What is the meaning of Proverbs 8:13? To fear the LORD “ ‘To fear the LORD’ ” is more than a passing reverence; it is the settled, joyful awe that flows from knowing who He is and what He has done. Scripture presents this fear as: • a beginning point—“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). • a chosen way of life—“What does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways” (Deuteronomy 10:12). • a unifying duty—“Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). When we truly fear the Lord, we treasure His character and submit to His authority, trusting Him as Father (Psalm 25:14) and Sovereign King (Revelation 15:4). Is to hate evil Wisdom immediately links fear of God with hatred of evil—“ ‘is to hate evil’ ”. Love for the Lord and hatred for evil are two sides of one coin: “O you who love the LORD, hate evil!” (Psalm 97:10). Anything that violates God’s holiness becomes intolerable to a heart that fears Him. Amos 5:15 calls us to “Hate evil, love good; maintain justice,” underscoring that genuine reverence produces moral courage, not complacency. I hate arrogant pride Wisdom now speaks in the first person: “ ‘I hate arrogant pride’ ”. Pride exalts self over God, the very sin that cast Satan from heaven (Isaiah 14:13–15). Scripture repeatedly warns: • “Pride goes before destruction” (Proverbs 16:18). • “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5). Hating pride means celebrating humility, imitating Christ who “humbled Himself” (Philippians 2:8). Evil conduct “I hate…evil conduct”. Deeds matter. Titus 1:16 describes people who “claim to know God, but by their actions they deny Him.” A heart that fears the Lord rejects: • acts of violence and injustice (Proverbs 6:17). • sexual immorality and impurity (Ephesians 5:3). • dishonest dealings (Micah 6:11). Instead, it pursues the good works “prepared in advance” for us (Ephesians 2:10). Perverse speech “I hate…perverse speech”. Words reveal the heart (Luke 6:45). Proverbs 4:24 urges, “Put away deceitful speech,” while Ephesians 4:29 commands, “Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up.” Gossip, slander, crude joking, or manipulative flattery grieve the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30) and contradict a life that fears the Lord. summary Proverbs 8:13 ties reverence to rejection: to revere the Lord is to repudiate anything He hates. A God-fearing life treasures His majesty, detests sin in every form—pride, corrupt actions, twisted words—and actively chooses humility, righteousness, and wholesome speech. The closer we draw to Him, the stronger our love for what is good and our hatred for what is evil will grow. |
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