Proverbs 6:17haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood;
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~950 BC. Solomon's court in Jerusalem (modern Israel). The king cataloging behaviors that destroy communities and families...
The emotion here: grief over seeing communities torn apart by arrogance
The original word
gēvōhōt (גְּבֹהוֹת) — eyes lifted high, expressing arrogance and contempt
Why it matters
This is part of the 'seven deadly sins' list that predates Christian tradition by 1000 years
Read with care
What most readers miss in Proverbs 6:17
This isn't just pride - it's the specific look of disgust toward those you consider beneath you
Common misconceptionPeople think this is about self-confidence, but Solomon is describing the specific facial expression of contempt - literally 'high eyes' that look down on others with disgust.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Proverbs 6:17
Bible Genome reading
Proverbs 6:17 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Proverbs 6:17 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 angry, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include pride, deception, violence. Notable phrases: haughty eyes; lying tongue; shed innocent blood.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same angry
“Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'”
— Joel 3:10
“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!”
— Matthew 23:24
“Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who tell their husba…”
— Amos 4:1
“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can't stand your solemn assemblies.”
— Amos 5:21
“Your eyes shall not pity; life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
— Deuteronomy 19:21
Your reflection
What does Proverbs 6:17 mean to you, today?
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