Bible Strands
Proverbs 6:17
haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The wisdom teacher addresses a student while cataloging the seven things God detests, positioning this verse as the second item in a list of condemned behaviors.
The words — רָמוֹת (Ra.mot) translates literally to "haughty" or "lifted up," and נָקִי (na.Ki) means "innocent" or "blameless."
The thread — The condemnation of deceitful speech appears in Psalms 120:2, where the psalmist petitions God for deliverance from lying lips, and Proverbs 12:22, which states lying lips are detestable to the LORD. The motif of prideful eyes recurs in Psalms 101:5, where God declares He will not tolerate the one with haughty eyes and a proud heart.
Why it lands — The text demands the reader examine their own speech and actions for pride, deceit, and violence, requiring immediate repentance rather than passive agreement.
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
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
Cross-references
- Psalms 120:2 Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips and a deceitful tongue.
- Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight.
- Psalms 101:5 Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; the one with haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not endure.
- Isaiah 1:15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.
- Psalms 5:6 You destroy those who tell lies; the LORD abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.
- Deuteronomy 27:25 ‘Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
- Proverbs 21:4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart—the guides of the wicked—are sin.
- Proverbs 26:28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
- Isaiah 3:9 The expression on their faces testifies against them, and like Sodom they flaunt their sin; they do not conceal it. Woe to them, for they have brought disaster upon themselves.
- Hosea 4:1 Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a case against the people of the land: “There is no truth, no loving devotion, and no knowledge of God in the land!