Old Testament Commentary - Proverbs 6

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 6 Six things which the Lord hates are named—Those who commit adultery destroy their own souls.
1 My son, if thou ^abe surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, 2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. 3 Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, ^ahumble thyself, and make sure thy friend.		1^a IE promise to discharge an obligation if the debtor defaults; Prov. 11:15; Prov. 22:26 3^a D&C 67:10
4 Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids. 5 Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6 ¶ Go to the ^aant, thou ^bsluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: 7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.		6^a Prov. 30:25; TG Work, Value of ^b TG Apathy; TG Laziness
9 How long wilt thou ^asleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? 10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.		9^a TG Sleep
12 ¶ A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a ^afroward mouth. 13 He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; 14 Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord^a. 15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without ^aremedy.	14^a he soweth discord How bad is it to be one which does sow discord among the kingdom of God? When the next discussion continues, it is six which are 'hated' but a seventh is not only likely 'hated' but it is an absolute 'abomination'. And consider that this is what Lucifer did in heaven in the preexistence. This is how great a sin it is to 'sow discord' among brethren.	12^a OR perverse 15^a Prov. 29:1
Six/Seven Things Doth the Lord Hate The Seveneth Is an Abomination 1. A Proud Look 2. A Lying Tongue 3. Hands that Shed Innocent Blood 4. An Heart that Deviseth Wicked Imaginations 5. Feet that Be Swift in Running to Mischief 6. A False Witness that Speaketh Lies 7. He that Soweth Discord Among Brethren [He Destroys the Unity of the Faith]
16 ¶ These *six things* doth the LORD ^ahate: yea, seven are an abomination^a** unto him: 17 A ^aproud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An ^aheart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A ^afalse witness that speaketh ^blies, and he that soweth ^cdiscord among brethren.	*16^a six things* doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination** There is various ways to read this. Are all seven hated or just six? Are all seven abominations or just the seventh? If one removes the inserted italized words it reads, 'six doth the LORD hate: yea, seven an abomination'. Now is hating a item as stronge as it being an abosolute abomination? I suppose that it is. And will I would have to conclude that the LORD hates all seven, the seventh is the greater sin. And that is the sin which Lucifer committed in heaven in spreading discord, divisions, and disunity among the children of God. And for this distruction of the unity, the 'oneness' of heaven, Lucifer was cast out and down to this earth, never to advance further than his first estate and forever eternally damned, that is stopped in his progression—never to obtain a body of flesh and bone.	16^a TG Hate 17^a TG Haughtiness; TG Pride 18^a TG Hardheartedness 19^a TG Slander ^b TG Gossip; TG Honesty; TG Lying; ^c TG Disputations
20 ¶ My son, keep thy ^afather's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: 21 ^aBind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. 22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.		20^a TG Family, Children, Duties of 21^a Deut. 6:8 (4-10)
23 For the commandment is a ^alamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: 24 To keep thee from the ^aevil ^bwoman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. 25 ^aLust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. 26 For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.		23^a Ps. 119:108 24^a TG Adultery ^b TG Woman 25^a TG Chastity; TG Lust; TG Sexual Immorality
27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? 28 Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? 29 So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.
30 Men do not despise a thief, if he ^asteal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; 31 But if he be found, he shall ^arestore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.		30^a TG Stealing 31^a Ex. 22:4 (1-4)
32 But whoso committeth ^aadultery with a woman lacketh ^bunderstanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. 33 A wound and ^adishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away. 34 For ^ajealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. 35 He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.		32^a TG Adultery ^b Prov. 9:6 (4-6) 33^a D&C 42:24-26 34^a TG Jealousy