Bible Strands
Proverbs 24:9
A foolish scheme is sin, and a mocker is detestable to men.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — A wise teacher addresses a student within a passage (vv. 8–10) that moves from the one who plots evil to the one who fails under pressure, placing the internal scheme as the hinge between the two.
The words — זִמָּה (zimmah, H2154) is not a neutral "plan" but a scheming, plotting sense, the kind of design that conceals its aim. תּוֹעֲבָה (to'evah, H8441) is the strongest negative valuation in Hebrew, marking the mocker as something the community rejects, not merely disapproves of.
The thread — The equation of an internal thought with sin echoes Matthew 15:19 (evil thoughts issuing from the heart) and Isaiah 55:7 (forsaking one's thoughts as the first act of repentance); 2 Corinthians 10:5 extends the principle to taking every thought captive.
Why it lands — The verse removes the gap between conceiving a scheme and committing it: the thought itself is already sin, and the person who mocks others is already detestable to the community before any act is done.
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 thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
Cross-references
- Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.
- Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.
- 2 Corinthians 10:5 We demolish arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
- Proverbs 29:8 Mockers inflame a city, but the wise turn away anger.
- Acts 8:22 Repent, therefore, of your wickedness, and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for the intent of your heart.
- Proverbs 24:8 He who plots evil will be called a schemer.
- Matthew 9:4 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Why do you harbor evil in your hearts?
- Genesis 6:5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time.
- Proverbs 22:10 Drive out the mocker, and conflict will depart; even quarreling and insults will cease.
- 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?