Proverbs 29:27 Meaning and Explanation
“An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The just and unjust are mutual abominations to each other.
The Context of Proverbs 29:27
Proverbs on opposition: justice and injustice are mutually repugnant; coexistence is impossible.
What Does Proverbs 29:27 Mean?
The unjust man—one who actively pursues injustice, who perverts truth and preys on the weak—is abhorrent to the just. The just person's conscience recoils from him; they cannot coexist in harmony because their values are fundamentally opposed. His cruelty disgusts the just.
Symmetrically, the upright person is an abomination to the wicked. His integrity, his refusal to bend rules, his fairness—these things offend the wicked because they expose wickedness as the choice it is. The wicked hate being confronted by righteousness. The verse acknowledges a real, deep divide: these two camps cannot be reconciled, only separated.
Proverbs 29:27 in the Original Language
toebah (תועבה), 'abomination'—something morally repugnant or detestable; to God and to those aligned with goodness.
Frequently Asked Questions About Proverbs 29:27
What does Proverbs 29:27 mean?
The just and unjust are mutual abominations to each other.
What is the context of Proverbs 29:27?
Proverbs on opposition: justice and injustice are mutually repugnant; coexistence is impossible.