Lesson from Proverbs Chapter Six

By William R. Cunningham
January 2, 2000

This lesson deals with Proverbs 6:12-19. The purpose of this lesson is simply to learn more of how to govern our lives by acquiring information pertaining to the "mind of God." Proverbs 6:16-19 is probably well known, however it cannot be fully understood unless it is joined with verses 12-15. We are going to discuss is some details, verse by verse, each element of this scripture and how it can apply to our lives today.

The Book of Proverbs contains moral and ethical instructions that deal with many aspects of life. The teachings in this book guide us in how to lead wise, godly lives and how to avoid the pitfalls of unwise, ungodly conduct. It contains a great variety of subjects that are applicable to everyday life. Proverbs can be thought of as God’s book on "how to wise up and live." It is the book of wisdom for life.

Let’s first review verse 12 and its message. We will do the same for all verses in this lesson and them come to an overall conclusion or lesson from the subject scriptures.

Proverbs 6:12 (KJV) A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.

The word naughty in the King James Version originates from the Hebrew word that means "Man of Belial." This refers to a worthless person. Other translations use the word scoundrel as a more modern translation. The word Belial later became a direct reference to the devil. This worthless person is also identified as one that is wicked.

The word froward means perverse or corrupt, that is, to be turned away from what is right. It also identifies someone who is always in opposition and disobedience.

The writer identifies a froward person as someone who is worthless and wicked.

The phrase, "wicketh with the eye" refers to a gesture where the eyes are winked as a gesture of malice (desire to cause pain or intent to do wrong). Picture that someone is telling you that he or she is going to do something and at the same time winks to their partner as a gesture signifying that he or she intents to cheat you or something of that nature. In other words, the winking indicates that, if nothing else, the words spoken are not serious (they are lies), and that you best interest is not a concern.

The phrase "speaks with the feet" refers to someone giving a signal using his or her feet. This is the same principle as in winking the eye.

The phrase, "teaches with his fingers" refer to the gesture of motioning (pointing) with his fingers. These are all more characteristics of the scoundrel (naughty person) identified in verse 12.

What we say should be reliable and trustworthy. We shouldn’t say one thing and mean another. I remember as a young boy there was a gesture that was done that would negate or render your words as not "for real." We used to cross our fingers when telling someone something as a gesture that we were not bound by what we said. Winking with the eyes and gesturing with the feet are similar to this childhood practice.

The word frowardness means perversity (deceit, planning to do evil). In other words, it identifies a person that is up to no good.

The phrase "soweth discord" refers to the act of starting dissention, quarreling, brawling, or strife. You can also think of one who soweth discord as an instigator of division or fighting.

This is more characteristics of the naughty and wicked person.

The word broken means to be destroyed. The person will be destroyed.

The phrase "without remedy" means that the person will be beyond help. No one will be able to deliver him or her from his or her calamity.

The result of the characteristics given in verses twelve through fourteen is sudden disaster (calamity). The calamity will result in his destruction and no one will be able to help him. This signifies God’s judgment on such a person. Basically the person will reap what he or she sowed.

This verse uses a proverb called a numerical proverb in the x and x + 1 format. It doesn’t indicate a complete list. Rather, it puts emphasis and requires us to pay attention to the (x + 1) item. In this case, the emphasis is on the seventh item, which is consistent with the previous verses.

The word hate refers to being an enemy of something and in this case it refers to something that God is totally against. The word abomination refers to something that is morally disgusting.

It is important to understand the implication of the numerical proverbs. This verse is NOT saying that God hates six of the items listed and that seven are an abomination to him, which may imply that the seventh one he doesn’t necessarily hate. Of course that logic would be rather week in light of the items listed. The numerical proverb only attempts to highlight or place emphasis on the last item. Therefore, God hates all of the items but we should place special attention to the seventh one.

The phrase "a proud look" refers to someone that has a spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others. It is when someone thinks of himself more highly then he ought and looks at others as inferior. See Romans 12:3.

Other translations use the phrase "haughty eyes" instead of "proud look" (NIV, NASV). This better places the phrase in the correct context. The context is how the person view things and not on how others view the proud person. It doesn’t mean that the person is viewed as someone trying to be high and mighty (though he or she may). It indicates a person who perceives himself or herself as high and might (a big head) and views others as "lower than thou." It is the perception of self and others of that person that is referenced here and not the perception of others of that person.

God is against a conceited person, a lying person, and those that kill innocent people.

The word "heart" refers to the mind in this case. Generally it refers to the core of something.

The word "imaginations" is translated from a Hebrew word that means intentions or plans.

This verse identifies the person that is always, by his or her nature, coming up with ways to do wicked and is quick to do mischief.

The discord here is associated with a brotherhood. This seems reasonable because the Christian message itself can cause strife within a group of people. This strife can lead some to Christ as they become uneasy about their own particular belief. However, sowing strife among Christian brothers (the family of Christ) is something that the LORD hates.

This implies that God takes the preservation of the fellowship very seriously. Strife can easily destroy any unity within an organization.

Note that the seventh item points right back to the overall subject as indicated in verse 12-14. We see that verses 16-19 basically emphasize or support the message in verses 12-14.

Let’s summarize the items given in the subject scriptures.

1. Conceit

2. Lying

3. Killing of innocent people

4. A wicked heart that plans evil

5. Running quickly to do evil

6. A lying false witness

7. Instigating strife within the fellowship

The applicable message of wisdom here is to not sow discord within the fellowship. We may have our differences in our practices and methods but they are not reason to brawl and fight with each other. Instead we should learn to listen to each other so as not to sow strife. Disagreements can be reasonably and effectively resolved without infighting. We should be careful to not let our zeal of "something Christian" to cause strife among others in our organization.

What happens when you share what you believe and are convinced of its truthfulness with people that are vehemently opposed to what you say and react violently with what you say? I learned a long time ago from Pastor Blumentoe that sometimes you just can’t get through to those types of people and it is best to simply keep your mouth closed (without compromising what you believe). I have also found that having an open and seeking mind will also help you from not being as hard with them as they may be with you. In other words, you should always consider that you may not have all of the facts and that you could be mistaken.

The emphasis in this lesson and the subject scripture is on the trouble making within the fellowship. We see the seriousness of social ills in that the items listed deal with "sins" against others as opposed to personal sins such as adultery, theft, etc. This is not to say that these other sins aren’t as serious. However, we see that social woes are also serious to God and that we should be careful how we treat others.

Another important point that I would like to bring out from this scripture is the fact that the heart and the mind is the directing agent for a person’s actions. Therefore, if someone is swift to do evil, or lies, etc as a way of life then we can say that the person’s is in an ungodly state, which causes the person to do evil. An evil heart will produce evil actions and a godly heart will produce godly actions. Jesus said that a tree is known by its fruit and that the words a person speaks come ultimately from the heart (See Matthew 11:15-20, 12:34 respectively).

Don’t be the instigator of trouble. Don’t be the person that is about mischief and deceit. Recall the spiritual law of sowing and reaping will apply. One who sows mischief will one day reap mischief.