Proverbs 26:24
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
Original Language Analysis
בִּ֭שְׂפָתָו
with his lips
H8193
בִּ֭שְׂפָתָו
with his lips
Strong's:
H8193
Word #:
1 of 6
the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.)
יִנָּכֵ֣ר
dissembleth
H5234
יִנָּכֵ֣ר
dissembleth
Strong's:
H5234
Word #:
2 of 6
properly, to scrutinize, i.e., look intently at; hence (with recognition implied), to acknowledge, be acquainted with, care for, respect, revere, or (
וּ֝בְקִרְבּ֗וֹ
within
H7130
וּ֝בְקִרְבּ֗וֹ
within
Strong's:
H7130
Word #:
4 of 6
properly, the nearest part, i.e., the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition)
Cross References
Proverbs 12:20Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.Proverbs 12:5The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.Proverbs 10:18He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.Psalms 41:6And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.Proverbs 11:1A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.Proverbs 12:17He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.Proverbs 14:8The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern wisdom consistently warned against two-faced speech. In Israel's covenant community, where relationships depended on truthful dealing, such dissembling violated the ninth commandment's spirit. The Hebrew concept of the heart (leb) as the seat of will and intention made internal hatred as culpable as external action—a principle Jesus later emphasized (Matthew 5:21-22).
Questions for Reflection
- How does hidden hatred corrupt both the deceiver's heart and community relationships?
- What spiritual disciplines help expose and address concealed animosity before it manifests in harmful action?
- How does this proverb illuminate Jesus' teaching that hatred equals murder in God's eyes?
Analysis & Commentary
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips (יְנַכֵּר, yenakker—disguises, makes himself unrecognizable) reveals the psychology of hidden malice. The hater actively conceals animosity behind pleasant speech, a sin compounding hatred with deception. Layeth up deceit within him pictures the heart as a storehouse of treachery, collecting grievances and plotting harm while projecting friendliness. This internal-external disconnect defines the hypocrite—smooth words masking murderous intent (cf. Psalm 55:21).