The Lord detests the proud; they will surely be punished.
Parallel translations
- WEB Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh: they shall certainly not be unpunished.
- KJV Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
- BSB Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured that he will not go unpunished.
- ESV Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished.
- NKJV Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; Though they join forces, none will go unpunished.
- NASB Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; Be assured, he will not go unpunished.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God detests the proud in heart, and they will surely be punished. It matters because pride is a grave offense to God that does not escape His judgment.
Overview
This proverb declares the proud heart an abomination to Yahweh, with certain punishment to follow. Pride is the root sin that exalts self against God. Scripture consistently teaches that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5), a humility supremely modeled in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Prov 6:16–17There are six things which Yahweh hates; yes, seven which are an abomination to him:
- Prov 11:21Most certainly, the evil man will not be unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
- Prov 8:13The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
- Rom 2:8–9but to those who are self-seeking, and don’t obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, will be wrath and indignation,
- Jas 4:6But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- Job 40:12Look at everyone who is proud, and humble him. Crush the wicked in their place.
- Isa 3:11Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them; for the deeds of his hands will be paid back to him.
- Exod 20:7“You shall not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain, for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 16:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.