A high look, and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
Parallel translations
- KJV An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
- BSB Haughty eyes and a proud heart—the guides of the wicked—are sin.
- ESV Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin.
- NKJV A haughty look, a proud heart, And the plowing of the wicked are sin.
- NASB Haughty eyes and a proud heart, The lamp of the wicked, is sin.
- NLT Haughty eyes, a proud heart, and evil actions are all sin.
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
Pride — haughty eyes and an arrogant heart — is itself sin and the wicked's guide. It matters because it identifies pride as the root of wickedness.
Overview
A 'high look' and proud heart, here called 'the lamp of the wicked,' light the path of the ungodly and are condemned as sin (Proverbs 6:16-17; 16:18). Pride exalts self against God and underlies much evil. Scripture consistently opposes the proud and exalts humility, the disposition God gives grace (James 4:6).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Prov 6:17haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood;
- 1 Pet 5:5Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility, to subject yourselves to one another; for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- Luke 18:14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
- Prov 8:13The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
- Isa 2:17The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; and Yahweh alone shall be exalted in that day.
- Prov 15:8The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
- Prov 21:27The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind!
- Ps 10:4The wicked, in the pride of his face, has no room in his thoughts for God.
- Isa 3:16Moreover Yahweh said, “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with outstretched necks and flirting eyes, walking to trip as they go, jingling ornaments on their feet;
- Rom 14:23But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because it isn’t of faith; and whatever is not of faith is sin.
- Prov 30:13There is a generation, oh how lofty are their eyes! Their eyelids are lifted up.
- Isa 2:11The lofty looks of man will be brought low, the haughtiness of men will be bowed down, and Yahweh alone will be exalted in that day.
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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 21:4 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.