Proverbs 16:6
in Proverbs 16By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for; And by the fear of Jehovah men depart from evil.
KJV
By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
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This verse in Proverbs 16
Commentary
7 notes on this verseThe Holy Spirit speaks in the Scriptures, saying, "By alms and by faith sins are cleansed." Surely not those sins which had been contracted before, for they are purged by the blood and sanctification of Christ. Likewise again he says, "As water quenches fire, so do alms quench sin." Here also it is shown and proved that just as with laver of the waters of salvation the fire of Gehenna is extinguished, so by almsgiving and good works the flame of sin is quenched.
This site's exposition
Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD
on Proverbs 16:5-7
“Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD,” and the warning is total: “be assured that he will not go unpunished”. Verse 7 adds a promise: “When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him”.
This site's exposition
iniquity is atoned for
Clarke reads loving devotion and faithfulness as the LORD's, shown when He sent His Son to atone, and warns against a man atoning for himself. Cyprian applies the verse to alms and faith. By the fear of the LORD a man then turns aside from evil.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
By mercy and truth iniquity is purged,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
By mercy and truth iniquity is purged - This may be misunderstood, as if a man, by showing mercy and acting according to truth, could atone for his own iniquity. The Hebrew text is not ambiguous: בחסד ואמת יכפר עון bechesed veemeth yechapper avon; “By mercy and truth he shall atone for iniquity.” He - God, by his mercy, in sending his son Jesus into the world, - “shall make an atonement for iniquity” according to his truth - the word which he declared by his holy prophets since the world began.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
By mercy and truth--that is, God's (Ps 85:10); He effects the atonement, or covering of sin; and the principles of true piety incline men to depart from evil; or, "mercy" and "truth" may be man's, indicative of the gracious tempers which work instrumentally in procuring pardon. purged--expiated (as in Le 16:33;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Compare Pro 15:8. “By mercy and truth,” not by sacrifices and burnt-offerings, “iniquity is purged, atoned for, expiated.” The teaching is the same as that of the prophets.
The words behind it
8 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| בְּחֶ֣סֶד | bechesed | by loyalty | H2617 → | 247 times |
| וֶ֭אֱמֶת | veemet | and faithfulness | H571 → | 127 times |
| יְכֻפַּ֣ר | yekhupar | it is atoned for | H3722 → | |
| עָוֹ֑ן | ʾavon | iniquity | H5771 → | |
| וּבְיִרְאַ֥ת | uveyirat | and [is] by [the] fear of | H3374 → | 45 times |
| יְ֝הוָ֗ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| ס֣וּר | sur | turning aside | H5493 → | 299 times |
| מֵרָֽע׃ | mera' | from evil | H7451 → | 662 times |
בְּחֶ֣סֶדby loyalty
bechesedH2617 →247 times
וֶ֭אֱמֶתand faithfulness
veemetH571 →127 times
יְכֻפַּ֣רit is atoned for
yekhuparH3722 →
עָוֹ֑ןiniquity
ʾavonH5771 →
וּבְיִרְאַ֥תand [is] by [the] fear of
uveyiratH3374 →45 times
יְ֝הוָ֗הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
ס֣וּרturning aside
surH5493 →299 times
מֵרָֽע׃from evil
mera'H7451 →662 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Job 28:28And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
it leads to
- Proverbs 3:7
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts gain rich understanding. His praise endures forever!
- Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
- Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
- Proverbs 3:7
Through
2 Corinthians 7:1Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 4:7
For God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness.
- 1 Peter 2:11
Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.
- James 4:8
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
- Proverbs 8:13
To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:7
Where this verse is studied
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Cyprian, Treatise VIII. On Works and Alms 2; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.