The fear, &c. See note on Proverbs 1:7.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.
hate. This is far beyond Zophar's mistaken definition of it in Job 28:28. A man may "depart" from evil from policy, while he loves it in his heart. But to "hate" it comes only from Divine wisdom. By nature men love evil (Jeremiah 17:9; Matthew 7:17; Matthew 15:19; John 3:19; Romans 3:10-18; Romans 8:7; Romans 8:8; 1 Corinthians 2:14.Galatians 1:5; Galatians 1:17; Ephesians 2:2; Ephesians 2:3; Ephesians 2:12; Ephesians 4:17-22; 1 Timothy 3:3; 1 Timothy 3:3; 1 John 5:19).
evil. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44.
froward. perverse.
mouth. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), App-6, for the whole man.