· Translation: KJV

Proverbs 26:25When his speech is charming, don't believe him; for there are seven abominations in his heart.

The setting

Ancient Israel, ~950 BC. Solomon's court where smooth-talking courtiers and foreign diplomats presented themselves with polished words while harboring secret agendas.

The emotion here: protective urgency from having seen too many people fooled

The original word

tō'ēbāh (תּוֹעֵבָה) — abomination, something God finds utterly detestable

Why it matters

The number seven represented completeness in Hebrew culture - this person has TOTAL moral corruption

Read with care

What most readers miss in Proverbs 26:25

The word 'charming' literally means 'makes gracious' - this person works HARD at being likable

Common misconceptionPeople think this is about obvious bad people, but it's specifically about those who are CHARMING and SMOOTH. The dangerous ones don't look dangerous.

Bible Genome reading

Proverbs 26:25 — Bible Genome reading

EraUnited Kingdom
Primary emotionseeking
Literary typewisdom
MarkCommand

Emotional genome

Comfort power20%
Quotability80%
Memorability80%
Crisis relevance60%
Standalone80%
Themes:deceptiondiscernment

In context

No verse stands alone.

Read the conversation around it.

Open Proverbs 26

Proverbs 26:25 comes from the book of Proverbs, written during the United Kingdom period. The dominant emotion in this verse is seeking, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include deception, discernment. Notable phrases: charming speech; seven abominations. This verse contains a command.

Your reflection

What does Proverbs 26:25 mean to you, today?

A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.

Speak your heart →

Get 3 verses for "seeking"

Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.