All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.

PROVERBS 8:8KJV
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Proverbs 8:8 (KJV)

What does Proverbs 8:8 mean?

Proverbs 8:8 presents wisdom’s words as completely fair and trustworthy. The verse says that everything wisdom says is consistent with what is right, with no dishonest or misleading speech mixed in.

Wisdom is speaking as if she were a person addressing those who hear her. After saying that her mouth speaks truth in verse 7, she describes the character of all her words in verse 8.

The Hebrew behind Proverbs 8:8

  • “righteousness” — צֶדֶק (tsedeq): This word carries the sense of what is right or just. Here it describes the standard that governs wisdom’s speech.
  • “froward” — פָּתַל (patal): This word can carry the sense of being twisted. The old English “froward” similarly points to speech that is crooked rather than straightforward.
  • “perverse” — עִקֵּשׁ (iqqesh): This word can mean crooked or distorted. Alongside “froward,” it gives another picture of words bent away from what is right.

Why Proverbs 8:8 matters

  • The claim covers every part of wisdom’s speech. The phrase “all the words of my mouth” leaves no part outside the description.
  • The passage connects honest speech with understanding. In verse 9, wisdom says her words are plain to the person who understands and right to those who find knowledge.

Where else these words appear

“froward” Hebrew H6617 · used in 5 verses

  • Genesis 30:8 And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.
  • 2 Samuel 22:27 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.
  • Job 5:13 He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.

“perverse” Hebrew H6141 · used in 11 verses

  • Deuteronomy 32:5 They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation.
  • Psalms 101:4 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.
  • Proverbs 17:20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

“words” Hebrew H561 · used in 47 verses

  • Genesis 49:21 Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.
  • Job 33:3 My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.
  • Proverbs 4:20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

“righteousness” Hebrew H6664 · used in 109 verses

  • Leviticus 19:15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.
  • Psalms 52:3 Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah.
  • Ecclesiastes 7:15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.