Proverbs 10:18He who hides hatred has lying lips. He who utters a slander is a fool.
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~950 BC. Royal court scribes recording Solomon's wisdom for training future leaders in Jerusalem, Israel.
The emotion here: urgent concern for moral clarity
The original word
sitnah (שִׂטְנָה) — deep-seated animosity that festers and corrupts
Why it matters
Solomon's proverbs were compiled centuries after his death by Hezekiah's scribes around 700 BC
Read with care
What most readers miss in Proverbs 10:18
This verse links TWO different sins — hidden hatred always leads to public lies
Common misconceptionPeople think this is just about not gossiping, but Solomon is exposing the connection between suppressed anger and dishonest speech. You can't fake peace forever.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Proverbs 10:18
Bible Genome reading
Proverbs 10:18 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Proverbs 10:18 comes from the book of Proverbs, written during the United Kingdom period. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include honesty, speech. Notable phrases: hiding hatred; lying lips.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same deciding
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7
“"You shall not murder.”
— Exodus 20:13
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:12
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
“But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"”
— Acts 3:6
Your reflection
What does Proverbs 10:18 mean to you, today?
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