Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 11:20
They that are of a froward heart [are] abomination to the LORD: but [such as are] upright in [their] way [are] his delight.
Pro 11:20
Such as are upright in their way are His delight.
The upright, Gods delight
I. Who are the upright? Those whom God makes upright, the workmanship of His own Spirit, His new creation. This does not deny that there is in a sense an uprightness in the natural man. As long as man is a responsible being he is answerable to God for the use of the means given him, and it is a certain truth that there is not a natural man in the world who acts up to the light that he has. Great numbers claim the character of being upright and sincere. So the apostle Paul thought of himself when in his unconverted state. Natural sincerity never comes to the testing of Gods holy light. It can deal with man, but there is never that in natural sincerity which comes before God. For the upright see the publican smiting on his breast; the prodigal returning home; the woman a sinner dropping tears of penitence on Jesuss feet; Matthew, Zaccheus, Nicodemus. The weakest, the feeblest believer, is upright. He often, indeed, thinks himself otherwise. He will even regard himself as a self-deceiver. The upright man mourns over inbred corruptions. Sometimes he has seasons of doubt. He is brought into circumstances of trial. Amidst all, in the grace of the Holy Spirit, he holds fast his integrity.
II. The upright are Gods delight. It is not their way, but themselves, that are His delight. He loved them before all worlds; He loved them before they loved Him in eternity. But the characters of the upright are His delight. He delights in the fruits of His own Sons mediation, in the workmanship of His own Spirit, and in the reflection of His own image. But especially He delights in their being upright. He looks to the humiliation of the upright, their broken hearts, their falling tears. So precious is this uprightness before God, that it seems as if He overlooked all faults where it is. What a word of encouragement this ought to be to those who are honestly seeking Him! If you are indeed upright God knows it, and your inheritance shall be for ever. (J. Harrington Evans.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
They that are of a froward heart; hypocrites, as appears from the opposition of these to the upright in the next clause; whose hearts are false to God, and contrary to their own professions.
Are abomination to the Lord; though by their cunning artifices they may deceive men, and gain their good opinion and favour, yet God sees their naughty hearts, and hateth them.
In their way; in the course of their lives and actions. By which changing of the phrase from heart in the first clause, to way here, he intimates that the sincerity and hypocrisy of mens hearts are discovered and to be judged by their conversations.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
20. (Compare Pr11:5).
frowardas in Pr2:15, opposed to the simplicity and purity of the upright.
in their wayor,”conduct.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
They that are of a froward heart [are] abomination to the Lord,…. Such as are men of perverse dispositions and principles; that are contrary to the light of nature, the law of God, and Gospel of Christ; who, like the Jews of old, please not God, and are contrary to all men, to all good men; as antichrist and his followers, these work abomination, and make a lie, and speak lies in hypocrisy; are double hearted men, hypocrites, that say one thing and mean another; and, under the pretence of religion, do the vilest things: such of all men are abominable in the sight of God, and will have their portion in the lake of fire, in the hottest place in hell, as hypocrites will,
Re 21:8;
but [such as are] upright in [their] way [are] his delight; or, “in the way”; there being no need of a supplement: such as are in the way, Christ, and walk by faith in him, and in the paths of truth and holiness, in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless, who are the “undefiled in the way”, as in Ps 119:1, where the same words are used as here: or, are “perfect” in Christ; though not in faith, nor in their walk and conversation; yet are sincere, Israelites indeed, and walk uprightly according to the truth of the Gospel. These the Lord takes delight and pleasure in; he is well pleased with their persons in Christ; and in their walk and works, as they flow from right principles, and are directed to right ends, and being upright in all; see Ps 84:11.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The following proverbs are especially directed, as connected with this , against the contradiction of the external appearance and of the masked internal nature.
20 An abomination to Jahve are the crookedly dishonest of heart,
And they who are of honest walk are his delight.
We read, Pro 2:15; Pro 8:8, (the form of the transgressions); but here, where the “crookedness” is transferred to the heart, we require another word, which renders the idea of falseness, the contrary of directness, lying in it, without any mixture of the fundamental conception flexuosus or tortuosus . are not only those whose walk is externally without offence and blameless, but, in conformity with the contrast, those whose manner of conduct proceeds from a disposition that is pure, free from deception and concealment. Jerome, et voluntas ejus in iis qui qimpliciter ambulant . But the word is not bit|mymy; they the upright are themselves His (Pro 11:1) delight: He regards them, and only them, with satisfaction.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Divine Assessment
(Pro 11:20)
Verse 20 declares that a perverse heart, a mind that devises mischief and distorts truth, is hateful to the LORD; but they who are straight forward in thought and deed are His delight, Pro 4:24-25; Pro 6:12-14; Pro 8:13; Psa 101:4; Jer 9:24.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
20. Froward Perverse, tortuous.
Upright in their way The perfect of way men of integrity.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Pro 11:20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.
Pro 11:20
Pro 11:20 Word Study on “abomination” Strong says the Hebrew word ( ) (H8441) means, means, “something disgusting,” and it comes from the primitive verb ( ) (H8581) meaning, “to loathe, to detest.” The Enhanced Strong says this Hebrew word is used 117 times in the Old Testament, being translated in the KJV as, “abomination 113, abominable thing 2, abominable 2.”
Pro 11:20 Word Study on “upright” Strong says the Hebrew word “upright” ( ) (H8549) means, “entire, integrity, truth,” and it comes from the primitive root ( ) (H8552), which means, “to complete.” The Enhanced Strong says this Hebrew word is used 91 times in the Old Testament, being translated in the KJV as, “without blemish 44, perfect 18, upright 8, without spot 6, uprightly 4, whole 4, sincerely 2, complete 1, full 1, misc 3.”
Pro 11:20 Word Study on “delight” Strong says the Hebrew word “delight” ( ) (H7522) means, “delight.” The Enhanced Strong says this Hebrew word is used 56 times in the Old Testament, being translated in the KJV as, “favour 15, will 14, acceptable 8, delight 5, pleasure 5, accepted 4, desire 3, acceptance 1, selfwill 1.”
Comments – As we serve the Lord, we will find His divine favor.
Pro 11:20 Comments – God despises a heart that is not genuine, whether it be in the business, or in the church. This tells us that God prefers that we be honest with Him, rather than pretending to be righteous. We will find more blessings in a genuine heart, regardless of our weaknesses and failures, rather than come to Him pretending to be righteous. Psa 5:6 says that God abhors the deceitful man and will destroy him. He may appear righteous before men, such as the Pharisees, but God looks upon the heart. Note that the underlined word in this verse is used in Pro 11:20 as “abomination.”
Psa 5:6, “Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.”
The upright will find delight, or favor, in God’s eyes. Note that the underlined word in these verses is used in Pro 11:20 as “delight.”
Psa 5:12, “For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.”
Psa 30:5, “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
Psa 119:1, “ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.”
Pro 19:12, “The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.”
David prayed before the Lord, ” I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness . As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.” (1Ch 29:17)
God will show Himself upright to the upright and froward to the froward.
Psa 18:25-26, “With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.”
A clear illustration of this verse can be seen in the lives of King Saul and King David. Saul pretended to be upright by offering sacrifices to the Lord and it cost him his kingship. But David found favor in the eyes of the Lord because of his upright heart.
Pro 11:20 Scripture References – Note similar verses:
Psa 11:7, “For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.”
Psa 140:13, “Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.”
Pro 12:22, “Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.”
Pro 15:8, “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.”
Pro 21:29, “A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.”
Pro 11:21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
Pro 11:21
(1) The Handing Down from One Generation to the Other – First, the phrase “hand in hand” may carry the concept of handing down from one generation to the other, which contrasts well with the “seed of the righteous” in the second part of the verse. JFB quotes Mercer, DeDieu, and Maurer, who believe that this phrase refers to the succession of parents and children. [89] KD refer to Bottcher, who interprets the phrase “hand to hand” to means, “from one hand to another.” [90] Just as the seed of the righteous will benefit from these blessings, so will the descendants of the wicked find punishment. E. H. Plumpter says, “From hand to hand, from one generation to another, punishment shall descend on the evil doers.” [91] Note this principle in Exo 20:5-6.
[89] Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Proverbs, in Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary, Electronic Database (Seattle, WA: Hendrickson Publishers Inc., 1997), in P.C. Study Bible, v. 3.1 [CD-ROM] (Seattle, WA: Biblesoft Inc., 1993-2000), comments on Proverbs 11:21.
[90] C. F. Keil, and F. Delitzsch, Proverbs, in Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament: New Updated Edition, Electronic Database (Seattle, WA: Hendrickson Publishers Inc., 1996), in P.C. Study Bible, v. 3.1 [CD-ROM] (Seattle, WA: Biblesoft Inc., 1993-2000), comments on Proverbs 11:21.
[91] E. H. Plumpter, Proverbs, in The Holy Bible According to the Authorized Version (A.D. 1611), with an Explanation and Critical Commentary and a Revision of the Translation, by Bishops and Clergy of the Anglican Church, vol. 4, ed. F. C. Cook (London: John Murray, 1873), 560.
Exo 20:5-6, “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.”
The blessings of the righteous will forever be handed down to his descendants as it brings never-ending blessings from one generation to the next. But the punishment that God hands down to the wicked will cut off their seed after the fourth generation and thus, purge the world of this wickedness. For example, Jesus Christ gave His blessings to twelve apostles. The blessings from the Gospel of Jesus have been handed down for thousands of years, and even into eternity. In contrast, the Lord cut off Ahab and other wicked leaders in Israel in their fourth generation.
(2) God Hands Down His Divine Judgment – John Gill quotes Jarchi’s (Rashi’s) interpretation of Pro 11:21, which says, “ from the hand of the Holy One, blessed be He, to his hand shall come to him his wage, and he will not be cleansed of the evil that he committed.” [92] In other words, this phrase would mean that God hands down His divine judgment from His hand into the hand of the sinners.
[92] John Gill, 1 Kings, in John Gill’s Expositor, in e-Sword, v. 7.7.7 [CD-ROM] (Franklin, Tennessee: e-Sword, 2000-2005), comments on comments on Proverbs 11:21; The Complete Jewish Bible with Rashi Commentary, ed. A. J. Rosenberg (New York: The Judaica Press Company, 1963) [on-line]; accessed 13 December 2009; available from http//www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/16445/showrashi/true; Internet, comments on Proverbs 11:21.
(3) A Handshake and a Covenant – This phrase may carry the idea of a handshake and a covenant. JFB says, “The combined power of the wicked cannot free them from just punishment.” [93] It would mean that the wicked may have many joined in agreement, but this will not protect him from divine wrath. It refers to the protection that comes in the ancient societies from joining in league and covenants with neighbours. This practice of covenant-making was the best assurance of protection against other warlords and bands of marauders.
[93] Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Proverbs, in Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary, Electronic Database (Seattle, WA: Hendrickson Publishers Inc., 1997), in P.C. Study Bible, v. 3.1 [CD-ROM] (Seattle, WA: Biblesoft Inc., 1993-2000), comments on Proverbs 11:21.
(4) The Concept of Certainty – Most modern translations interpret this phrase “hand to hand” to be a Hebrew idiom that means, “You have my word on it.” Thus, it refers to a pledge made in a handshake, giving the figurative interpretation “certainly.” KD prefer to side with Ewald’s view that this phrase refers to a pledge or a guarantee. They quote Job 17:3 as an example. [94]
[94] C. F. Keil, and F. Delitzsch, Proverbs, in Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament: New Updated Edition, Electronic Database (Seattle, WA: Hendrickson Publishers Inc., 1996), in P.C. Study Bible, v. 3.1 [CD-ROM] (Seattle, WA: Biblesoft Inc., 1993-2000), comments on Proverbs 11:21.
Job 17:3, “Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me ?”
Thus, the idea of a promise, a guarantee, or a certainty that something will come to pass is implied. Note how many versions translate this phrase with this idea:
BBE, “ Certainly the evil-doer will not go free from punishment, but the seed of the upright man will be safe.”
HNV, “ Most assuredly , the evil man will not be unpunished, But the seed of the righteous will be delivered.”
JPS, “ My hand upon it! the evil man shall not be unpunished; but the seed of the righteous shall escape.”
NIV, “ Be sure of this : The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free.”
We find this same entire Hebrew phrase in Pro 16:5 ( ).
Pro 16:5, “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished .”
Note how other translations of Pro 16:5 carry the idea of certainty.
Brenton, “ Every one that is proud in heart is unclean before God, and he that unjustly strikes hands with hand shall not be held guiltless.”
DRC, “Every proud man is an abomination to the Lord: though hand should be joined to hand , he is not innocent.”
JPS, “ Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; my hand upon it! he shall not be unpunished.”
NIV, “The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this : They will not go unpunished.”
(5) The Making of Unjust Agreements – The LXX says that this phrase refers to people who make “unjust” agreements with others bringing punishment upon themselves.
Brenton, “He that unjustly strikes hands shall not be unpunished: but he that sows righteousness he shall receive a faithful reward.”
Pro 11:21 “the wicked shall not be unpunished” – Word Study on “unpunished” Strong says the Hebrew word “unpunished” ( ) (H5352) is a primitive root used literally and figuratively to mean, “to be (made) clean,” and it implies, “to be bare, i.e. extirpated or acquitted.” The Enhanced Strong says this Hebrew word is used 44 times in the Old Testament, being translated in the KJV as, “unpunished 11, guiltless 5, innocent 5, clear 4, cleanse 3, free 2, by no means 2, acquit 2, altogether 2, cut off 2, at all 1, blameless 1, desolate 1, quit 1, utterly 1, wholly 1.”
Pro 11:21 “but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered” Word Study on “delivered” Strong says the Hebrew word “delivered” ( ) (H4422) is a primitive root meaning, “to be smooth, i.e. (by implication) to escape (as if by slipperiness),” and used in the causative, it carries the meaning, “to release or to rescue.” The Enhanced Strong says this Hebrew word is used 95 times in the Old Testament, being translated in the KJV as, “escape 47, deliver 33, save 5, …out 4, alone 1, get away 1, lay 1, preserve 1, speedily 1, surely 1.”
Comments – The phrase “the seed of the righteous” implies that within every human being can be sown seeds of righteousness or seeds of unrighteousness which will determine that person’s destiny. A righteous man produces righteous offspring while a wicked man produces wicked offspring. Any child can be taken and developed into either offspring. This is why Pro 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Comments – Not only will the righteous find God’s protection, but his children will partake of these divine blessings. Note:
Gen 17:7, “And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.”
Psa 37:25-26, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.”
Psa 112:1-2, “Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.”
Pro 11:21 Comments – In this uncertain world, there are two things that are certain. The contrast Pro 11:21 is seen in the fact that the wicked will certainly have to pay for their sins, while the righteous will be rescued from them and from the problems and punishment that result from sins. We know that this deliverance is accomplished only through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Both the wicked and the righteous live in the same neighborhood. They met together and work together. The travel the same roads together and shop at the same markets. Yet, one will find calamity while the other finds divine protection.
Fuente: Everett’s Study Notes on the Holy Scriptures
v. 20. They that are of a froward heart,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Pro 11:20 They that are of a froward heart [are] abomination to the LORD: but [such as are] upright in [their] way [are] his delight.
Ver. 20. They that are of a froward heart, &c. ] Not only those that pursue and practise wickedness, but they also that harbour it in their hearts, are hated of God. Luk 16:15 A man may die of inward bleeding; a man may be damned for contemplative wickedness. Jer 4:14 The schools do well observe, that outward sins are maioris infamiae, greater notorieties, but inward heart sins are maioris reatus, greater guilt, as we see in devils.
But such as are upright in their way.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
abomination. See note on Pro 3:32.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Pro 11:20
Pro 11:20
“They that are of a froward heart are an abomination to Jehovah; But such as are perfect in their way are his delight.”
“Abomination, as taught in Proverbs, is a thing so radically full of evil, that it must be forced out some day, by the very necessities of the universe. That God indeed finds in some human life a source of delight is a great encouragement. “How wonderful is the grace of God, which takes such kind notice of the righteousness of sinful men, imperfect as that righteousness must be.
Pro 11:20 A triple contrast: perverse vs. perfect; in heart vs. in their way; and abomination to Jehovah vs. his delight. Instances of perverse hearts and Gods reaction: Pharisees (Luk 16:14-15; Luk 18:9-14; Mat 15:1-9; Mat 23:25-28) and Simon of Samaria (Act 8:20-22). Instances of good people who pleased the Lord: Job (Job 1:8) and Mary of Bethany (Luk 10:39; Luk 10:42; Mar 14:3-9). God delights as much in the righteous as He deplores the wicked.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
of: Pro 6:14, Pro 6:16-19, Pro 8:13, Psa 18:25, Psa 18:26
upright: Pro 9:7, Pro 15:8, Pro 16:17, Pro 21:29, Psa 11:7, Psa 51:6, Psa 140:13
Reciprocal: 1Ch 29:17 – hast pleasure Job 22:3 – any pleasure Psa 7:10 – which Psa 37:23 – delighteth Psa 101:4 – A froward Psa 147:11 – taketh Psa 149:4 – taketh pleasure Pro 3:32 – the froward Pro 12:22 – but 1Pe 2:18 – but
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Pro 11:20-21. They that are of a froward heart &c. They are odious to God, who study to compass their end by wicked means; but they whose exact observance of the rules of righteousness, in the whole course of their lives, testifies the integrity of their hearts, are highly in his favour and love. Though hand join in hand Though the wicked be fortified against Gods judgments by a numerous issue, and kindred, and friends, and by mutual strong combinations; they shall not be unpunished They shall not be able, either totally to prevent Gods judgments, or to hinder them from coming in their days. They shall be punished in their own persons as well as in their posterity. But the seed of the righteous Who follow the steps of their ancestors righteousness, though they may fall into trouble, yet in due time shall be delivered Namely, without any such auxiliaries, by Gods special providence. Though justice may come slowly to punish the wicked, and mercy to save the righteous, yet both will come surely.