Discussion of Proverbs 6:16-19

[MarcoPolo]

NAB
Prov 6:16-19 There are six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to him; Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood; A heart that plots wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, The false witness who utters lies, and he who sows discord among brothers.

The Douay-Rheims translates v. 16 as " and the seventh his soul detesteth".

I perused Haydock Commentary.

It seems one of these list of seven is greater than the others. Worthington says discord is the worst…disrupting the Oneness of the Church is the devil’s goal…i.e, diablo, divider. A good translation.

Menochius, says of the word detesteth/abomination “This expression does not always mean that the last is worse than the former”.

What is your take? I seem to favor Worthington as there certainly seems to be a plain meaning in the text of a contrast between the 7th and the other 6. And the “divider” sin seems to encompass all the others, which divide us from the Father.

 

[rcjones]

Just curious why the subtle difference might be important…

Are you hoping that the first six aren’t as bad as the seventh because you’d like to try a few of them?

 

[rwoehmke]

The killing of the first born by sacrifice to Moloch was called an abomination, so would the hands that shed of innocent blood stick out among the rest?

 

[rcjones]

In the shadows, the number seven represents the testimony of the Father Son and Holy Ghost (3) in heaven and on earth (X2 =6) and they are one testimony (+1=7)

1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

This is why the candle in the temple has seven lights.

The pattern of the things God hates follows the pattern of seven being 3+3+1

More subtle is the threesome of hear, see, and walk and representative of the ways we respond to God.

Hearing is the being :made manifest" mentioned in Romans 1. His sheep hear his voice and believe. The proud look and the wicked heart are the opposite of “hearing”.

Seeing is when we engage our intellect. It is represented by the works of God which testify of Him. The hands and feet are representive of works and “walks”.

The purpose of God calling us into life is to be witnesses. So the lying tongue and the false witness are the opposite of the “walk” or life with Christ.

The seventh candle represents the unity of the testimony of God. This is opposed by “He that sows discord” and as such works to destroy all the testimonies of God. It is the seed of doubt upon his word that the serpent sowed in the garden.

As such it is an abomination.

 

[Todd_Easton]

This is simply a literary devise used in Proverbs. Other “numerical proverbs” from Proberbs 30:

15The leech has two daughters; “Give, give,” they cry. Three things are never satisfied; four never say, “Enough”: 16Sheol, the barren womb, the earth ever thirsty for water, and the fire which never says, “Enough.” 17The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.

18Three things are too wonderful for me; four I do not understand: 19the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a maiden. 20This is the way of an adulteress: she eats, and wipes her mouth, and says, “I have done no wrong.”

21Under three things the earth trembles; under four it cannot bear up: 22a slave when he becomes king, and a fool when he is filled with food; 23an unloved woman when she gets a husband, and a maid when she succeeds her mistress.

29Three things are stately in their tread; four are stately in their stride: 30the lion, which is mightiest among beasts and does not turn back before any; 31the strutting cock, the he-goat, and a king striding before his people.