Bible Strands
Proverbs 16:6
By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — A wisdom saying in a collection attributed to Solomon, framed between a warning against pride (v. 5) and a promise concerning enemies (v. 7). No specific speaker or audience beyond the general reader of Proverbs.
The words — כִּפֶּר (kaphar, "to cover, atone") is the same root used for the Day of Atonement, here applied to iniquity covered by chesed. חֶסֶד (chesed, "loyal love, covenant faithfulness") is the agent performing the atonement, not a human act of merit but a quality of relationship.
The thread — Proverbs 14:16 and Job 28:28 pair "fear of the Lord" with "turning from evil" as the defining mark of wisdom.
Why it lands — The verse claims that chesed and emeth are the means by which iniquity is covered, and that genuine fear of Yahweh produces the concrete act of turning from evil. It asks the reader to treat relationship with God as the operative mechanism for moral correction, not abstract repentance.
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
By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 14:16 A wise man fears and turns from evil, but a fool is careless and reckless.
- Job 28:28 And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
- 2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
- Daniel 4:27 Therefore, may my advice be pleasing to you, O king. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed. Perhaps there will be an extension of your prosperity.”
- Proverbs 8:13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
- Proverbs 14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.
- Luke 11:41 But give as alms the things that are within you, and behold, everything will be clean for you.
- Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. And this man was blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil.
- Proverbs 20:28 Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king; by these he maintains his throne.
- Nehemiah 5:15 The governors before me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them bread and wine plus forty shekels of silver. Their servants also oppressed the people. But I did not do this, because of my fear of God.