{"id":117705,"date":"2026-10-02T19:06:34","date_gmt":"2026-10-02T23:06:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bgodinspired.com\/?p=117705"},"modified":"2026-10-02T19:06:34","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T23:06:34","slug":"are-the-seven-deadly-sins-in-the-bible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bgodinspired.com\/index.php\/bible-resources\/bible-answers\/are-the-seven-deadly-sins-in-the-bible\/","title":{"rendered":"Are the Seven Deadly Sins in the Bible? Proverbs Has Its Own List"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class='booster-block booster-read-block'>\n                <div class=\"twp-read-time\">\n                \t<i class=\"booster-icon twp-clock\"><\/i> <span>Read Time:<\/span>10 Minute, 39 Second                <\/div>\n\n            <\/div><p>Maybe you saw the list on a poster, in a film, or in a cartoon. Pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, sloth. Seven words that sound ancient and serious, like they were carved in stone somewhere.<\/p>\n\n<p>And maybe a small question followed you home: <em>are the seven deadly sins in the Bible?<\/em> Is that God&#8217;s list? Am I being graded on it?<\/p>\n\n<p>You are not the only one asking. The phrase &#8220;seven deadly sins&#8221; gets searched around 200,000 times a month in the US alone, by one keyword tool&#8217;s estimate (some of those people are looking for the anime). Here is the honest answer, and it is better news than you might expect.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Are the Seven Deadly Sins in the Bible?<\/h2>\n\n<p>No. You will not find a list called &#8220;the seven deadly sins&#8221; anywhere in the Bible. Not in the King James Version, not in any translation. The famous seven never appear together in one verse, one chapter, or one book.<\/p>\n\n<p>Most of the sins on the list <em>are<\/em> things the Bible warns about. Pride, greed, anger, envy and lust all show up in scripture many times. But the list itself, the neat set of seven, was put together by people hundreds of years after the New Testament was finished.<\/p>\n\n<p>And here is the surprise. The Bible <em>does<\/em> have its own list of seven. It just looks very different.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"convertkit-form wp-block-convertkit-form\" style=\"\"><script async data-uid=\"6491fb8269\" src=\"https:\/\/bgodinspired.kit.com\/6491fb8269\/index.js\" data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" data-no-defer=\"1\" data-no-optimize=\"1\" nowprocket><\/script><\/div>\n\n\n<h2>Where the Seven Deadly Sins Really Came From<\/h2>\n\n<p>The story starts in the desert of Egypt, in the late 300s. A monk named <strong>Evagrius Ponticus<\/strong> lived there among other monks who had left the cities to pray. Many of them spent long days alone in small cells.<\/p>\n\n<p>Evagrius noticed that the same troubling thoughts kept coming back to them. So he named them. He listed <strong>eight<\/strong>, not seven: gluttony, lust, greed, sadness, anger, acedia (a restless, can&#8217;t-settle boredom), vainglory (craving praise), and pride.<\/p>\n\n<p>A monk named <strong>John Cassian<\/strong> carried these ideas west in his Latin writings. Then, around the year 590, <strong>Pope Gregory the Great<\/strong> reshaped the list in a long book on the book of Job. He folded vainglory into pride, joined acedia with sadness, and added envy.<\/p>\n\n<p>Later, the great medieval teacher Thomas Aquinas used Gregory&#8217;s list too. But he did not call them &#8220;deadly.&#8221; He called them <strong>&#8220;capital&#8221;<\/strong> sins, from the Latin word for <em>head<\/em>. That word tells you what the list was really for.<\/p>\n\n<h2>What Most People Miss About the List<\/h2>\n\n<p>Gregory did not put pride on his seven at all. He set it <em>above<\/em> them. In his own words, pride is &#8220;the queen of vices.&#8221; When pride wins a heart, he wrote, it hands that heart over to seven &#8220;principal vices,&#8221; like a queen sending out her generals.<\/p>\n\n<p>And Gregory&#8217;s seven were not quite our seven. His list was vainglory, envy, anger, melancholy, greed, gluttony and lust. There was no &#8220;sloth.&#8221; In its place sat <strong>sadness<\/strong>, a heavy, hopeless sorrow. Sloth only took that spot later.<\/p>\n\n<p>That does not mean grief is a sin. Paul draws the line plainly: &#8220;For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death&#8221; (2 Corinthians 7:10, KJV). The old teachers were warning about the second kind, the sorrow that gives up. We wrote more about that restless, give-up feeling in <a href=\"https:\/\/bgodinspired.com\/index.php\/spiritual-devotional\/what-is-acedia\/\">What Is Acedia? The Noonday Demon and the Psalm Behind It<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<p>So the list was never meant to be &#8220;the seven worst sins.&#8221; It was a map of <em>roots<\/em>. The heads that other sins grow out of. It was a tool for monks to look honestly at their own hearts, not a scorecard for God to grade us with.<\/p>\n\n<h2>The List the Bible Actually Gives: Proverbs 6:16-19<\/h2>\n\n<p>Now here is scripture&#8217;s own list of seven:<\/p>\n\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.&#8221; (Proverbs 6:16-19, KJV)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n<p>Put the two lists side by side and something jumps out.<\/p>\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The famous list:<\/strong> pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, sloth.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The Proverbs list:<\/strong> a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that plans wicked things, feet quick to run into trouble, a false witness, and someone who stirs up fights between family.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p>Only one item lines up clearly: <strong>pride<\/strong>. You could argue that anger can end in shed blood. But Proverbs names the act, not the feeling. The other six on the famous list are simply not there.<\/p>\n\n<p>And notice this. Both lists put pride at the front. Gregory made it the queen over all the rest. Proverbs puts &#8220;a proud look&#8221; first. Two lists, written more than a thousand years apart, agree on where the trouble begins.<\/p>\n\n<h2>One List Looks Inward. The Other Looks at Your Neighbour.<\/h2>\n\n<p>Here is the real difference, and it changes how the whole question feels.<\/p>\n\n<p>The monks&#8217; list was written by people who lived mostly alone. So it is mostly about what happens <em>inside<\/em> one person: appetites, moods, cravings. Gluttony. Lust. Sloth. You could commit most of them in an empty room.<\/p>\n\n<p>The Proverbs list is different. At least four of its seven are harms done straight to another person: a lie, shed blood, false witness, splitting up a family. The other three describe the heart and feet that lead there. You can&#8217;t do most of the Proverbs list alone. It needs a victim.<\/p>\n\n<p>In other words, the Bible&#8217;s list treats sin less like a private stain and more like <strong>broken relationship<\/strong>. Something that tears at the people around you. Our earlier article <a href=\"https:\/\/bgodinspired.com\/index.php\/bible-resources\/bible-answers\/god-dont-like-ugly-bible\/\">Is &#8220;God Don&#8217;t Like Ugly&#8221; in the Bible?<\/a> looks at how this same passage speaks to people who have been hurt.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Jesus Joined the Two Lists Together<\/h2>\n\n<p>Jesus gave a list too. And it reads like both lists, joined:<\/p>\n\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.&#8221; (Mark 7:21-23, KJV)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n<p>Look at what Jesus did. He started <em>inside<\/em>, in the heart, just like the monks. But most of what comes out lands on other people: murder, theft, deceit, adultery. The root is inside. The damage is between us.<\/p>\n\n<p>That is why, when someone asked Jesus for the greatest commandment, the answer came in two halves: love God with all your heart, and &#8220;love thy neighbour as thyself&#8221; (Matthew 22:39, KJV). Every sin on every list is love going wrong in one of those two directions.<\/p>\n\n<p>And here is the part that changes everything. If sin is broken relationship, then the answer is not a better scorecard. It is a mended relationship. That is what God came to do. The prophet Micah said it this way: &#8220;Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity&#8230; he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy&#8221; (Micah 7:18, KJV).<\/p>\n\n<p>God is not waiting with a clipboard of seven sins. God delights in mercy. &#8220;If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness&#8221; (1 John 1:9, KJV).<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"bgi-inline-offer\"><em>A good place to start:<\/em><br><strong>The Beginner&#8217;s Guide to Feeling God&#8217;s Presence Every Day<\/strong><br>A short video guide and companion PDF to help you notice God with you in ordinary moments, not just when you feel you&#8217;ve earned it.<br><a href=\"https:\/\/bgodinspired.com\/index.php\/free-video-course-feeling-gods-presence\/?utm_source=wordpress&amp;utm_medium=article-inline&amp;utm_content=hero\">Get the free guide<\/a><br>Free.<\/p>\n\n<h2>What This Means for You Today<\/h2>\n\n<p>If you have been carrying the famous list around like a report card, you can set it down. It was a tool, made by people who wanted to know their own hearts. It can still be a good one. But it is not God&#8217;s verdict on you.<\/p>\n\n<p>The Bible&#8217;s list asks a simpler and harder question: <em>who have I hurt?<\/em> And it points toward a God who wants that hurt mended more than you do. If you want to see where you honestly stand with God right now, our free <a href=\"https:\/\/bgodinspired.com\/index.php\/how-to-get-closer-to-god\/\">How Close Am I to God?<\/a> tool takes a few minutes and is a kind place to start.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Actions to Take<\/h2>\n\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Read Proverbs 6:16-19 out loud once.<\/strong> Notice which of the seven names a relationship in your own life right now. Just notice it.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Send one honest message.<\/strong> If a lie, a rumour, or a quarrel has come between you and someone, write two plain sentences to them today: what you did, and that you are sorry. No excuses in the message.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Trade one &#8220;inside&#8221; habit for an &#8220;outside&#8221; one.<\/strong> Think of something from the famous list you struggle with, like envy. Today, turn it outward: say one sincere good thing about the person you envy, to them or to someone else.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<h2>Journaling Prompts<\/h2>\n\n<ul>\n<li>Which list have you been measuring yourself by, the famous one or the one in Proverbs? What has that done to how you feel about God?<\/li>\n<li>Where in your life does pride show up first, before the other trouble follows?<\/li>\n<li>Who comes to mind when you think of a relationship that needs mending, and what is one small step you are afraid to take?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<blockquote><p><strong>&#8220;God isn&#8217;t holding a scorecard. God is holding the door open.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n<h2>A Prayer<\/h2>\n\n<p><em>God, I have carried a list in my head for a long time, and most days I come up short on it. Thank you that you are not waiting with a clipboard, but with mercy. Show me where pride has started trouble in me, and show me who I have hurt. Give me the courage to mend what I can today, and the peace to trust you with the rest. Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n\n<h2>Discussion Question<\/h2>\n\n<p>Do you think the famous seven deadly sins list helps people grow, or does it mostly make them feel judged? Tell us what you think in the comments. We would love to hear from you.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"convertkit-form wp-block-convertkit-form\" style=\"\"><script async data-uid=\"6491fb8269\" src=\"https:\/\/bgodinspired.kit.com\/6491fb8269\/index.js\" data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" data-no-defer=\"1\" data-no-optimize=\"1\" nowprocket><\/script><\/div>\n\n\n<h2>Share This<\/h2>\n\n<ul>\n<li>The seven deadly sins aren&#8217;t in the Bible. Proverbs 6 has its own list of seven, and only pride is on both.<\/li>\n<li>I always thought the seven deadly sins were God&#8217;s list. Turns out they started as a desert monk&#8217;s list of eight. The Bible&#8217;s list is mostly about how we treat each other.<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;He retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.&#8221; Micah 7:18. God isn&#8217;t holding a scorecard.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2>Questions People Ask About the Seven Deadly Sins<\/h2>\n\n<h3>Are the seven deadly sins in the Bible?<\/h3>\n<p>No. The list of seven deadly sins (pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony and sloth) does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Most of the individual sins are warned against in scripture, but the list itself was developed by Christian monks and teachers between the 4th and 6th centuries, starting with Evagrius Ponticus and shaped by Pope Gregory the Great around the year 590.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Who created the seven deadly sins list?<\/h3>\n<p>The seven deadly sins list began with Evagrius Ponticus, a 4th-century monk in Egypt, who named eight troubling thoughts. John Cassian carried the idea into Latin writing, and Pope Gregory the Great revised it into a list of seven around 590. Thomas Aquinas later used Gregory&#8217;s list and called them the &#8220;capital&#8221; sins.<\/p>\n\n<h3>What are the seven things God hates in Proverbs 6?<\/h3>\n<p>Proverbs 6:16-19 lists seven things the Lord hates: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that are swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. Pride is the only item clearly shared with the famous seven deadly sins list.<\/p>\n\n<h3>What is the difference between the seven deadly sins and Proverbs 6:16-19?<\/h3>\n<p>The seven deadly sins list mostly describes inner appetites and moods, such as gluttony, lust and sloth, because it was written by monks examining their own hearts. The Proverbs 6:16-19 list mostly describes harm done to other people, such as lying, false witness, violence and stirring up fights. Both lists put pride first.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Why are they called &#8220;deadly&#8221; sins?<\/h3>\n<p>&#8220;Deadly sins&#8221; is the popular name for the list, but Thomas Aquinas called them &#8220;capital&#8221; sins, from the Latin word for &#8220;head.&#8221; The idea was that these are root sins that other sins grow out of, not necessarily the seven worst sins. The Bible&#8217;s answer to sin is not a ranking but forgiveness: &#8220;If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins&#8221; (1 John 1:9).<\/p>        <div class=\"booster-block booster-reactions-block\">\n            <div class=\"twp-reactions-icons\">\n                \n                <div class=\"twp-reacts-wrap\">\n                    <a react-data=\"be-react-1\" post-id=\"117705\" class=\"be-face-icons un-reacted\" href=\"javascript:void(0)\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bgodinspired.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/booster-extension\/\/assets\/icon\/happy.svg\" alt=\"Happy\" title=\"\">\n                    <\/a>\n                    <div class=\"twp-reaction-title\">\n                        Happy                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"twp-count-percent\">\n                                                    <span style=\"display: none;\" class=\"twp-react-count\">0<\/span>\n                        \n 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No. A desert monk&#8217;s list became seven around 590. Proverbs 6 gives its own seven, and only pride is on both lists.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":117704,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_wp_convertkit_post_meta":{"form":"-1","landing_page":"0","tag":"0","restrict_content":"0"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[669,3485],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-117705","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bible-answers","category-bible-history"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bgodinspired.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117705","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bgodinspired.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bgodinspired.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bgodinspired.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bgodinspired.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=117705"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bgodinspired.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117705\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":117706,"href":"https:\/\/bgodinspired.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117705\/revisions\/117706"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bgodinspired.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/117704"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bgodinspired.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=117705"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bgodinspired.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=117705"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bgodinspired.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=117705"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}