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Proverbs 15:9

in Proverbs 15

The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but He loves those who pursue righteousness.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

The way of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah; But he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.

KJV

The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.

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This verse in Proverbs 15

Commentary

3 notes on this verse

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”.

This site's exposition

The LORD detests the way of the wicked

Verse 8 judged the worshipper at the altar, and this verse widens to his whole way of life. John Gill reads the way of the wicked as the course his heart devises and delights in, which he leaves only by God's grace. Pursue is a word of steady effort.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord,.... The way his heart devises, which he chooses and delights in, in which he walks; nor will he leave it, nor can he be diverted from it, but by the powerful grace of God.

How the passage was read

What the Jewish commentators add

On the verses either side of this one

Harsh discipline will come to him who forsakes the way Harsh suffering is ready for him who transgresses the way of the Holy One, blessed be He.
Rashi: France, 1040–1105 · Rashi on Proverbs 15:10:1, via Sefaria, The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg

This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.

Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.

The words behind it

7 Hebrew words

Every 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.

  • תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת[is] [the] abomination of

    toavatH8441 →117 times

  • יְ֭הוָהYahweh

    yahwehH3068 →6520 times

  • דֶּ֣רֶךְ[the] way of

    derekhH1870 →707 times

  • רָשָׁ֑עa wicked [person]

    rasha'H7563 →263 times

  • וּמְרַדֵּ֖ףand [one who] pursues

    umeradefH7291 →143 times

  • צְדָקָ֣הrighteousness

    tzedakahH6666 →157 times

  • יֶאֱהָֽב׃he loves

    yeehavH157 →211 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Psalms 1:6For the LORD guards the path of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.37 worksPsalms 139:24See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the way everlasting.16 worksProverbs 21:21He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor.12 works1 Peter 3:13Who can harm you if you are zealous for what is good?9 works1 Timothy 6:11But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.7 works1 Corinthians 14:1Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.6 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Isaiah 51:1“Listen to Me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were cut, and to the quarry from which you were hewn.4 worksMatthew 7:13Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.3 worksJeremiah 44:4Yet I sent you all My servants the prophets again and again, saying: ‘Do not do this detestable thing that I hate.’3 worksHosea 6:3So let us know—let us press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the earth.3 worksHabakkuk 1:13Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate the faithless? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?3 worksProverbs 21:4Haughty eyes and a proud heart—the guides of the wicked—are sin.2 worksIsaiah 51:7Listen to Me, you who know what is right, you people with My law in your hearts: Do not fear the scorn of men; do not be broken by their insults.2 worksProverbs 21:8The way of a guilty man is crooked, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.2 worksProverbs 4:19But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble.2 worksIsaiah 26:7The path of the righteous is level; You clear a straight path for the upright.2 worksPsalms 146:8–9the LORD opens the eyes of the blind, the LORD lifts those who are weighed down, the LORD loves the righteous.2 works2 Timothy 2:22Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each 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

    Matthew 7:13

    Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

    it leads to

    • Luke 13:24–25

      “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.

    • Proverbs 16:25

      There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

    • John 14:6

      Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

    • John 10:9

      I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture.

    • Isaiah 55:7

      Let the wicked man forsake his own way and the unrighteous man his own thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely…

  • Through

    Proverbs 21:21

    He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor.

    it leads to

    • Matthew 5:6

      Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

  • Through

    1 Timothy 6:11

    But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

    it leads to

    • Hebrews 12:14

      Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • 2 Timothy 2:22

      Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Where this verse is studied

About Proverbs

The Judgment of Solomon, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
The Judgment of Solomon, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Proverbs: the study guide →Read Proverbs 15 →

This page draws on John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Proverbs 15 →