Proverbs 28:9
in Proverbs 28Whoever turns his ear away from hearing the law, even his prayer is detestable.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.
KJV
He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
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This verse in Proverbs 28
Commentary
7 notes on this verseAnd so it cometh to pass that our tongue is so much the less respected of God when we pray, by how much we are more defiled with foolish speech, because, as it is written: "He that turneth away his ear that he hear not the law, his prayer shall be execrable." What marvel, then, is it, if, when we pray, God doth slowly hear us, when as we hear God's commandments, either slowly or not at all?
This site's exposition
He who increases his wealth by interest
on Proverbs 28:8-9
Wealth gained "by interest and usury" is laid up "for one who is kind to the poor." Verse 9 pairs disobedience with worship: "Whoever turns his ear away from hearing the law, even his prayer is detestable." A closed ear makes the open mouth in prayer worthless.
This site's exposition
Whoever turns his ear away
Gregory the Dialogist asks why anyone should marvel that God is slow to hear prayers. People hear His commandments slowly or never. The ear shut to the law makes the praying mouth detestable.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
What is written in the book of Solomon we ought to read with great anxiety and fear, not with indifference: "He that hardens his ears from hearing the law, his prayer shall be an abomination." A person should first be willing to listen to God, …
The Medieval Church1 voice
Let [anyone] beg, however, in faith, in no way hesitating. Let him, by living well, show himself to be worthy of being heard when he begs. For anyone who remembers that he has not obeyed the Lord's commands rightly loses hope that the Lord pays …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law - Many suppose, if they do not know their duty, they shall not be accountable for their transgressions; and therefore avoid every thing that is calculated to enlighten them. They will not read the Bible, lest they should know the will of Good; and they will not attend Divine ordinances for the same reason. But this pretense will avail them nothing; as he that might have known his master’s will, but would not, shall be treated as he shall be who did know it, and disobeyed it.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| מֵסִ֣יר | mesir | [one who] turns aside | H5493 → | 299 times |
| אָ֭זְנוֹ | ʾazeno | ear his | H241 → | 187 times |
| מִשְּׁמֹ֣עַ | mishemoa' | from hearing | H8085 → | 1159 times |
| תּוֹרָ֑ה | torah | [the] law | H8451 → | 219 times |
| גַּֽם־ | gam- | also | H1571 → | 769 times |
| תְּ֝פִלָּת֗וֹ | tefilato | prayer his | H8605 → | 72 times |
| תּוֹעֵבָֽה׃ | toevah | [is] an abomination | H8441 → | 117 times |
מֵסִ֣יר[one who] turns aside
mesirH5493 →299 times
אָ֭זְנוֹear his
ʾazenoH241 →187 times
מִשְּׁמֹ֣עַfrom hearing
mishemoa'H8085 →1159 times
תּוֹרָ֑ה[the] law
torahH8451 →219 times
גַּֽם־also
gam-H1571 →769 times
תְּ֝פִלָּת֗וֹprayer his
tefilatoH8605 →72 times
תּוֹעֵבָֽה׃[is] an abomination
toevahH8441 →117 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
Psalms 66:18If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
it leads to
- Proverbs 15:29
The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 15:8
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 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.
- Isaiah 1:15
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.
- James 4:3
And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures.
- Proverbs 15:29
Through
Proverbs 15:8The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
it leads to
- Proverbs 21:27
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—how much more so when brought with ill intent!
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Chronicles 29:17
I know, my God, that You test the heart and delight in uprightness. All these things I have given willingly and with an upright heart, and now I have seen Your people who are…
- Jeremiah 6:20
What use to Me is frankincense from Sheba or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please Me.”
- Proverbs 21:27
Where this verse is studied
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bede, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles, James 1:6; Caesarius of Arles, SERMON 7:3-4; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; Gregory the Dialogist, Dialogues, Book 3, Chapter 15; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763).