Bible Strands
Proverbs 15:26
The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but the words of the pure are pleasant to Him.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The wisdom teacher addresses Israel in a structured collection of moral instructions, positioning this verse between a warning about divine judgment on the proud and a caution against greed.
The words — תּוֹעֲבַת (to'evah) means abomination or detested thing, and נֹעַם (no'am) means pleasantness or delight.
The thread — Divine rejection of wicked counsel runs through Proverbs 6:16, which catalogs things detestable to God, and Jeremiah 4:14, which condemns harboring evil thoughts. The positive contrast with pure speech aligns with Proverbs 15:23, which celebrates a timely and fitting reply.
Why it lands — The text requires a reader to inspect inner planning for moral corruption and to deliberately shape speech toward purity, acknowledging that God actively rejects wicked intentions and receives clean words.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 6:16 There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him:
- Proverbs 15:23 A man takes joy in a fitting reply—and how good is a timely word!
- Jeremiah 4:14 Wash the evil from your heart, O Jerusalem, so that you may be saved. How long will you harbor wicked thoughts within you?
- Matthew 12:34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
- Psalms 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
- Psalms 37:30 The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.
- Psalms 45:1 For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Lilies.” A Maskil of the sons of Korah. A love song. My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses to the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.
- Proverbs 24:9 A foolish scheme is sin, and a mocker is detestable to men.
- Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.