TRV
Study This Verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Proverbs 6:12–19. His three-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
Solomon here gives us,
I.The characters of one that is mischievous to man and dangerous to be dealt with.
If the slothful are to be condemned, that do nothing, much more those that do ill, and contrive to do all the ill they can. It is a naughty person that is here spoken of, Heb. A man of Belial; I think it should have been so translated, because it is a term often used in scripture, and this is the explication of it. Observe,
1.How a man of Belial is here described. He is a wicked man, that makes a trade of doing evil, especially with his tongue, for he walks and works his designs with a froward mouth (Pro 6:12), by lying and perverseness, and a direct opposition to God and man. He says and does every thing,
(1.)Very artfully and with design. He has the subtlety of the serpent, and carries on his projects with a great deal of craft and management (Pro 6:13), with his eyes, with his feet, with his fingers. He expresses his malice when he dares not speak out (so some), or, rather, thus he carries on his plot; those about him, whom he makes use of as the tools of his wickedness, understand the ill meaning of a wink of his eye, a stamp of his feet, the least motion of his fingers. He gives orders for evil-doing, and yet would not be thought to do so, but has ways of concealing what he does, so that he may not be suspected. He is a close man, and upon the reserve; those only shall be let into the secret that would do any thing he would have them to do. He is a cunning man, and upon the trick; he has a language by himself, which an honest man is not acquainted with, nor desires to be.
(2.)Very spitefully and with ill design. It is not so much ambition or covetousness that is in his heart, as downright frowardness, malice, and ill nature. He aims not so much to enrich and advance himself as to do an ill turn to those about him. He is continually devising one mischief or other, purely for mischief-sake - a man of Belial indeed, of the devil, resembling him not only in subtlety, but in malice.
2.What his doom is (Pro 6:15): His calamity shall come and he shall be broken; he that devised mischief shall fall into mischief. His ruin shall come,
(1.)Without warning. It shall come suddenly: Suddenly shall he be broken, to punish him for all the wicked arts he had to surprise people into his snares.
(2.)Without relief. He shall be irreparably broken, and never able to piece again: He shall be broken without remedy. What relief can he expect that has disobliged all mankind? He shall come to his end and none shall help him, Dan 11:45.
II.A catalogue of those things which are in a special manner odious to God, all which are generally to be found in those men of Belial whom he had described in the foregoing verses; and the last of them (which, being the seventh, seems especially to be intended, because he says they are six, yea, seven) is part of his character, that he sows discord. God hates sin; he hates every sin; he can never be reconciled to it; he hates nothing but sin. But there are some sins which he does in a special manner hate; and all those here mentioned are such as are injurious to our neighbour. It is an evidence of the good-will God bears to mankind that those sins are in a special manner provoking to him which are prejudicial to the comfort of human life and society. Therefore the men of Belial must expect their ruin to come suddenly, and without remedy, because their practices are such as the Lord hates and are an abomination to him, Pro 6:16. Those things which God hates it is no thanks to us to hate in others, but we must hate them in ourselves.
1.Haughtiness, conceitedness of ourselves, and contempt of others - a proud look. There are seven things that God hates, and pride is the first, because it is at the bottom of much sin and gives rise to it. God sees the pride in the heart and hates it there; but, when it prevails to that degree that the show of men's countenance witnesses against them that they overvalue themselves and undervalue all about them, this is in a special manner hateful to him, for then pride is proud of itself and sets shame at defiance.
2.Falsehood, and fraud, and dissimulation. Next to a proud look nothing is more an abomination to God than a lying tongue; nothing more sacred than truth, nor more necessary to conversation than speaking truth. God and all good men hate and abhor lying.
3.Cruelty and blood-thirstiness. The devil was, from the beginning, a liar and a murderer (Joh 8:44), and therefore, as a lying tongue, so hands that shed innocent blood are hateful to God, because they have in them the devil's image and do him service.
4.Subtlety in the contrivance of sin, wisdom to do evil, a heart that designs and a head that devises wicked imaginations, that is acquainted with the depths of Satan and knows how to carry on a covetous, envious, revengeful plot, most effectually. The more there is of craft and management in sin the more it is an abomination to God.
5.Vigour and diligence in the prosecution of sin - feet that are swift in running to mischief, as if they were afraid of losing time or were impatient of delay in a thing they are so greedy of. The policy and vigilance, the eagerness and industry, of sinners, in their sinful pursuits, may shame us who go about that which is good so awkwardly and so coldly.
6.False-witness bearing, which is one of the greatest mischiefs that the wicked imagination can devise, and against which there is least fence. There cannot be a greater affront to God (to whom in an oath appeal is made) nor a greater injury to our neighbour (all whose interests in this world, even the dearest, lie open to an attack of this kind) than knowingly to give in a false testimony. There are seven things which God hates, and lying involves two of them; he hates it, and doubly hates it.
7.Making mischief between relations and neighbours, and using all wicked means possible, not only to alienate their affections one from another, but to irritate their passions one against another. The God of love and peace hates him that sows discord among brethren, for he delights in concord. Those that by tale-bearing and slandering, by carrying ill-natured stories, aggravating every thing that is said and done, and suggesting jealousies and evil surmises, blow the coals of contention, are but preparing for themselves a fire of the same nature.
Historical interpretation
Historical Reception
2 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
“All the time this kind of man stirs up troubles in the city.” Indeed! The words “all the time” are quite strong! In fact, even when such a person intends to command something good, his method of command is still full of suspicion. He leads people to fight and troubles secure cities with riots. This kind of a person has no peaceful spirit, nor has he listened to Jesus, who said, “How blessed are the peacemakers.”
“And poverty will come upon you like an evil traveler, and want like a good runner.” Nothing is worse than poverty. It comes immediately to the idle and even overtakes strong runners in its speed. Poverty is just like need: poverty is lack of knowledge; need is lack of virtue. Can you see the absolute excellence of work? Will you not be taught by instinct? Learn then from an attempt at doing something. Or, do you want to appear even more irrational? Then run away from poverty. Is work at first difficult? Then look to its results. Is idleness sweet? Then consider what comes out of it in the end. So let us not look at the beginning of things, but let us also see where they end up. The one who goes out of his house does not want to stop along the way, but already at the beginning of his journey is thinking about the end. Because he starts out this way, his beginning will bring him to the end. But you do quite the opposite.
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Summary
Proverbs 6:14 offers a profound diagnostic portrait of the wicked individual, revealing that their destructive actions stem from a deeply rooted internal disposition of perversity. This "frowardness" in the heart serves as the wellspring from which their thoughts continually devise malicious harm, culminating in the active instigation of division and strife within relationships and communities, thereby demonstrating a consistent and deliberate commitment to evil.
Context
Literary Context
This verse is an integral component of a larger admonition in Proverbs 6:12-19, which meticulously describes and warns against the "worthless person" (Hebrew: belial). The preceding verse, Proverbs 6:13, depicts the outward, deceptive physical cues of such an individual—winking with the eyes, shuffling the feet, pointing with the fingers—which are presented as external manifestations of an inner corruption. Verse 14 then penetrates deeper, exposing the heart of this person as the true source of their destructive behavior. It systematically progresses from external signs to internal intent and finally to the resulting destructive actions, thereby setting the stage for the subsequent enumeration of the seven things the Lord detests in Proverbs 6:16-19, where "one who sows discord among brothers" is explicitly condemned as an abomination.
Historical & Cultural Context
In ancient Israelite society, the preservation of community cohesion, familial harmony, and social order was of paramount importance. Wisdom literature, particularly the book of Proverbs, frequently underscores the critical role of righteous living for the holistic well-being of both the individual and the collective. Actions that actively disrupted this social order, such as sowing discord, were considered particularly heinous because they directly threatened the very fabric of communal life, inevitably leading to fragmentation, instability, and societal decay. The vivid imagery of "plowing evil" and "sowing discord" would have resonated deeply with an agrarian society, illustrating the deliberate, painstaking, and persistent nature of the wicked person's destructive efforts, much like a farmer diligently prepares a field for a harvest, albeit a harvest of contention and ruin.
Key Themes
Proverbs 6:14 powerfully articulates several core themes that permeate the book of Proverbs and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it emphatically underscores the principle that internal corruption inevitably leads to external harm, emphasizing that evil deeds are not merely impulsive or accidental acts but originate from a deeply twisted and perverse inner disposition. This aligns profoundly with the teaching that the heart is the wellspring of life's issues and the ultimate source of human actions, a truth later expounded by Jesus in Matthew 15:19. Secondly, the phrase "he deviseth mischief continually" highlights the theme of deliberate malice, indicating that the wicked person's wrongdoing is not accidental or sporadic but a persistent, intentional plotting of harm against others. This individual actively schemes to bring about negative outcomes. Finally, "he soweth discord" points to the destructive power of social division, portraying someone who actively creates strife, contention, and disunity within relationships, families, or communities—a behavior explicitly listed among the things the Lord detests in Proverbs 6:19.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This term denotes a perversity or fraud. It describes a disposition that is fundamentally twisted, inverted, or turned away from what is righteous, true, and just. It implies a deliberate choice to deviate from moral rectitude, indicating a mind and will that are set on doing wrong, often characterized by treachery and deceit.
A primitive root meaning "to scratch," "engrave," or "plough." Figuratively, it expands to mean "to fabricate" or "to devise," particularly in a negative or bad sense. The imagery suggests a deep, painstaking, and continuous effort to plan and execute wickedness, much like a farmer meticulously prepares a field or an artisan engraves a design. It strongly denotes intentional, often secretive, plotting and scheming.
Derived from a root meaning "to contend" or "to strive," this word signifies a contest, quarrel, brawling, contention, or strife. It encompasses any action or attitude that actively fosters disunity and conflict. The related form H4090 (mᵉdân) reinforces the meaning of contention and strife, emphasizing the disruptive nature of this behavior.
Verse Breakdown
"Frowardness [is] in his heart"
This initial clause establishes the internal, deeply ingrained nature of the wicked person. "Frowardness" (perversity, crookedness, treachery) is not merely an external act but an inherent, pervasive disposition, profoundly rooted in the "heart." In biblical anthropology, the heart (lêb) is understood as the very core of a person's being—the seat of intellect, will, emotion, and moral character. Thus, this person's essential nature, their very essence, is twisted and turned away from righteousness and uprightness.
"he deviseth mischief continually"
This transitions from the internal state to the internal action, revealing the consequence of a froward heart. Because perversity resides within, their mind is perpetually engaged in plotting evil (raʻ, bad, harmful, wicked). The verb "deviseth" (chârash) implies deliberate, painstaking, and often secretive planning, while "continually" (ʻêth) underscores the persistent and unceasing nature of their malicious scheming. Their thoughts are consumed with designing harm and ruin for others.
"he soweth discord"
This final clause describes the outward manifestation and destructive consequence of their inner corruption and malicious plotting. The vivid imagery of "sowing" (shâlach, to send forth, to cast out) powerfully portrays the active, deliberate dissemination of seeds of contention (mâdôwn, strife, quarrel). This person does not merely participate in existing arguments but actively initiates, propagates, and spreads quarrels, disunity, and strife, thereby systematically disrupting peace and harmony within their sphere of influence—be it family, community, or broader society.
Literary Devices
Proverbs 6:14 masterfully employs powerful Imagery and Metaphor to convey its profound message. The phrase "he deviseth mischief" utilizes the metaphor of "plowing evil" or "engraving evil" (derived from the root chârash), which suggests a deep, deliberate, and painstaking process of planning wickedness, much like a farmer meticulously prepares a field or an artisan carefully carves a design. This imagery sharply contrasts with impulsive actions, thereby highlighting the premeditated and intentional nature of the wicked person's harm. Furthermore, "he soweth discord" is a potent Metaphor that likens the act of instigating strife to the planting of seeds. Just as physical seeds grow into plants, the words and actions of this individual germinate into arguments, divisions, and conflicts, yielding a bitter harvest of disunity and broken relationships. This verse also exhibits a clear form of Climactic Progression, moving logically and forcefully from the internal state of depravity (frowardness in the heart) to the internal action (devising mischief) and finally to the external, destructive impact (sowing discord), illustrating a complete and devastating cycle of corruption.
Theological and Thematic Connections
This verse profoundly speaks to the biblical understanding of human depravity, asserting that sin originates not merely from external temptation or accidental missteps, but from a deeply corrupted inner core—the heart. The "frowardness" described here is a state of being twisted away from God's righteous standards, leading inevitably to actions that oppose His will for peace and order. It highlights God's abhorrence of division and His desire for unity and harmony among His people, a theme echoed throughout Scripture. The deliberate and continuous nature of devising mischief and sowing discord stands in stark contrast to the divine call to love, reconciliation, and peacemaking, revealing a heart fundamentally opposed to the divine character.
Reflection and Application
Proverbs 6:14 offers timeless and piercing wisdom for discerning character and cultivating a righteous life. It compels us to look beyond mere outward actions and to diligently examine the true condition of the heart, recognizing that genuine spiritual transformation begins from within. This verse serves as a powerful call to radical self-examination: Do we harbor any "frowardness"—any twisted inclinations, hidden resentments, or subtle biases—that might lead us to plot harm or subtly sow discord, even unintentionally, through our words or attitudes? The continuous nature of "devising mischief" reminds us that malice can be a persistent, ingrained habit of thought, requiring constant vigilance and repentance. Conversely, the condemnation of "sowing discord" challenges us to actively pursue peace and unity, to be agents of reconciliation rather than division in all our relationships. Understanding the destructive power of a perverse heart should motivate believers to diligently guard their hearts above all else, seeking God's transformative grace to purify their inner motives and to be instruments of His profound peace in a fractured and contentious world.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "frowardness" mean in this context?
"Frowardness" (Hebrew tahpukâh) refers to a deep-seated perversity, crookedness, or treachery of character. It describes a disposition that is fundamentally twisted away from what is right, true, and just in God's eyes. It's not merely a mistake or an impulsive act but signifies a deliberate inclination towards evil, deceit, and moral deviance, often with a sense of rebellion against what is upright and righteous. It indicates a heart that has actively turned away from God's ways and embraces a path of corruption.
How does this verse relate to the "worthless person" mentioned earlier in Proverbs 6?
Proverbs 6:14 is a direct continuation and profound elaboration of the description of the "worthless person" (Hebrew belial) introduced in Proverbs 6:12. While Proverbs 6:13 describes their deceptive outward physical cues—such as winking with their eyes or shuffling their feet—verse 14 delves into their internal state ("frowardness in his heart") and their consistent, malicious actions ("deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord"). It reveals that their outward deceit and destructive behavior are not superficial but stem from a deeply corrupted inner nature, making them a profound danger to communal harmony and trust.
Why is "sowing discord" so strongly condemned in Proverbs?
"Sowing discord" is so strongly condemned because it directly undermines the very fabric of community, family, and relationships, which are highly valued and essential for human flourishing in biblical wisdom. It actively creates strife, division, and contention, systematically destroying trust, peace, and unity. In fact, Proverbs 6:19 explicitly lists "one who sows discord among brothers" as one of the seven things the Lord hates, underscoring its severe moral offense against God's design for harmonious human interaction. This act is seen as a direct assault on the unity and love that God desires for His people, leading to societal breakdown.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Proverbs 6:14 vividly exposes the profound depth of human sinfulness, revealing a heart twisted by "frowardness," constantly devising evil, and actively sowing division. This piercing diagnosis of humanity's fallen condition finds its ultimate answer and glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the perfect embodiment of a heart completely devoid of frowardness, perpetually devising good, and tirelessly sowing peace. Where humanity's hearts are prone to malice and discord, Christ's heart was pure, motivated by perfect love and an unwavering desire for reconciliation. His redemptive mission was precisely to address the very "frowardness" of our hearts, offering a radical transformation from within. Through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, Jesus broke down the dividing wall of hostility (as powerfully described in Ephesians 2:14), not only reconciling humanity to God but also reconciling people to one another, making peace where there was once enmity. He did not sow discord but became our peace, reconciling all things to Himself. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit, graciously given to believers, empowers us to receive a new heart and a new spirit, replacing the old, froward nature with a desire for righteousness and unity, as promised in Ezekiel 36:26. Believers, indwelt and transformed by the Spirit, are thus called to be authentic peacemakers and unity-builders, reflecting the very character of Christ, whose fruit includes love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness (see Galatians 5:22-23), directly counteracting the destructive tendencies of a froward heart. Therefore, the profound fulfillment of this proverb is found in Christ, who not only purifies the heart but also enables His followers to live as agents of harmony and reconciliation in a world perpetually prone to strife.