Proverbs 6:12 Study Bible: A worthless person, a man of iniquity, is he who walks with a perverse mouth;

◄ Proverbs 6:12 ►

A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth,

A worthless person
In biblical terms, the word "worthless" often refers to someone who is morally corrupt or lacking in integrity. The Hebrew word used here is "Belial," which is also used in other parts of the Old Testament to describe individuals who are rebellious against God (e.g., 1 Samuel 2:12). This term is associated with idolatry and lawlessness, indicating a person who has rejected divine authority. In the New Testament, "Belial" is used as a name for Satan (2 Corinthians 6:15), further emphasizing the spiritual danger of such a character.

A wicked man
"Wicked" in this context refers to someone who actively engages in evil deeds. The Hebrew word "rasha" is used, which denotes someone who is guilty of sin and injustice. This phrase highlights the moral and ethical failings of the individual, aligning with the broader biblical theme that wickedness leads to destruction (Proverbs 10:27-29). The wicked man is contrasted with the righteous throughout Proverbs, emphasizing the consequences of living a life contrary to God's commandments.

Walks with a perverse mouth
The phrase "walks with a perverse mouth" suggests a lifestyle characterized by deceit and corruption. In biblical literature, "walking" often symbolizes one's way of life or conduct (Psalm 1:1). A "perverse mouth" indicates speech that is twisted, dishonest, or misleading. This aligns with other scriptures that warn against the power of the tongue to cause harm (James 3:5-6). The emphasis on speech reflects the biblical understanding that words reveal the condition of the heart (Matthew 12:34). The perverse mouth is a tool of the wicked, used to spread falsehood and sow discord, which is condemned throughout the wisdom literature.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Worthless Person
In Hebrew, the term used is (belial), which means someone who is without value or morally corrupt. This term is often used to describe individuals who are rebellious against God and His ways.

2. Wicked Man
The Hebrew word (aven) refers to someone who is morally wrong, guilty, or engaged in iniquity. This person actively chooses to live in opposition to God's righteousness.

3. Perverse Mouth
This phrase indicates speech that is twisted, deceitful, or corrupt. It reflects the inner moral state of the person, as speech is often a window into the heart.

Teaching Points

Guard Your Heart and Speech
The condition of our heart is often revealed through our words. As believers, we must strive to align our speech with God's truth and righteousness.

Recognize and Avoid Worthlessness
Understanding the characteristics of a "worthless person" helps us to avoid such behaviors and influences in our own lives.

Pursue Righteousness
Instead of walking in wickedness, we are called to pursue a life that reflects God's holiness and righteousness.

The Power of Words
Our words have the power to build up or tear down. We should use our speech to edify others and glorify God.

Discernment in Relationships
Be discerning about the people you associate with, as their influence can impact your walk with God.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the description of a "worthless person" in Proverbs 6:12 challenge you to evaluate your own speech and actions?

2. In what ways can you guard your heart to ensure that your words reflect righteousness rather than wickedness?

3. How do the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 12:34-35 relate to the message of Proverbs 6:12 regarding the connection between the heart and speech?

4. What practical steps can you take to avoid the influence of "worthless" or "wicked" individuals in your life?

5. How can the teachings in James 3:6-8 help you understand the importance of controlling your tongue and the impact of your words?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Proverbs 4:24
This verse advises putting away a deceitful mouth and perverse lips, highlighting the importance of pure speech as a reflection of a righteous heart.

Matthew 12:34-35
Jesus teaches that the mouth speaks what the heart is full of, connecting the condition of the heart with the words one speaks.

James 3:6-8
James discusses the power of the tongue and its potential for evil, emphasizing the need for control over one's speech.

Sermons

A Bad Man	D. Thomas, D. D.	Proverbs 6:12
False Liberty	R. Wardlaw.	Proverbs 6:12
Naughtiness	Francis Taylor, B. D.	Proverbs 6:12
A Picture of Spite	E. Johnson	Proverbs 6:12-15
The Character and Doom of the Abandoned	W. Clarkson	Proverbs 6:12-15

People

Solomon

Places

Jerusalem

Topics

FALSE, Belial, Causing, Corrupt, Crooked, Evil-doer, Froward, Goes, Good-for-nothing, Iniquity, Mouth, Naughty, Perverse, Perverseness, Speech, Trouble, Villain, Walketh, Walking, Walks, Wicked, Worthless, Worthlessness

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Proverbs 6:12

4121 Satan, enemy of God
6130 corruption

5834 disagreement

Proverbs 6:12-15

     5817   conspiracies
     5890   insecurity
     5948   shrewdness

Proverbs 6:12-19

8736 evil, warnings against

Library

The Talking Book
A Sermon (No. 1017) Delivered on Lord's Day Morning, October 22nd, 1871 at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, by C. H. Spurgeon. "When thou awakest, it shall talk with thee."--Proverbs 6:22. It is a very happy circumstance when the commandment of our father and the law of our mother are also the commandment of God and the law of the Lord. Happy are they who have a double force to draw them to the right--the bonds of nature, and the cords of grace. They sin with a vengeance who sin both against …
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

An Appeal to Children of Godly Parents
A sermon (No. 2406) intended for reading on Lord's Day, March 31st, 1895, delivered by C. H. Spurgeon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, on Lord's Day evening, March 27th, 1887. "My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. For the commandment is a lamp; and the law …
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

The Talking Book
In order that we may be persuaded so to do, Solomon gives us three telling reasons. He says that God's law, by which I understand the whole run of Scripture, and, especially the gospel of Jesus Christ, will be a guide to us:--"When thou goest, it shall lead thee." It will be a guardian to us: "When thou sleepest"--when thou art defenceless and off thy guard--"it shall keep thee." And it shall also be a dear companion to us: "When thou awakest, it shall talk with thee." Any one of these three arguments …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871

How Sowers of Strifes and Peacemakers are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 24.) Differently to be admonished are sowers of strifes and peacemakers. For sowers of strifes are to be admonished to perceive whose followers they are. For of the apostate angel it is written, when tares had been sown among the good crop, An enemy hath done this (Matth. xiii. 28). Of a member of him also it is said through Solomon, An apostate person, an unprofitable man, walketh with a perverse mouth, he winketh with his eyes, he beateth with his foot, he speaketh with his finger, …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

A Jealous God
I. Reverently, let us remember that THE LORD IS EXCEEDINGLY JEALOUS OF HIS DEITY. Our text is coupled with the command--"Thou shalt worship no other God." When the law was thundered from Sinai, the second commandment received force from the divine jealousy--"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in the heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 9: 1863

How Subjects and Prelates are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 5.) Differently to be admonished are subjects and prelates: the former that subjection crush them not, the latter that superior place elate them not: the former that they fail not to fulfil what is commanded them, the latter that they command not more to be fulfilled than is just: the former that they submit humbly, the latter that they preside temperately. For this, which may be understood also figuratively, is said to the former, Children, obey your parents in the Lord: but to …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

The Preface to the Commandments
And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God,' &c. Exod 20: 1, 2. What is the preface to the Ten Commandments? The preface to the Ten Commandments is, I am the Lord thy God.' The preface to the preface is, God spake all these words, saying,' &c. This is like the sounding of a trumpet before a solemn proclamation. Other parts of the Bible are said to be uttered by the mouth of the holy prophets (Luke 1: 70), but here God spake in his own person. How are we to understand that, God spake, …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

"Boast not Thyself of to Morrow, for Thou Knowest not what a Day May Bring Forth. "
Prov. xxvii. 1.--"Boast not thyself of to morrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." As man is naturally given to boasting and gloriation in something (for the heart cannot want some object to rest upon and take complacency in, it is framed with such a capacity of employing other things), so there is a strong inclination in man towards the time to come, he hath an immortal appetite, and an appetite of immortality; and therefore his desires usually stretch farther than the present …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Heavenly Footman; Or, a Description of the Man that Gets to Heaven:
TOGETHER WITH THE WAY HE RUNS IN, THE MARKS HE GOES BY; ALSO, SOME DIRECTIONS HOW TO RUN SO AS TO OBTAIN. 'And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain: escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.'--Genesis 19:17. London: Printed for John Marshall, at the Bible in Gracechurch Street, 1698. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. About forty years ago a gentleman, in whose company I had commenced my …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

In Death and after Death
A sadder picture could scarcely be drawn than that of the dying Rabbi Jochanan ben Saccai, that "light of Israel" immediately before and after the destruction of the Temple, and for two years the president of the Sanhedrim. We read in the Talmud (Ber. 28 b) that, when his disciples came to see him on his death-bed, he burst into tears. To their astonished inquiry why he, "the light of Israel, the right pillar of the Temple, and its mighty hammer," betrayed such signs of fear, he replied: "If I were …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

"And Watch unto Prayer. "
1 Pet. iv. 7.--"And watch unto prayer." "Watch." A Christian should watch. A Christian is a watchman by office. This duty of watchfulness is frequently commanded and commended in scripture, Matt. xxiv. 42, Mark xiii. 33, 1 Cor. xvi. 13, Eph. vi. 18, 1 Pet. v. 8, Col. iv. 2; Luke xii. 37. David did wait as they that did watch for the morning light. The ministers of the gospel are styled watchmen in scripture and every Christian should be to himself as a minister is to his flock, he should watch over …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Proverbs
Many specimens of the so-called Wisdom Literature are preserved for us in the book of Proverbs, for its contents are by no means confined to what we call proverbs. The first nine chapters constitute a continuous discourse, almost in the manner of a sermon; and of the last two chapters, ch. xxx. is largely made up of enigmas, and xxxi. is in part a description of the good housewife. All, however, are rightly subsumed under the idea of wisdom, which to the Hebrew had always moral relations. The Hebrew …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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