Proverbs 8:13

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Proverbs 8:13 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the perverse mouth, do I hate.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the perverse mouth, do I hate.
Proverbs 8:13 — American Standard Version

Context — Proverbs 8

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
13The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the perverse mouth, do I hate.

What do historical commentaries say?

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“For such is the effect of the fear of God, by which hatred to evil preserves from it. froward mouth--or, "speech" (Pro 2:12; Pro 6:14).”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“8:13 Those who choose wisdom, i.e., those who fear the Lord (see 1:7; 9:10), will not speak in ways that harm others or bend the truth.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“The fear: Pro 16:6; Psa 97:10, Psa 101:3, Psa 119:104, Psa 119:128; Amo 5:15; Rom 12:9; Th1 5:22; Ti2 2:19 pride: Pro 6:16-19; Sa1 2:3; Psa 5:4, Psa 5:5, Psa 138:6; Zac 8:17; Pe1 5:5 the froward: Pro 4:24, Pro 6:12, Pro 10:31 Proverbs 8:14”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“Far remote is the idea that 13a is dependent on אמצא (I acquire) (Lwenstein, Bertheau). With this verse begins a new series of thoughts raising themselves on the basis of the fundamental clause 13a. Wisdom says what she hates, and why she hates it: 13 "The fear of Jahve is to hate evil; Pride and arrogancy, and an evil way And a deceitful mouth, do I hate." If the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom ( Pro 9:10; Pro 1:7), then wisdom, personally considered, stands before all else that is to be said of her in a relation of homage or reverence toward God corresponding to the fear of God on the part of man; and if, as the premiss 13a shows, the fear of God has as its reverse side the hatred…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification