The Meaning of Proverbs 16:6 Explained

Proverbs 16:6

KJV: By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

YLT: In kindness and truth pardoned is iniquity, And in the fear of Jehovah Turn thou aside from evil.

Darby: By loving-kindness and truth iniquity is atoned for; and by the fear of Jehovah men depart from evil.

ASV: By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for; And by the fear of Jehovah men depart from evil.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

By mercy  and truth  iniquity  is purged:  and by the fear  of the LORD  [men] depart  from evil. 

What does Proverbs 16:6 Mean?

Verse Meaning

We do not atone for our own iniquity by being loving and truthful. This proverb is not a denial of our need for God"s atonement. However, we can and should cover (atone for) the mistakes of others lovingly and truthfully ( 1 Peter 4:8), as God covers our sins. What will keep us all away from evil is the fear of Yahweh.
"The fear of Jahve is subjection to the God of Revelation , and a falling in with the revealed plan of salvation." [1]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 16

1  The Plans of the heart

What do the individual words in Proverbs 16:6 mean?

In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity and by the fear of Yahweh [one] departs from evil
בְּחֶ֣סֶד וֶ֭אֱמֶת יְכֻפַּ֣ר עָוֺ֑ן וּבְיִרְאַ֥ת יְ֝הוָ֗ה ס֣וּר מֵרָֽע

בְּחֶ֣סֶד  In  mercy 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֶסֶד 
Sense: goodness, kindness, faithfulness.
וֶ֭אֱמֶת  and  truth 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֱמֶת  
Sense: firmness, faithfulness, truth.
יְכֻפַּ֣ר  Atonement  is  provided  for 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּפַר 
Sense: to cover, purge, make an atonement, make reconciliation, cover over with pitch.
עָוֺ֑ן  iniquity 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: עָוֹן  
Sense: perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity.
וּבְיִרְאַ֥ת  and  by  the  fear 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: יִרְאָה  
Sense: fear, terror, fearing.
יְ֝הוָ֗ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
ס֣וּר  [one]  departs 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: סוּר 
Sense: to turn aside, depart.
מֵרָֽע  from  evil 
Parse: Preposition-m, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.