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Book of Proverbs - Chapter 16 - Verse 30

16:30
He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.

Meaning

In this verse, the act of shutting one's eyes to devise froward things signifies a deliberate turning away from righteousness and a purposeful decision to engage in deceitful and wicked behaviors. By closing one's eyes to truth and morality, the individual in question opens themselves up to the temptation of creating and carrying out harmful and malicious intentions. The imagery of "moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass" suggests that through the spoken word, these malevolent schemes are put into action and eventually come to fruition. This verse serves as a cautionary warning against the dangers of harboring malicious thoughts and intentions, as they have the power to manifest into real harm when put into motion. It highlights the importance of cultivating virtuous thoughts and words, as they have the potential to bring about good and positive outcomes instead.

Theological Overview

In this verse, the act of shutting one's eyes to devise froward things is symbolic of a deliberate decision to engage in deceit or evil intentions. The image of closing one's eyes suggests a willful blindness to the consequences of one's actions. The phrase "moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass" may indicate the process of speaking or plotting out these evil intentions, which ultimately leads to their realization. This verse serves as a cautionary reminder of the power of our thoughts and words in influencing our actions and the world around us. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining integrity and honesty in our thoughts and intentions, as they have the potential to manifest into tangible outcomes. Through theological interpretation and word studies, we can delve deeper into the nuances of this verse and uncover its timeless wisdom for guiding our moral choices and behavior.

American Standard Version

He that shutteth his eyes, [it is] to devise perverse things: He that compresseth his lips bringeth evil to pass.
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