Things God Dislikes According to the Bible

The Bible indicates that God dislikes or finds abominable certain attitudes, actions, and character traits, often because they contradict His nature and moral law. A key passage in Proverbs states, "Six things are hated by the Lord; seven things are disgusting to him" ^[1]. These seven things are then enumerated as "haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood; a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to mischief; a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers" ^[1].

Many of the things God dislikes relate to human conduct and character. Pride, for instance, is repeatedly identified as something God detests ^{[7, 8]}. This includes haughty eyes, which are listed among the seven abominations in Proverbs 6 ^[1]. Tyndale House notes that God detests the proud who refuse to commit their ways to Him and mistakenly believe they can accomplish their plans on their own ^[7]. Ambition, particularly when it leads to seeking undue precedence or self-exaltation, is also condemned by God and Christ ^[5]. The vanity of ambition is highlighted by passages that show its punishment and connection to pride and covetousness ^[5].

Lying is another behavior explicitly stated as hateful to God and an abomination ^[3]. Proverbs 6:17 lists a "lying tongue" and "a false witness who breathes out lies" as things God hates ^[1]. Lying is forbidden in the Law (Leviticus 19:11) and the New Testament (Colossians 3:9), and it is associated with the devil ^[3].

God also dislikes actions that harm others and disrupt community. "Hands that shed innocent blood" and "a heart that devises wicked plans" are among the seven things listed in Proverbs 6 ^[1]. Similarly, "feet that are swift in running to mischief" and "one who sows discord among brothers" are included ^[1]. These actions reflect a disregard for human life and social harmony, which are contrary to God's will.

Selfishness is another trait that God hates ^[2]. It is contrary to God's law, which commands love for one's neighbor (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:39) ^[2]. Selfishness is exemplified by being lovers of oneself, pleasing oneself, seeking one's own interests, and neglecting the poor ^[2]. Malachi 1:10 is cited as indicating God's hatred for serving Him for reward, which can stem from selfish motives ^[2].

Hypocrisy and double-dealing are also offensive to God ^[9]. Matthew Henry notes that "frowardness," or crookedness of heart, which involves pretending justice while intending wrong, is particularly offensive ^[9]. This includes acting contrary to what is good under the guise of goodness ^[9].

Stubbornness and self-will are forbidden, stemming from unbelief and pride ^[6]. These are exhibited in refusing to listen to God, His messengers, or parents, and rebelling against Him ^[6].

Beyond specific actions and attitudes, God's nature as a "jealous God" means He is passionately opposed to the worship of false gods ^[10]. This is detestable to Him because it denies His uniqueness and rejects His demand for exclusive worship ^[11]. The horrific rituals associated with pagan worship are antithetical to God's holy nature ^[11].

The anger of God, which is slow and righteous, is directed against such sins ^[4]. However, this anger can be averted through Christ, belief, and confession of sin and repentance ^[4].

Sources

Proverbs “Proverbs 6:16 (BBE) — Six things are hated by the Lord; seven things are disgusting to him:”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Selfishness — Contrary to the law of God -- Le 19:18; Mt 22:39; Jas 2:8. The example of Christ condemns -- Joh 4:34; Ro 15:3; 2Co 8:9. God hates -- Mal 1:10. Exhibited in Being lovers of ourselves. -- 2Ti 3:2. Pleasing ourselves. -- Ro 15:1. Seeking our own. -- 1Co 10:33; Php 2:21. Seeking after gain. -- Isa 56:11. Seeking undue precedence. -- Mt 20:21. Living to ourselves. -- 2Co 5:15. Neglect of the poor. -- 1Jo 3:17. Serving God for reward. -- Mal 1:10. Performing duty for reward. -- Mic 3:11. Inconsistent with Christian love -- 1Co 13:5. Inconsistent with communi”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Lying — Forbidden -- Le 19:11; Col 3:9. Hateful to God -- Pr 6:16-19. An abomination to God -- Pr 12:22. A hindrance to prayer -- Isa 59:2,3. The devil, the father of -- Joh 8:44. The devil excites men to -- 1Ki 22:22; Ac 5:3. Saints Hate. -- Ps 119:163; Pr 13:5. Avoid. -- Isa 63:8; Zep 3:13. Respect not those who practise. -- Ps 40:4. Reject those who practise. -- Ps 101:7. Pray to be preserved from. -- Ps 119:29; Pr 30:8. Unbecoming in rulers -- Pr 17:7. The evil of rulers hearkening to -- Pr 29:12. False prophets addicted to -- Jer 23:14; Eze 22:28. False witnesse”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Anger of God, The — Averted by Christ -- Lu 2:11,14; Ro 5:9; 2Co 5:18,19; Eph 2:14,17; Col 1:20; 1Th 1:10. Is averted from them that believe -- Joh 3:14-18; Ro 3:25; 5:1. Is averted upon confession of sin and repentance -- Job 33:27,28; Ps 106:43-45; Jer 3:12,13; 18:7,8; 31:18-20; Joe 2:12-14; Lu 15:18-20. Is slow -- Ps 103:8; Isa 48:9; Jon 4:2; Na 1:3. Is righteous -- Ps 58:10,11; La 1:18; Ro 2:6,8; 3:5,6; Re 16:6,7. The justice of, not to be questioned -- Ro 9:18,20,22. Manifested in terrors -- Ex 14:24; Ps 76:6-8; Jer 10:10; La 2:20-22. Manifested in judgments and”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Ambition — God condemns -- Ge 11:7; Isa 5:8. Christ condemns -- Mt 18:1,3,4; 20:25,26; 23:11,12. Saints avoid -- Ps 131:1,2. Vanity of -- Job 20:5-9; 24:24; Ps 49:11-20. Leads to strife and contention -- Jas 4:1,2. Punishment of -- Pr 17:19; Isa 14:12-15; Eze 31:10,11; Ob 1:3,4. Connected with Pride. -- Hab 2:5. Covetousness. -- Hab 2:8,9. Cruelty. -- Hab 2:12. Exemplified Adam and Eve. -- Ge 3:5,6. Builders of Babel. -- Ge 11:4. Miriam and Aaron. -- Nu 12:2. Korah, &c. -- Nu 16:3. Absalom. -- 2Sa 15:4; 18:18. Adonijah. -- 1Ki 1:5. Sennacherib. -- 2Ki 19:23. Shebna. ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Will and Stubbornness — Forbidden -- 2Ch 30:8; Ps 75:5; 95:8. Proceed from Unbelief. -- 2Ki 17:14. Pride. -- Ne 9:16,29. An evil heart. -- Jer 7:24. God knows -- Isa 48:4. Exhibited in Refusing to hearken to God. -- Pr 1:24. Refusing to hearken to the messengers of God. -- 1Sa 8:19; Jer 44:16; Zec 7:11. Refusing to walk in the ways of God. -- Ne 9:17; Ps 78:10; Isa 42:24; Jer 6:16. Refusing to hearken to parents. -- De 21:18,19. Refusing to receive correction. -- De 21:18; Jer 5:3; 7:28. Rebelling against God. -- De 31:27; Ps 78:8. Resisting the Holy Spirit. -- ”
Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 16:5: 16:5 God detests the proud, who refuse to commit their ways to the Lord (16:3) and mistakenly believe that they can accomplish their plans on their own (16:1).”
Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 21:4: 21:4 Demeanor (eyes), character (heart), and actions are all significant. God hates pride (see 6:17-18; 11:2; 13:10; 15:33; 16:18; 18:12).”
Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 11:20: It concerns us to know what God hates and what he loves, that we may govern ourselves accordingly, may avoid his displeasure and recommend ourselves to his favour. Now here we are told, 1. That nothing is more offensive to God than hypocrisy and double-dealing, for these are signified by the word which we translate frowardness, pretending justice, but intending wrong, walking in crooked ways, to avoid discovery. Those are of a froward heart who act in contradiction to that which is good, under a profession of that which is good, and such are, more than any sinn”
Exodus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Exodus 20:5: 20:5-6 jealous God: God is passionately opposed to our prostituting ourselves with false gods (see Josh 24:19-20). • in the third and fourth generations . . . for a thousand generations: It is important to keep both sides of this equation together. God does not punish children for their parents’ sins. Rather, he is saying that our sins affect future generations of descendants. But he is also restricting the natural effects of those sins to three or four generations, while graciously extending the effects of obedience to a thousand generations (see also 34:6-7; Deu”
Deuteronomy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Deuteronomy 7:25: 7:25-26 Worship of false gods is detestable to the Lord: It denies that God is unique and rejects his demand for exclusive worship (5:7-9). The horrific and disgusting rituals typically associated with pagan worship were antithetical to God’s holy nature, but Israel was in danger of being led into similar beliefs and practices (12:31; 13:12-17). An Israelite who acknowledged false gods committed an act of treason. The only remedy was complete and total destruction of these detestable objects.”

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