John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 5. A righteous [man] hateth lying , etc.] Or, “a word of falsehood” f360 ; as being contrary to honour, truth, and conscience. He hates it in himself and others; he hates all sorts of lies, lies in common conversation, religious lies, doctrinal ones, false doctrines, lies spoken in hypocrisy; such as the followers of antichrist spread, being given up unto them that they might be damned, ( 1 Timothy 4:2 2 Thessalonians 2:11,12); these are an abomination to God and all good men, ( Revelation 21:27); but a wicked [man] is loathsome, and cometh to shame ; or, “causes” or “spreads a stink” f361 : all wicked men are loathsome and abominable, being very corrupt in principle and practice; all over defiled with sin, and covered with wounds, bruises, and putrefying sores, from the crown of the head to the sole of the feet; and especially liars, who are often brought to shame and confusion in this life, and will hereafter come to everlasting shame and contempt. Or, “makes himself to stink” f362 ; in the nostrils of all good men, and so brought to shame: or “digs”; a metaphor, as Cartwright thinks, from those that dig in the earth, where such as are covered with shame would gladly put their heads.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 5 - Where sin reigns, the man is loathsome. If his conscience were awake he would abhor himself, and repent in dust and ashes.
Original Hebrew דבר1697 שׁקר8267 ישׂנא8130 צדיק6662 ורשׁע7563 יבאישׁ887 ויחפיר׃2659
