Escath adikia dokein dikaion einai mh onta . "It is the very worst form of injustice to appear to be just without being so in reality" ("De Rep.," 2, p. 361, A). With this Cicero agrees ("De Offic.," 1:13), "Totius injustitiae nulla capitalior est quam eorum, qui tum cum maxime fallunt id agunt ut viri boni esse videantur."
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.