English Standard Version
Proverbs 16:6
6By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.
Proverbs 16:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
- New International Version (NIV)Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided.
- New King James Version (NKJV)In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Unfailing love and faithfulness make atonement for sin. By fearing the Lord, people avoid evil.
Context of Proverbs 16:6
4The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble. 5Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished. By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil. 7When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. 8Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.
Read all of Proverbs 16Proverbs 16:6 word by word
בְּחֶ֣סֶד וֶ֭אֱמֶת יְכֻפַּ֣ר עָוֹ֑ן וּבְיִרְאַ֥ת יְ֝הוָ֗ה ס֣וּר מֵרָֽע׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- By mercyחֶ֫סֶדchêsêd · kindnessH2617
- and truthאֱמֶת'emeth · truth: faithfulH571
- iniquityעָוֺן‛âvôn ‛âvôn · iniquity: crimeH5771
- is purgedכִּפֶּרkâphar · to atoneH3722
- and by the fearיִרְאָהyir'âh · fearH3374
- of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- departסוּרsûr ώûr · to turn aside: departH5493
- from evilרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: evilH7451
Cross-references for Proverbs 16:6
- Proverbs 20:28Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king, and by steadfast love his throne is upheld.
- Psalms 85:10Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.
- Daniel 4:27Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity."
- Micah 7:18Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.
- Luke 11:41But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.
- John 15:2Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
- Acts 15:9and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.
- 1 Peter 1:22Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,
- Proverbs 8:13The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.
- Proverbs 14:16One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.
- Genesis 20:11Abraham said, "I did it because I thought, 'There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.'
- Nehemiah 5:9So I said, "The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?
- Job 1:1There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.
- 2 Corinthians 7:1Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
- Ephesians 5:21submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Commentaries on Proverbs 16:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6By mercy and truth iniquity is purged - This may be misunderstood, as if a man, by showing mercy and acting according to truth, could atone for his own iniquity. The Hebrew text is not ambiguous: עון יכפר ואמת בחסד bechesed veemeth yechapper avon ; "By mercy and truth he shall atone for iniquity." He - God, by his mercy, in sending his son Jesus into the world, - "shall make an atonement for iniquity" according to his truth - the word which he declared by…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6Compare Proverbs 15:8. “By mercy and truth,” not by sacrifices and burnt-offerings, “iniquity is purged, atoned for, expiated.” The teaching is the same as that of the prophets.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6Verse 6 By the mercy and truth of God in Christ Jesus, the sins of believers are taken away, and the power of sin is broken.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6God's constant love and faithfulness are key in his covenant with Israel (see Exodus 15:13; 34:6–7; Numbers 14:18–19; Deuteronomy 7:9–11).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. By mercy and truth--that is, God's (Psa 85:10); He effects the atonement, or covering of sin; and the principles of true piety incline men to depart from evil; or, "mercy" and "truth" may be man's, indicative of the gracious tempers which work instrumentally in procuring pardon. purged--expiated (as in Le 16:33; Is 27:9, Hebrew).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 16:6
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries