Proverbs 23:7

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

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

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

כִּ֤י ׀ כְּמּוֹ שָׁעַ֥ר בְּנַפְשׁ֗וֹ כֶּ֫ן־ה֥וּא אֱכֹ֣ל וּ֭שְׁתֵה יֹ֣אמַר לָ֑ךְ וְ֝לִבּ֗וֹ בַּל־עִמָּֽךְ׃

Transliteration

For as šāʿar bǝnap̄šô so is he; ʾěḵōl ûšṯēh he yōʾmar to you, but libbô bal-ʿimmāḵ.

Grammar Details

• *šāʿar*: qal perfect, 3rd person masculine singular - estimates/calculates/thinks
• *bǝnap̄šô*: preposition + noun, feminine singular + 3rd person masculine singular suffix - in his soul/within himself
• *ʾěḵōl ûšṯēh*: qal imperative, masculine singular - eat and drink
• *yōʾmar*: qal imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular - says/will say
• *libbô*: noun, masculine singular + 3rd person masculine singular suffix - his heart
• *bal-ʿimmāḵ*: negative particle + preposition + 2nd person masculine singular suffix - not with you

Word Meanings

• *šāʿar bǝnap̄šô*: estimates within himself/calculates in his mind/thinks in his soul
• *ʾěḵōl ûšṯēh*: eat and drink
• *libbô bal-ʿimmāḵ*: his heart is not with you/his thoughts are not favorably inclined toward you

Referenced Verses

• Ps 12:2 : 2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
• Ps 55:21 : 21 The words of his mouth were smoother{H8804)} than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer{H8804)} than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
• Judg 16:15 : 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.
• Luke 11:37-54 : 37 And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat. 38 And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner. 39 And 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. 40 Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also? 41 But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you. 42 But 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. 43 Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets. 44 Woe 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. 46 And 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. 47 Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. 48 Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres. 49 Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: 50 That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; 51 From 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. 52 Woe 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. 53 And 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: 54 Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.
• Luke 7:39 : 39 Now 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.
• Prov 19:22 : 22 The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.
• Dan 11:27 : 27 And 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.
• Matt 9:3-4 : 3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. 4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?