Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are his delight.
This proverb sets two kinds of mouths side by side and tells us how God Himself reacts to each. One draws His strongest word of disgust, the other His pleasure — so why does God care so much about an untrue word?
The weight of "abomination"
The word translated "abomination" is not a mild term in the Old Testament. It carries a particular association:
Morrish Bible DictionaryIn the Old Testament the word 'abomination' covers any iniquity as a holy God sees it. It also marks out what was unfit to bring into the service of God... But idolatry was the one thing especially declared an abomination to the Lord. The idols themselves carry this name.
That background gives the verse its force. A lie stands in the same category as a false god:
William KellyThe Lord concerns Himself about every lie. Lying lips are an abomination to Him, just as an idol is, set up to rival and ruin His glory. So those who not only speak but deal truly are His delight. How precious to Him was the One who, when asked "Who are you?", could answer, "Just what I have been telling you from the beginning" (John 8:25). He is the truth.
Two things stand out here. God overlooks not one lie. And He measures truth by a Person: Christ, who is the truth. (Older translations render His answer in John 8:25 as "Absolutely what I also speak to you" — He is exactly what He says.)
Speaking truly and dealing truly
The second half of the verse does not say "those who speak truly" but those who act faithfully. Truthfulness is a way of doing business, not only a way of talking. One writer points out how wide the word for lying is:
The Christian's Friend"Lying," or "falsehood," means everything that has the character and nature of falsehood. It is abstract: what has this quality, not merely the act of lying. This should be much remembered. In practice it might search many of us who would never be led into telling outright untruths. On this understanding, many things might fall under this sense of lying: a look, a gesture, our manner, unclear speech, evasion, compliments, and much else.
So a statement can be accurate and still fail this verse. A person can mislead without ever saying one false sentence.
Why the honest person is honest
One writer names two reasons to leave lying behind, and puts the weight on the second:
L. M. GrantThe truth of verse 22 has been proven over and over again. So anyone drawn to the evil of lying lips should soon see that he is on a downward course toward judgment. Yet he should be moved not only by the fear of judgment, but by the truth that lies are an abomination to the Lord. Of course a wicked man has no regard for this. But a believer deals in truth, not because he fears judgment, but because he honours the Lord.
The same writer sets the wider chapter alongside the life of Jesus: the truth-telling of verse 17 "was perfectly true of the Lord Jesus, that He always spoke truth and thus plainly declared the righteousness of God."
What lying does to a community
Falsehood also damages the people around it. One writer contrasts the source of lies with the Lord Jesus, then names the damage:
Robert F. WallWe must remember that the devil is a liar and the father of lies. In contrast, the Lord Jesus came into the world to bear witness to the truth and always spoke it. He was entirely without hypocrisy. What place have lies among the people of God? They break down the confidence that we should have in one another.
The verse in its chapter
Proverbs 12 is a long chain of contrasts. One writer gathers them up:
Arno Clemens GaebeleinThese proverbs describe the righteous man: his thoughts, his words, his family relationships, his attitude toward animals, his diligence. All of it stands in contrast to the wicked in these beautiful opposing statements of wisdom... In speaking truth he shows forth righteousness (12:17). The lip that speaks truth shall be established for ever (12:19). He knows nothing of lying lips, but dealing truly he is the Lord's delight (12:22).
So truthfulness is not a single virtue standing on its own. It is one strand of a whole character.
Summary
- Abomination. The word God uses for lying lips is the word for idols. A lie sets itself up as a rival to His glory, and He notices every one.
- Delight. His pleasure rests on those who not only speak truly but deal truly. Christ is the truth, and He was exactly what He said.
- Reach. Falsehood covers more than false sentences. A look, a gesture, an evasion, unclear speech, a flattering compliment — each can carry the character of a lie.
- Motive. Fear of judgment may warn a person off lying; honouring the Lord is the reason a believer tells the truth.
- Result. Lies come from the devil, and they break down the trust people should have in each other. The lip that speaks truth is the lip God establishes for ever.