What Does Proverbs 16:5 Mean in the King James?
Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
No alliance can turn an exalted heart into an acquitted one.
THE MEANING
A heart that raises itself above others is abhorrent to the LORD, and joined hands do not make it go free. The verse names pride as something that cannot be cleared by agreement or alliance.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
If enough people stand with me, our shared confidence can make a self-exalting heart acceptable and keep it clear of consequence.
THE ROOT
גבה לב
gōbah lev
GROWS FROM
גבה
to be high, to rise
“proud in heart” in this verse is gōbah lev. The Hebrew pictures pride as a heart lifted high. The word’s spatial image shows what English “proud” can hide: the heart raises itself above others.
ALSO GROWS
gabah: be high, rise
גָּבַהּ
The verb makes the heart’s elevation an action, not merely a label.
gavoah: high, elevated
גָּבֹהַּ
This adjective shares the root’s direct image of height, echoing the heart raised above its proper place.
יִנָּקֶה
yinnaqeh
GROWS FROM
נקה
to be clean, clear, or free
“unpunished” in this verse is yinnaqeh. The Hebrew says the proud person will not be cleared or go free. The line reaches beyond punishment to the failure of any alliance to produce an acquittal.
ALSO GROWS
naki: clean, innocent
נָקִי
This branch shows the clean standing the proud person does not receive.
niqqah: be cleared, be released from guilt
נִקָּה
This verb form makes the verse’s verdict explicit: the person does not simply avoid a penalty; they are not cleared.
תּוֹעֲבַת
to’avat
GROWS FROM
תעב
to abhor or detest
“abomination” in this verse is to’avat. The Hebrew names the high-hearted person as something the LORD detests. The word carries rejection within it, not just a description of a mistaken attitude.
ALSO GROWS
ta’av: abhor, detest
תָּעַב
The verb shows the force carried by the noun: this is what the LORD rejects.
to’evah: something abhorrent or detestable
תּוֹעֵבָה
This noun shares the verse’s word family and preserves the sense of deep aversion.
THE PATTERN
A heart that raises itself remains exposed before God, however many hands join to shield it.
Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.THE THREAD
The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.Proverbs’ יִנָּקֶה (yinnaqeh, “be cleared or go free”) and Nahum’s יְנַקֶּה (yenakkeh, “acquit”) share נקה (naqah, “be clean or be cleared”). Nahum makes the verdict explicit: joined hands cannot produce a clean acquittal.
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