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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Proverbs 23:3–7

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.
Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:
For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
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SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

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From verse 3

  1. Proverbs 23:6Rank 1 from verse 3
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    6Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:

  2. Luke 21:34Rank 2 from verse 3
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    34¶ And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

  3. Psalms 141:4Rank 3 from verse 3
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    4Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.

  4. Daniel 1:8Rank 4 from verse 3
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    8¶ But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

  5. Ephesians 4:22Rank 5 from verse 3
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    22That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

From verse 4

  1. Hebrews 13:5Rank 1 from verse 4
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    5Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

  2. Proverbs 28:20Rank 2 from verse 4
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    20A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.

  3. 1 Timothy 6:8–10Rank 3 from verse 4
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    8And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

    9But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

    10For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

  4. Matthew 6:19Rank 4 from verse 4
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    19¶ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

  5. Proverbs 3:5Rank 5 from verse 4
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    5¶ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

  6. John 6:27Rank 6 from verse 4
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    27Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

  7. Proverbs 15:27Rank 7 from verse 4
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    27He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.

  8. Romans 12:16Rank 8 from verse 4
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    16Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

  9. Isaiah 5:21Rank 9 from verse 4
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    21Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

  10. Proverbs 26:12Rank 10 from verse 4
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    12Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

  11. Proverbs 3:7Rank 11 from verse 4
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    7¶ Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

  12. Romans 11:25Rank 12 from verse 4
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    25For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

From verse 5

  1. Proverbs 27:24Rank 1 from verse 5
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    24For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?

  2. 1 John 2:16Rank 2 from verse 5
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    16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

  3. 1 Timothy 6:17Rank 3 from verse 5
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    17Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

  4. James 5:1–2Rank 4 from verse 5
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    1GO to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.

    2Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.

  5. Matthew 6:19Rank 5 from verse 5
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    19¶ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

  6. Psalms 119:36–37Rank 6 from verse 5
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    36Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.

    37Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.

  7. Ecclesiastes 12:8Rank 7 from verse 5
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    8¶ Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

  8. Genesis 42:36Rank 8 from verse 5
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    36And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me.

  9. 1 Corinthians 7:29–31Rank 9 from verse 5
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    29But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;

    30And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;

    31And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

  10. Ecclesiastes 1:2Rank 10 from verse 5
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    2Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

  11. Jeremiah 22:17Rank 11 from verse 5
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    17But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it.

  12. Job 1:14–17Rank 12 from verse 5
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    14And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:

    15And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

    16While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

    17While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

  13. Psalms 39:6Rank 13 from verse 5
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    6Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

  14. Ecclesiastes 5:13–14Rank 14 from verse 5
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    13There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.

    14But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

  15. Isaiah 55:2Rank 15 from verse 5
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    2Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

From verse 6

  1. Proverbs 23:3Rank 1 from verse 6
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    3Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.

  2. Psalms 141:4Rank 2 from verse 6
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    4Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.

  3. Daniel 1:8–10Rank 3 from verse 6
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    8¶ But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

    9Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.

    10And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.

  4. Deuteronomy 15:9Rank 4 from verse 6
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    9Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the Lord against thee, and it be sin unto thee.

  5. Matthew 20:15Rank 5 from verse 6
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    15Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

  6. Deuteronomy 28:56Rank 6 from verse 6
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    56The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter,

  7. Proverbs 22:9Rank 7 from verse 6
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    9He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

  8. Proverbs 28:22Rank 8 from verse 6
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    22He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.

  9. Mark 7:22Rank 9 from verse 6
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    22Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

From verse 7

  1. Psalms 12:2Rank 1 from verse 7
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    2They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.

  2. Psalms 55:21Rank 2 from verse 7
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    21The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

  3. Judges 16:15Rank 3 from verse 7
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    15¶ And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.

  4. Matthew 9:3–4Rank 4 from verse 7
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    3And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.

    4And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

  5. Luke 11:37–54Rank 5 from verse 7
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    37¶ And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat.

    38And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.

    39And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.

    40Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?

    41But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.

    42But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

    43Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.

    44Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.

    45¶ Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also.

    46And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.

    47Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.

    48Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.

    49Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:

    50That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;

    51From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.

    52Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

    53And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things:

    54Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.

  6. Luke 7:39Rank 6 from verse 7
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    39Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

  7. Daniel 11:27Rank 7 from verse 7
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    27And both these kings’ hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.

  8. Proverbs 19:22Rank 8 from verse 7
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    22The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.

  9. 2 Samuel 13:26–28Rank 9 from verse 7
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    26Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee?

    27But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.

    28¶ Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 23:3

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

meat

↗

Sense 1: Food, nourishment, sustenance, or provision. Sense 2: Figuratively, that which nourishes or sustains.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 23:4

COMBINED MEANING

labour

↗

1. Work, toil, effort, exertion, service, or the product of work. 2. Weariness or trouble. 3. Travail in childbirth. 4. To work, strive, serve, or exert oneself.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

rich

↗

Possessing abundance, wealth, resources, value, fruitfulness, or fullness.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

cease

↗

To stop or leave off, to come to an end, or to cause something to stop or end.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

wisdom

↗

Knowledge, understanding, judgment, skill, or prudence.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 23:5

COMBINED MEANING

wilt

↗

Sense 1: Second-person singular present form of will: choosest, intendest, or art disposed to. Sense 2: As an auxiliary, marks future action.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

thou

↗

The singular second-person subject pronoun, meaning you when directly addressing one person, being, or individually treated addressee.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

set

↗

1. To put or place a person or thing in a position, relation, or condition; when passive, to be so placed, fixed, or adorned. 2. To establish, fix, appoint, assign, prescribe, or determine. 3. To arrange, prepare, present, display, or put in order or array. 4. To direct, turn, or firmly apply the face, heart, eyes, mind, affection, or action toward something. 5. To start, advance, send out, proceed on a course or work, or make an attack, as in set forward, set forth, or set upon where those meanings apply. 6. To value or esteem; or, in set at nought or set light by, to despise. 7. Of the sun, to go down.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

eyes

↗

The bodily organs of sight; by extension, sight, attention, observation, perception, understanding, desire, judgment, estimation, favour, or the presence and view before which something occurs.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

upon

↗

1. Marks the person, place, thing, or basis to which something is related: on or onto; above or over; toward or against as the target of action, speech, thought, attention, or force; resting on, assigned to, or affecting as a state, gift, burden, duty, guilt, or judgment; supported by or based on; or one placed, added, or repeated on or after another. 2. With a stated time or occasion, or a preceding event, at that time or point, or at or after that event: on, at, when, then, or following it.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

which

↗

1. An interrogative or relative pronoun identifying one or more persons or things from a stated or implied set. 2. That which; what.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

make

↗

To form, create, produce, cause, appoint, perform, or render into a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

wings

↗

Sense 1: Feathered or extended parts by which birds and other winged creatures fly. Sense 2: Figuratively, means of swift movement, protective shelter, or spreading reach.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

fly

↗

Sense 1: To move through the air by wings. Sense 2: To flee, rush, or pass away swiftly. Sense 3: As a noun, a winged insect.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

toward

↗

1. In the direction of or in relation to. 2. Approaching. 3. Inclined or ready.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

heaven

↗

Sense 1: The firmament or expanse above the earth, including the sky and the region of the sun, moon, stars, clouds, rain, and flying creatures. Sense 2: The realm above spoken of as God's throne and dwelling place, and as the place of angels, heavenly beings, and the righteous. Sense 3: By metonymy, God, heavenly authority or source, or those who dwell there.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 23:6

COMBINED MEANING

eat

↗

To take food into the body; to consume, devour, or waste away.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

thou

↗

The singular second-person subject pronoun, meaning you when directly addressing one person, being, or individually treated addressee.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

evil

↗

Sense 1: Moral wickedness, sin, wrong, or corruption. Sense 2: Harm, misery, calamity, adversity, or punishment.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

eye

↗

Sense 1: The bodily organ of sight; by extension, sight or seeing. Sense 2: Regard, judgment, disposition, or watchful attention, expressed figuratively by the eye. Sense 3: A small opening, as the eye of a needle. Sense 4: To watch or regard.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

neither

↗

1. Also not; nor, introducing or joining a further negative statement or prohibition. 2. Not either, or none, of the alternatives named, commonly in a neither ... nor construction.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

desire

↗

Sense 1: A wish, longing, request, pleasure, or thing wished for. Sense 2: To wish for, long for, request, or take pleasure in.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 23:7

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

thinketh

↗

Third-person singular present form of think. Sense 1: To form or hold a thought. Sense 2: To judge or suppose. Sense 3: To intend. Sense 4: To consider or remember. Sense 5: To imagine or esteem.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

heart

↗

Sense 1: The bodily organ. Sense 2: The inward person: the mind, will, affections, conscience, or moral character.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

eat

↗

To take food into the body; to consume, devour, or waste away.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

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Related Concepts

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READ THE PASSAGE

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Nearby verses · passage boundary unavailable · Proverbs 23:2–8

The selected passage is highlighted. Context is a study aid.

23:2And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.

23:3Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.

Selected passage

23:4Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.

Selected passage

23:5Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

Selected passage

23:6Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:

Selected passage

23:7For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

Selected passage

23:8The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.

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