Proverbs 15:8
in Proverbs 15The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah; But the prayer of the upright is his delight.
KJV
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
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This verse in Proverbs 15
Commentary
5 notes on this verseThe sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination - Even the most sedulous attendance on the ordinances of God, and pert ormance of the ceremonies of religion, is an abomination to the Lord, if the heart be not right with him, and the observance do not flow from a principle of pure devotion. No religious acts will do in place of holiness to the Lord. The prayer of the upright is his delight - What a motive to be upright; and what a motive to the upright to pray! But who is the upright?
This site's exposition
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD
on Proverbs 15:8-9
The sacrifice was commanded in Israel's law, yet a wicked man's obedience to the form still offended the God the form was meant to honor. Verse 9 restates the principle in the widest terms: “The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but He loves those who pursue righteousness”.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
The sacrifices of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, etc. The prayers, works, and sacrifices of heretics are abhorred by the Lord, and He accepts the vows of those who affirm the Catholic faith with righteous deeds.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
God has such a love for upright good people that, though they are not at the expense of a sacrifice (he himself has provided that), their prayer is a delight to him. Praying graces are his own gift, and the work of his own Spirit in them, with which he is well pleased. He not only answers their prayers, but delights in their addresses to him, and in doing them good.
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,....
The words behind it
7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| זֶ֣בַח | zevach | [the] sacrifice of | H2077 → | 162 times |
| רְ֭שָׁעִים | reshaim | wicked [people] | H7563 → | 263 times |
| תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת | toavat | [is] [the] abomination of | H8441 → | 117 times |
| יְהוָ֑ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| וּתְפִלַּ֖ת | utefilat | and [is the] prayer of | H8605 → | 72 times |
| יְשָׁרִ֣ים | yesharim | upright [people] | H3477 → | 119 times |
| רְצוֹנֽוֹ׃ | retzono | delight his | H7522 → | 56 times |
זֶ֣בַח[the] sacrifice of
zevachH2077 →162 times
רְ֭שָׁעִיםwicked [people]
reshaimH7563 →263 times
תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת[is] [the] abomination of
toavatH8441 →117 times
יְהוָ֑הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
וּתְפִלַּ֖תand [is the] prayer of
utefilatH8605 →72 times
יְשָׁרִ֣יםupright [people]
yesharimH3477 →119 times
רְצוֹנֽוֹ׃delight his
retzonoH7522 →56 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
Proverbs 28:9Whoever turns his ear away from hearing the law, even his prayer is detestable.
it leads to
- Psalms 66:18
If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
- 2 Timothy 4:3–4
For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.
- Zechariah 7:11–13
But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they stopped up their ears from hearing.
- Psalms 109:7
When he is tried, let him be found guilty, and may his prayer be regarded as sin.
- Isaiah 1:15–16
When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.
- Psalms 66:18
Through
Proverbs 15:29The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
it leads to
- John 9:31
We know that God does not listen to sinners, but He does listen to the one who worships Him and does His will.
- Psalms 145:18–19
The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth.
- 1 Peter 3:12
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
- John 9:31
Where this verse is studied
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.