Proverbs 28:9 - Printer Friendly

What does Proverbs 28:9 mean?

ESV: If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.

NIV: If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable.

NASB: One who turns his ear away from listening to the Law, Even his prayer is an abomination.

CSB: Anyone who turns his ear away from hearing the law -- even his prayer is detestable.

NLT: God detests the prayers of a person who ignores the law.

KJV: He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

NKJV: One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.

Verse Commentary:

One of the more common versions of false faith is the attempt to use God as a vending machine, or a genie. His laws and commands are ignored, but He is still expected to cooperate with prayer requests. God despises this attitude, both when attached to prayer and to sacrifice (Proverbs 15:8). Notably, the Bible says God feels revulsion towards that entire "way" of being, not merely to certain moments (Proverbs 15:9). The term used for His reaction comes from the Hebrew tow'ēbah, which implies deep disgust and loathing. When someone has no concern for God's will, or obedience, or repentance, their attempts to "play religious" are met with the equivalent of divine nausea. Even a "good deed" is a sin when it's done out of insincere motives.

Of course, God has the right to respond to anyone's prayer in any way He chooses. He may respond to an appeal from a non-believer as a means of calling them to faith. Yet those who reject God have no valid reason to expect positive answers to their prayers. Scripture makes it clear that sin and disbelief are barriers to His cooperation. The psalmist understood that sin erects a barrier between prayer and a positive response from God. He writes in Psalm 66:18: "If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened." The man born blind who was healed by Jesus told the Pharisees, "We know that God does not listen to sinners" (John 9:31).

Jesus often denounced the Pharisees because of their hypocrisy. He told the story of a Pharisee and a tax collector who entered the temple to pray. The tax collector who humbly admitted he was a sinner and asked God to be merciful to him went home justified. The self-righteous Pharisee who saw others as sinful but himself as righteous did not (Luke 18:9–14).

Proverbs 28:1–12 uses multiple contrasts. These teach lessons about righteousness and justice, honesty, integrity, reputation, and culture. Many of the proverbs are structured to directly compare two opposite ideas.

Chapter Summary:

This passage features many direct contrasts. The lessons are attributed to Solomon, later compiled into the Book of Proverbs by men under king Hezekiah (Proverbs 25:1). Common themes in this chapter are work ethic, generosity, fairness, and reputation. Comments on rulers or leaders make up many of the teachings recorded in this section.

Chapter Context:

This continues a list compiled by Hezekiah's men, recording proverbs associated with Solomon (Proverbs 25:1). The collection continues until the end of chapter 29. The lessons in this passage repeat teachings on generosity and the dangers of greed, as well as the damage done by wicked rulers.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.

Accessed 5/6/2024 3:55:30 AM