Proverbs 6:16There are six things which Yahweh hates; yes, seven which are an abomination to him:
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~950 BC. Solomon prepares to list the specific behaviors that provoke God's strongest response...
The emotion here: reverent awe at God's moral intensity
The original word
to'evah (תּוֹעֵבָה) — abomination, something that causes nausea and revulsion
Why it matters
The number pattern 'six... yes seven' was a Hebrew poetic device to emphasize completeness
Read with care
What most readers miss in Proverbs 6:16
This isn't God being mean - it reveals that God has emotions and that evil genuinely grieves His heart
Common misconceptionPeople think this contradicts 'God is love,' but perfect love must hate what destroys the beloved - a parent's love includes hating what hurts their child.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Proverbs 6:16
Bible Genome reading
Proverbs 6:16 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Proverbs 6:16 comes from the book of Proverbs, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Solomon. The dominant emotion in this verse is worship, with a comfort power of 30% and a tone that is reverent. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include God's character, holiness. Notable phrases: six things which Yahweh hates; seven which are an abomination.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same worship
“Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God; Yahweh is one:”
— Deuteronomy 6:4
“and you shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.”
— Deuteronomy 6:5
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:”
— Ecclesiastes 3:1
“Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.”
— John 14:6
“Jesus said to them, "Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM."”
— John 8:58
Your reflection
What does Proverbs 6:16 mean to you, today?
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