The Meaning of Proverbs 11:20 Explained

Proverbs 11:20

KJV: They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.

YLT: An abomination to Jehovah are the perverse of heart, And the perfect of the way are His delight.

Darby: The perverse in heart are abomination to Jehovah; but they that are perfect in their way are his delight.

ASV: They that are perverse in heart are an abomination to Jehovah; But such as are perfect in their way are his delight.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

They that are of a froward  heart  [are] abomination  to the LORD:  but [such as are] upright  in [their] way  [are] his delight. 

What does Proverbs 11:20 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 11

1  On Deception

What do the individual words in Proverbs 11:20 mean?

[are] an abomination to Yahweh Those who are of a perverse heart but His delight the blameless [are] in their ways
תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת יְ֭הוָה עִקְּשֵׁי־ לֵ֑ב וּ֝רְצוֹנ֗וֹ תְּמִ֣ימֵי דָֽרֶךְ

תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת  [are]  an  abomination  to 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: תֹּועֵבָה  
Sense: a disgusting thing, abomination, abominable.
יְ֭הוָה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
עִקְּשֵׁי־  Those  who  are  of  a  perverse 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural construct
Root: עִקֵּשׁ  
Sense: twisted, distorted, crooked, perverse, perverted.
לֵ֑ב  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
וּ֝רְצוֹנ֗וֹ  but  His  delight 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רָצֹון  
Sense: pleasure, delight, favour, goodwill, acceptance, will.
תְּמִ֣ימֵי  the  blameless  [are] 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural construct
Root: תָּמִים  
Sense: complete, whole, entire, sound.
דָֽרֶךְ  in  their  ways 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.