“A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.”
My Notes
What Does Proverbs 26:28 Mean?
"A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin." Two forms of dishonest speech are unmasked: the lying tongue HATES the people it damages, and the flattering mouth PRODUCES ruin. The liar's motives are exposed (hatred) and the flatterer's outcomes are revealed (destruction). Both forms of dishonest speech are more dangerous than they appear.
The phrase "a lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it" (leshon sheqer yisna dakkav — a tongue of falsehood hates its crushed ones) reveals the motivation behind lying: the liar HATES the people they lie about or to. The lying isn't morally neutral. It's driven by hatred. The person who lies to you or about you is expressing hostility, not just carelessness. The lies are acts of war.
The "flattering mouth worketh ruin" (pi chalaqot ya'aseh midcheh — a mouth of smoothness makes overthrow/ruin) means flattery's outcome is destruction: the smooth words that feel good produce ruin. The flattery doesn't just fail to help — it actively destroys. The smoothness is a weapon. The pleasant words are the mechanism of the overthrow.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Who might be expressing hidden hatred through lies — or working hidden ruin through flattery?
- 2.What does the liar HATING their target change about how you process being lied to?
- 3.How does flattery 'working ruin' challenge the assumption that smooth words are harmless?
- 4.Can you distinguish between genuine encouragement and flattery that works ruin — and how?
Devotional
The liar hates you. The flatterer ruins you. Two truths about dishonest speech that nobody wants to hear: the person who lies to you or about you is expressing HATRED — not carelessness, not convenience, not white-lie softness. Hatred. And the person who flatters you is working your RUIN — not building your confidence, not expressing admiration. Ruin.
The 'lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it' strips the lie of its excuses: the liar doesn't lie because 'it's easier' or because 'the truth would hurt.' The liar lies because the liar HATES the target. The lying is the expression of hostility. The falsehood is the weapon of the hatred. When someone lies about you, they're not being careless. They're being violent.
The 'flattering mouth worketh ruin' strips flattery of its charm: the smooth words feel good. The compliments seem generous. The flattery appears to be the kindest form of speech. But the proverb says: it works RUIN. The smooth mouth is working — actively constructing, deliberately producing — your destruction. The flattery is a construction project and the building is your ruin.
The pairing of lying and flattery exposes both extremes of dishonest speech: the lie is overtly hostile (it attacks). The flattery is covertly hostile (it seduces). Both are driven by something dark. Both produce destruction. The lie crushes openly. The flattery ruins quietly. Neither is what it appears to be.
Who in your life is lying to you (expressing hidden hatred) or flattering you (working hidden ruin)?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
There are two sorts of lies equally detestable: - 1. A slandering lie, which avowedly hates those it is spoken of: A…
Comp. "Proprium humani ingenii est odisse quem læseris." Tacitus, Agric., cap. 42.
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture