GOD HATES A FROWARD MOUTH

God's Word says that He hates many things, and it even calls some of them an abomination.  Proverbs 6:16-19 says, "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him:   a proud look; a lying tongue; and hands that shed innocent blood; an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations; feet that be swift in running to mischief; a false witness that speaketh lies; and he that soweth discord among brethren."  Ironically, the list, though long, does not mention His hatred for the person, only for his attitude and his actions; the one exception being that used for a comparison:  He hated Esau and love Jacob (Mal. 1:1-3; Rom. 9:13).  This is similar to the point Jesus was making in Luke 14:26.  

One of those many things He hates is a "forward mouth" (Prov. 8:13).  God even calls "being froward" an abomination (Prov. 3:32).  Since I did not know what that was, I thought I would do a study on it; it never hurts to make sure I am not guilty of whatever it is! 

The word "froward," by itself, is found in twenty-four verses, twelve of which are in Proverbs.   The phrase "a froward mouth" appears three times in the Bible, all of them are in Proverbs:
*   "Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee" (Prov. 4:24)
*   "A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth" (Prov. 6:12). 
*   "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate" (Prov. 8:13).

The Blue Letter Bible shows one Hebrew word translated "froward" as being עִקְּשׁוּת (`iqqĕshuwth).  It is found in Proverbs 4:24 and 6:12), where it means "distortion" or "crookedness."  A second Hebrew word,  תַּהְפֻּכוֹת (tahpukah), is translated as such in Proverbs 8:13; there, it has to do with "being perverse."   

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary/Thesaurus defines "froward" as:  "habitually disposed to disobedience and opposition."  Synonyms are:  "defiant, disrespectful, ill-mannered, impolite, impudent, insolent, rude, disobedient, headstrong, etc."

While I have been guilty of some of those in the past, and most likely will be again, the cure for a "froward mouth" is found in Philippians 4:8: 

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."