Proverbs 13:12

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

תּוֹחֶ֣לֶת מְ֭מֻשָּׁכָה מַחֲלָה־לֵ֑ב וְעֵ֥ץ חַ֝יִּ֗ים תַּאֲוָ֥ה בָאָֽה׃

Transliteration

tôḥelet məmuššākâ maḥălâ-lēb wə-ʿēṣ ḥayyîm taʾăwâ bāʾâ

Grammar Details

• *tôḥelet*: noun, feminine singular - hope/expectation
• *məmuššākâ*: verb, pual participle, feminine singular - prolonged/deferred
• *maḥălâ*: noun, feminine singular - sickness/disease
• *lēb*: noun, masculine singular - heart
• *wə-*: conjunction - and
• *ʿēṣ*: noun, masculine singular construct - tree of
• *ḥayyîm*: noun, masculine plural - life
• *taʾăwâ*: noun, feminine singular - desire/longing
• *bāʾâ*: verb, qal participle, feminine singular - coming/fulfilled

Word Meanings

• *tôḥelet*: hope/expectation/what is waited for
• *məmuššākâ*: prolonged/deferred/drawn out
• *maḥălâ-lēb*: heart sickness/anguish of heart
• *ʿēṣ ḥayyîm*: tree of life
• *taʾăwâ*: desire/longing/what is desired
• *bāʾâ*: coming/fulfilled/realized

Referenced Verses

• Prov 13:19 : 19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.
• John 16:22 : 22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
• Gen 21:6-7 : 6 And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me. 7 And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.
• Gen 46:30 : 30 And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive.
• 1 Sam 1:26-28 : 26 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD. 27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: 28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.
• Ps 17:15 : 15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
• Ps 40:2-3 : 2 He brought me up{H8686)} also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set{H8686)} my feet upon a rock, and established{H8790)} my goings. 3 And he hath put{H8799)} a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see{H8799)} it, and fear{H8799)}, and shall trust{H8799)} in the LORD.
• Ps 69:3 : 3 I am weary{H8804)} of my crying{H8800)}: my throat is dried{H8738)}: mine eyes fail{H8804)} while I wait{H8764)} for my God.
• Ps 119:81-83 : 81 CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word. 82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me? 83 For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.
• Ps 143:7 : 7 Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
• Prov 3:18 : 18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
• Prov 11:30 : 30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
• Ps 42:1-3 : 1 To the chief Musician{H8764)}, Maschil{H8688)}, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth{H8799)} after the water brooks, so panteth{H8799)} my soul after thee, O God. 2 My soul thirsteth{H8804)} for God, for the living God: when shall I come{H8799)} and appear{H8735)} before God? 3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say{H8800)} unto me, Where is thy God?
• Rev 22:2 : 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
• Song 5:8 : 8 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love.
• Luke 2:29-30 : 29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,