A greedy MAN God hates

Meaning & Analysis

A direct statement of divine judgment, meaning that God holds a strong aversion to any person who is characterized by greed.

Insights

Violation of Moral Order

'God' can be interpreted as a metaphor for a universal moral order or natural law. In this sense, greed is a destructive force that violates the principles of balance and harmony, inevitably leading to negative consequences for the individual.

Inevitable Alienation

The proverb implies that a greedy person will ultimately face social and spiritual isolation. 'God’s hate' symbolizes the ultimate form of rejection, reflecting the way greed alienates an individual from their community and spiritual well-being.

Self-Destructive Nature of Greed

It serves as a cautionary tale about the self-destructive nature of avarice. The divine disapproval is a metaphor for the inevitable unhappiness and ruin that follow a life dedicated solely to material accumulation.

Theological Condemnation

Rooted in theological traditions, particularly the Christian concept of the Seven Deadly Sins, this proverb frames greed (avarice) not just as a personal flaw but as a profound spiritual failing that invites divine condemnation.

Social Regulation

The proverb serves as a powerful tool for social regulation. By invoking the ultimate authority (God), it discourages hoarding, selfishness, and the exploitation of others—behaviors that undermine community stability and mutual trust.

Psychological Projection

Psychologically, the proverb suggests that a life consumed by greed is inherently tormented. 'God’s hate' can be interpreted as an external projection of the internal states of anxiety, dissatisfaction, and alienation that accompany insatiable desire.

Rhetorical Devices

Hyperbole

The proverb uses the powerful and emotive verb 'hates' to create a stark and memorable warning, emphasizing the absolute severity with which greed is condemned.

Anthropomorphism

By ascribing the intense human emotion of hatred to a divine being, the proverb makes an abstract moral concept feel immediate, personal, and profoundly serious.

Authoritative Tone

Its short, declarative structure ('Subject-Verb-Object' inversion) gives the statement a tone of irrefutable authority, presenting it as a timeless and absolute truth.

greedmoralitydivine_judgmentsinconsequencesavarice
Analyzed with gemini-2.5-pro on August 20, 2025

Transcription

Quotations

a1598, FERG., MS, no. 22
1668, R.B., p. 5

Original Scan

A greedy MAN God hates - a scanned entry from Tilley's 1950 Dictionary of Proverbs.
Scan courtesy of HathiTrust Digital Library.
Used under CC BY-NC 3.0.

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Last updated: January 27, 2026