The increase by one in the second line (“six . . . seven”) is typical of number parallelism in Hebrew poetry. For other examples in Proverbs see 30.15, 18, 21, 29. See also Deut 32.30; Psa 62.11 (Hebrew verse 12); and Job 5.19. The increase from six to seven is not a sudden change in the writer’s mind but rather a rhetorical style in which emphasis is placed on the second number by contrasting it with the number in the first line, which is one less. With number parallelism in other parts of the Old Testament, the numbers are not meant to be exact numbers but have the sense of an indefinite number, that is, a large or important number. In Proverbs, however, the parallel lines are always followed by a list that has the number of items indicated by the number in the second line. And some commentators suggest that the intention of this structure is to highlight or focus on the final line, that is, the final item in the list.
“There are six things which the Lord hates” is literally “These six the Lord hates.” The reference is to sins or bad conduct among people, and so Contemporary English Version says, “There are six or seven kinds of people the Lord doesn’t like.”
“Seven which are an abomination to him”: In the Old Testament various acts such as eating unclean food, worshiping idols, and sacrificing children are said to be an “abomination” to God. “An abomination” refers to anything that is hated, abhorred, or regarded as disgusting. “To him” is literally “to his soul.”
If you do not find it appropriate to keep the number parallelism in your language, you may wish to say, for example, “There are seven things the Lord hates to see people do. They are. . ..” This is the approach of Good News Translation, which combines the two lines of verses 16 and then lists the seven things the Lord hates.
Bible en français courant departs from the way most translations handle number parallelism. That version says “There are six things. . .” then lists the six. Following the sixth in verse 19, it then says, “But there is also a seventh” and then gives the rest of verse 19. You may wish to consider this arrangement in your translation.
Some translations do not state the number of sins at all before listing them; for example, “(16-19) There are some kinds of behavior that are bad in the sight of the Lord, and that he doesn’t like at all. They are: being proud, telling lies, . . . The Lord doesn’t ever want to see these things.” This example also repeats part of verse 16 at the end for the sake of natural style in the language.
In verses 17-18 it is best to keep the body parts if at all possible. Verse 17 lists the first three of the seven sins.
“Haughty eyes, a lying tongue”: Verse 17 may need to be closely connected to verse 16. If you have said in verse 16, for example, “. . . kinds of people the Lord doesn’t like,” then verse 17 can begin “People who have. . .” or “People who do. . ..” “Haughty eyes” as used in Psa 18.27 (Hebrew verse 28) is a figure for pride or arrogance. The expression is used in that verse as a contrast with being humble or lowly. If the image of “haughty eyes” cannot be used, you may find an equivalent figure related to the eyes or another feature of the face or head. If not, it is also possible to use nonfigurative language and say, for example, “proud” or “arrogant.” “A lying tongue” may need to be adjusted in some languages to say, for example, “a double tongue,” “a forked tongue,” “two mouths,” or some other image.
“Hands that shed innocent blood”: “Shed . . . blood” means to kill, murder, or take away someone’s life. “Innocent” refers to people who are not guilty or have done no wrong. See comments on 1.11. The line then means “people who kill others who have done no wrong.” See Good News Translation.
In verse 18 the fourth and fifth sins are added.
“A heart that devises wicked plans”: “Heart” refers to the thoughts of the mind. For “devises . . . plans” see 3.29, where the same Hebrew verb is used.
“Feet that make haste to run to evil”: This is an example of a Hebrew figure of speech in which part of something represents the whole; “feet” here represents the whole person. In poetic discourse it may be best to keep this figure unless a wrong meaning results. This line pictures a person who cannot wait to do evil and may be translated, for example, “whose feet rush to find something wicked to do” or “who hurries to do something evil.”
Verse 19 adds the sixth and seventh sins to the list.
“A false witness who breathes out lies”: “False witness” is used in Psa 27.12 of persons who tell lies in court against the psalmist. In that verse those liars are said to breathe out violence. Here they are said to “breathe out lies”. This expression may refer to the endless flow of their lies or to the ease with which they lie. See 14.5 for the same expression. It is often translated “telling lies in court.”
“A man who sows discord among brothers”: “Man” is supplied by Revised Standard Version. New Revised Standard Version has revised to say “one who. . ..” “Sows discord” is as in verse 14. “Brothers” need not be restricted in sense to literal brothers but may be taken to refer to people who have a close association, such as friends or family members. Contemporary English Version says, “or stir up trouble in a family.”
We noted above (on verse 16) that the order of the items in these verses may be significant. In some of the number parallelism sequences in Proverbs there is clearly a progression to the last item, which is more important, more significant, the real focus of the structure, the point of the saying. This is the case with 30.18-19 and 30.29-31; it may be the intention in all the other occurrences. Scott comments on 30.18-19: “In this type of the numerical proverb, as in vss. 29-31, the climactic fourth line points the parallel in man to what is observed in the external world.”
If this applies to 6.16-19, it means that the thing that Yahweh hates most is the final item, “someone who stirs up quarrels between brothers.” It is the seventh item that is the real “abomination.” And if this is the truth, then we can easily enough see each of the first six items in the list as actions that contribute to and serve to bring about the final abomination. The Bible en français courant way of doing this passage may be intended to give focus to the final item in the list.
Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .