What Does Proverbs 3:32 Mean in the King James?

For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.

Proverbs 3:32 · KJV

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

The LORD’s “secret” is shared counsel, and the verse places that intimacy with the upright.

THE MEANING

What turns aside from straightness is abhorrent to the LORD; the upright share his counsel now. “Secret” means intimate counsel here, not merely information kept from view.

THE ROOT

סוֹדוֹ

sōdō

GROWS FROM

סוד

s-w-d

Confidential counsel: deliberation shared within a trusted circle.

The Hebrew word ⁨סוֹד⁩ (sod), meaning intimate counsel, can be translated as either “secret” or “counsel.” English separates concealed information from shared deliberation; the Hebrew holds them together as confidence shared in relationship.

ALSO GROWS

sod: Confidential knowledge shared privately.

סוֹד

This is the KJV rendering in Proverbs 3:32 and Psalm 25:14.

sod: Deliberation within a trusted council.

סוֹד

Jeremiah 23:18 uses the same word for the LORD’s counsel, showing the shared meaning beneath the English translations.

נָלוֹז

nālōz

GROWS FROM

לוז

l-w-z

To turn aside or depart from the straight way.

“Froward” carries the image of a way turned aside. Its contrast with the upright makes the verse’s distinction directional: one way bends away, while the other stays straight.

ALSO GROWS

nālōz: A person or way that has departed from what is straight.

נָלוֹז

This is the word describing the froward person in the verse.

nelōzîm: People whose paths turn aside.

נְלֹזִים

Proverbs 2:15 uses this related form for those whose ways are crooked.

יְשָׁרִים

yĕšārîm

GROWS FROM

ישר

y-sh-r

To be straight, level, or upright.

The Hebrew ⁨יָשָׁר⁩ (yashar), meaning straight or upright, gives “righteous” a path-shape. Set beside ⁨נָלוֹז⁩ (naloz), turned aside, it reveals a contrast between a crooked direction and an upright one.

ALSO GROWS

yāshār: Direct and level; by extension, right or upright.

יָשָׁר

This is the root word behind the “upright” people who share the LORD’s counsel.

mîshôr: A level surface or, figuratively, uprightness and fairness.

מִישׁוֹר

This branch connects uprightness with level ground rather than a bent path.

THE PATTERN

The LORD’s counsel is disclosed within relationship, where closeness carries knowledge.

The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

Psalm 25:14 · KJVThe same Hebrew word ⁨סוֹד⁩ (sod), meaning intimate counsel, is translated “secret,” and the verse places it with those who are close to the LORD.

For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?

Jeremiah 23:18 · KJVHere ⁨סוֹד⁩ (sod) appears as “counsel,” making explicit the shared deliberation beneath Proverbs’ “secret.”

Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

John 15:15 · KJVJesus describes disclosure as a mark of friendship: what remains unknown to a servant is made known to a friend.

THE THREAD

The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

Psalm 25:14 · KJV

Psalm 25:14 uses the same Hebrew word, ⁨סוֹד⁩ (sod), meaning intimate counsel, that Proverbs calls the LORD’s “secret.” It opens that secret as shared relationship and covenant, rather than hidden information to possess.

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