The Seven Things God Hates

Proverbs 6:16-19
16 These six things the LORD hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
17 A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
19 A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.

These four verses sum up the seven things God hates. While these are not the only sins of mankind, they are seven wicked things reproved by God.

The seven sins deal with the deep motives of our hearts and our sinful thought processes.

Before sin is actually committed, it is first conceived in the heart. Avoiding these seven things God hates will help us to expose our own hidden intentions and motives.

Firstly, a proud look. Being arrogant and haughty. Having a feeling of pride and always looking down on others. Thinking more highly of ourselves. We are better than others. We are more superior than others.

Many Christians have spiritual pride. It is an attitude of superiority or self-righteousness. They feel that they are more holy, wiser, or more favored by God than others.

Always comparing ourselves to others to feel superior. Always debasing others. Being unteachable or closing our minds to correction and rebuke.

Judging others harshly and mercilessly for their lack of faith, knowledge or morals. Focusing on self-accomplishments and achievements. Always becoming defensive when questioned or criticized.

Secondly, a lying tongue. Speaking falsehood, knowingly and readily, with an intention to deceive others. Always saying bad about others to obtain gain for self. Always currying favor by means of insincere flattery or special attention to gain an advantage from someone in authority.

The act of lying resembles the devil, who is the father of lies (John 8:44). Very often, it is a few droplets of untruths embedded in some truths. Like adding a drop of poison into a glass of pure water.

Most of these lies cannot be easily detected. They are not like fish bones, easily removed and separated from the meat. They are often poison injected into a beautiful apple.

Thirdly, hands that shed innocent blood. This is murder. Though we might never have orchestrated killing someone by a gun or knife, we are always harboring anger against someone else.

In Matthew 5:21–24, Jesus looked at our hearts. Murder was committed in the hearts before it actually took place. By not forgiving others. By not leaving room to show mercy and grace to others.

1 John 3:15
Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

Anyone who hates others is really a murderer at heart. Anyone wanting to murder does not have eternal life within.

Fourthly, a heart that devises wicked plans. Intentionally and carefully plots evil in their inner thoughts before taking action.

The heart is not just a physical organ. It is where our emotions are. Therein are our thoughts. It is the place where we select our choices, and make the decisions.

The word "devises" means to compute, plan, invent or plot. It describes someone who spends time thinking up ways to do wrong. It is done intentionally.

It is not a sudden mistake. It is carefully planned, plotted and carried out. Like David murdering Uriah the Hittite after knowing that Bathsheba had conceived because of the adultery (2 Samuel 11).

Matthew 15:18-19
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.
19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

God cares about what we think in private, not just what we do in public. Sinful actions start as thoughts stored and planned in the heart. An evil heart continually contrives schemes to bring others to ruin, whether physically, financially or spiritually.

Fifthly, feet that are swift in running to evil. This is an eagerness to commit sin. Always running towards committing wrongdoings and sins. This external action was a result of the internal motives and schemes.

From thoughts to actions, the internal schemes of a heart that devises wicked plans would eventually result in the external actions of feet that are swift in running to evil. The inner thoughts quickly turn into physical actions

Eve saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye (Genesis 3:6). Her continual thoughts resulted in her sinful action.

But Jesus was able to overcome the temptations of the devil in Matthew 4:1–11. His thoughts were founded in the Word of God. The temptations did not grow bigger in His mind. Jesus overcame by not allowing them to grow into sin. He did not yield to the temptations. He overcame each of them by the Word of God.

We cannot prevent the birds from flying over our heads, but we can disallow them from building their nests on our heads!

Temptations cannot be avoided. We cannot stop unwanted thoughts or temptations from appearing in our minds, but we can choose not to dwell on them.

Sudden thoughts, worries, or temptations can often enter our minds. But we can disallow those negative thoughts stay, grow, and later turn into actions. It is our choice to control how long we focus on a bad thought. A few seconds or a few minutes or a few days!

James 4:7
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

When we give ourselves wholeheartedly to God, we could then be able to stand against the devil, and the devil would run away from us.

Sixthly, a false witness who speaks lies. The Ninth Commandment prohibits against bearing false testimony (Exodus 20:16).

Proverbs 19:5
A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who speaks lies will not escape.

This sin will not go unpunished because it corrupts justice. It will also destroy relationships and mutual trust.

What is the difference between a false witness and a lying tongue? A lying tongue generally refers to everyday falsehoods. But a false witness specifically targets others with malicious or untruthful testimony in a legal or communal judgment setting.

A false witness could send an innocent person to jail or even to be sentenced to death.

Seventhly, one who sows discord among brethren. This describes someone who deliberately plants strife, spreads rumors, or creates division among family members or a community.

Why does God hate this sin so much that He says it is an abomination to Him?

Psalm 133:1
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity!

We are to dwell together in unity. God is our Father in heaven. We are all in the family of God. We are to love one another. We are to care for one another. We are to share the goodness of God with one another.

Quarrels and disagreements among people within the church is unavoidable. But anyone who purposely causes disruption to the peace in the body of Christ will displease God above all things.

1 John 2:9-11
9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.
10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

1 John 4:20-21
20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

By sowing discord, that person gives room for others to sin, and also for himself to sin further. It will eventually trigger a never-ending war within the family of God.

Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.

A troublemaker would actively destroy harmony and unity like a fire spreading through the forests. But there is great blessing for peacemakers who are fostering unity and peace among people. They shall be called sons of God.

These seven things God hates are the matter of the heart. They are also the heart of the matter. When happened inside our hearts, if unresolved and unchecked, would eventually lead to actions resulting in sins.

Written on 24 September 2026