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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Proverbs 27:7 The soul that is full loathes honey, but to a hungry soul, any bitter thing is sweet.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/proverbs/27-7.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/6/20_Pro_27_07.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Proverbs 27:7 - Do not Boast about Tomorrow" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="The soul that is full loathes honey, but to a hungry soul, any bitter thing is sweet." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/proverbs/27.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, But to a hungry soul every bitter thing <i>is</i> sweet.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/proverbs/27.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />A satisfied person despises honey, But to a hungry person any bitter thing is sweet.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/proverbs/27.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />A sated man loathes honey, But to a famished man any bitter thing is sweet.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/proverbs/27.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />A sated man loathes honey, But to a famished man any bitter thing is sweet.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/proverbs/27.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />A satisfied soul tramples the honeycomb, But to a hungry soul any bitter thing is sweet.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/proverbs/27.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />He who is satisfied loathes honey, But to the hungry soul any bitter thing is sweet.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/proverbs/27.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />A person who is full tramples on a honeycomb, but to a hungry person, any bitter thing is sweet.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/proverbs/27.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />A person who is full tramples on a honeycomb, but to a hungry person, any bitter thing is sweet. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/proverbs/27.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />The full soul loatheth a honeycomb; But to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/proverbs/27.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />If you have had enough to eat, honey doesn't taste good, but if you are really hungry, you will eat anything. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/proverbs/27.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />The full soul loatheth an honeycomb: but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/proverbs/27.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />One who is full despises honey, but to one who is hungry, even bitter food tastes sweet.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/proverbs/27.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />When you are full, you will refuse honey, but when you are hungry, even bitter food tastes sweet. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/proverbs/27.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />The person who is full spurns honey, but to a hungry person even the bitter seems sweet.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/proverbs/27.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The one whose appetite is satisfied loathes honey, but to the hungry mouth every bitter thing is sweet. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/proverbs/27.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />A full soul loathes a honeycomb; but to a hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/proverbs/27.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />The full soul lotheth a honey-comb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/proverbs/27.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />The soul that is full loathes honey, but to a hungry soul, any bitter thing is sweet.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/proverbs/27.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />A full soul loathes a honeycomb; but to a hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/proverbs/27.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />A satiated soul treads down a honeycomb, "" And every bitter thing [is] sweet [to] a hungry soul.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/proverbs/27.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> A satiated soul treadeth down a honeycomb, And to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/proverbs/27.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />The full soul will tread down the honey droppings, and to the hungry soul all bitter is sweet.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/proverbs/27.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />A soul that is full shall tread upon the honeycomb : and a soul that is hungry shall take even bitter for sweet. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/proverbs/27.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />A sated soul will trample the honeycomb. And a hungry soul will accept even bitter in place of sweet.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/proverbs/27.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />One who is full spurns honey; but to the hungry, any bitter thing is sweet. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/proverbs/27.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />The sated appetite spurns honey, but to a ravenous appetite even the bitter is sweet.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/proverbs/27.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />A person who is full loathes a honeycomb; but to a hungry person even a bitter thing is sweet.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/proverbs/27.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />The soul that is full treads on honeycombs, and even bitter things are sweet to the hungry soul.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/proverbs/27.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />The full soul loatheth a honeycomb; But to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/proverbs/27.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />A full soul scorns honeycombs; but to a hungry soul even bitter things appear sweet.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/proverbs/27-7.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kpUA5ZltBeQ?start=5521" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/proverbs/27.htm">Do not Boast about Tomorrow</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">6</span>The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. <span class="reftext">7</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/5315.htm" title="5315: ne·p̄eš (N-fs) -- From naphash; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. Animal of vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense.">The soul</a> <a href="/hebrew/7649.htm" title="7649: ḇê·‘āh (Adj-fs) -- Sated, satisfied, surfeited. From saba'; satiated.">that is full</a> <a href="/hebrew/947.htm" title="947: tā·ḇūs (V-Qal-Imperf-3fs) -- To tread down, trample. A primitive root; to trample.">loathes</a> <a href="/hebrew/5317.htm" title="5317: nō·p̄eṯ (N-ms) -- Flowing honey, honey from the comb. From nuwph in the sense of shaking to pieces; a dripping i.e. Of honey.">honey,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7457.htm" title="7457: rə·‘ê·ḇāh (Adj-fs) -- Hungry. From ra'eb; hungry.">but to a hungry</a> <a href="/hebrew/5315.htm" title="5315: wə·ne·p̄eš (Conj-w:: N-fs) -- From naphash; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. Animal of vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense.">soul,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: kāl- (N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">any</a> <a href="/hebrew/4751.htm" title="4751: mar (Adj-ms) -- Bitter, bitterness. Or marah; from marar; bitter; also bitterness, or bitterly.">bitter thing</a> <a href="/hebrew/4966.htm" title="4966: mā·ṯō·wq (Adj-ms) -- Sweet, sweetness. Or mathuwq; from mathaq; sweet.">is sweet.</a> </span><span class="reftext">8</span>Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who wanders from his home.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-6.htm">Matthew 5:6</a></span><br />Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/6-35.htm">John 6:35</a></span><br />Jesus answered, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/34-8.htm">Psalm 34:8-10</a></span><br />Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! / Fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing. / Young lions go lacking and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/55-1.htm">Isaiah 55:1-2</a></span><br />“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost! / Why spend money on that which is not bread, and your labor on that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of foods.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/1-53.htm">Luke 1:53</a></span><br />He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/4-13.htm">John 4:13-14</a></span><br />Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. / But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/107-9.htm">Psalm 107:9</a></span><br />For He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/philippians/4-12.htm">Philippians 4:12</a></span><br />I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. In any and every situation I have learned the secret of being filled and being hungry, of having plenty and having need.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_timothy/6-8.htm">1 Timothy 6:8</a></span><br />But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/4-4.htm">Matthew 4:4</a></span><br />But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/63-5.htm">Psalm 63:5</a></span><br />My soul is satisfied as with the richest of foods; with joyful lips my mouth will praise You.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ecclesiastes/6-7.htm">Ecclesiastes 6:7</a></span><br />All a man’s labor is for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/8-11.htm">Amos 8:11</a></span><br />Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord GOD, when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/6-21.htm">Luke 6:21</a></span><br />Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/2-2.htm">1 Peter 2:2-3</a></span><br />Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, / now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">The full soul loathes an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.</p><p class="hdg">full</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/11-4.htm">Numbers 11:4-9,18-20</a></b></br> And the mixt multitude that <i>was</i> among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/21-5.htm">Numbers 21:5</a></b></br> And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for <i>there is</i> no bread, neither <i>is there any</i> water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.</p><p class="hdg">loatheth or treadeth under foot</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/6-7.htm">Job 6:7</a></b></br> The things <i>that</i> my soul refused to touch <i>are</i> as my sorrowful meat.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/luke/15-16.htm">Luke 15:16,17</a></b></br> And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/john/6-9.htm">John 6:9</a></b></br> There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/proverbs/19-13.htm">Bitter</a> <a href="/job/18-12.htm">Famished</a> <a href="/proverbs/26-22.htm">Food</a> <a href="/proverbs/25-16.htm">Full</a> <a href="/proverbs/25-27.htm">Honey</a> <a href="/proverbs/24-13.htm">Honeycomb</a> <a href="/proverbs/24-13.htm">Honey-Comb</a> <a href="/proverbs/25-21.htm">Hungry</a> <a href="/numbers/21-5.htm">Loathes</a> <a href="/proverbs/25-21.htm">Need</a> <a href="/proverbs/25-17.htm">Sated</a> <a href="/proverbs/25-17.htm">Satiated</a> <a href="/proverbs/25-25.htm">Soul</a> <a href="/proverbs/26-22.htm">Sweet</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-17.htm">Tastes</a> <a href="/daniel/8-10.htm">Trampleth</a> <a href="/proverbs/23-9.htm">Treadeth</a> <a href="/proverbs/24-28.htm">Use</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/proverbs/31-6.htm">Bitter</a> <a href="/isaiah/5-13.htm">Famished</a> <a href="/proverbs/27-27.htm">Food</a> <a href="/proverbs/27-20.htm">Full</a> <a href="/songs/4-11.htm">Honey</a> <a href="/songs/4-11.htm">Honeycomb</a> <a href="/songs/4-11.htm">Honey-Comb</a> <a href="/isaiah/8-21.htm">Hungry</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-45.htm">Loathes</a> <a href="/proverbs/28-22.htm">Need</a> <a href="/jeremiah/50-10.htm">Sated</a> <a href="/proverbs/27-20.htm">Satiated</a> <a href="/proverbs/27-9.htm">Soul</a> <a href="/proverbs/27-9.htm">Sweet</a> <a href="/titus/2-2.htm">Tastes</a> <a href="/daniel/8-10.htm">Trampleth</a> <a href="/isaiah/41-3.htm">Treadeth</a> <a href="/proverbs/30-9.htm">Use</a><div class="vheading2">Proverbs 27</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/proverbs/27-1.htm">observations of self love</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/proverbs/27-5.htm">of true love</a></span><br><span class="reftext">11. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/proverbs/27-11.htm">of care to avoid offenses</a></span><br><span class="reftext">23. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/proverbs/27-23.htm">and of the household care</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/proverbs/27.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/proverbs/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/proverbs/27.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>The soul that is full loathes honey</b><br>This phrase highlights the concept of satiation and contentment. In ancient Israel, honey was considered a delicacy and a symbol of abundance and prosperity (<a href="/exodus/3-8.htm">Exodus 3:8</a>). The idea here is that when one is full, even the sweetest and most desirable things lose their appeal. This can be seen as a metaphor for spiritual complacency, where those who are spiritually "full" or self-satisfied may become indifferent to the richness of God's word and blessings. In a broader biblical context, this can be related to the Laodicean church in <a href="/revelation/3-17.htm">Revelation 3:17</a>, which was rebuked for being lukewarm and self-satisfied, not realizing their spiritual poverty.<p><b>but to a hungry soul, any bitter thing is sweet</b><br>This part of the proverb contrasts the previous statement by illustrating the desperation and appreciation of those who are in need. In times of scarcity, even what is typically undesirable becomes valuable. This can be seen as a reflection of spiritual hunger and the longing for righteousness (<a href="/matthew/5-6.htm">Matthew 5:6</a>). The "hungry soul" represents those who are aware of their spiritual need and are open to receiving God's truth, even if it comes in the form of correction or hardship. This aligns with the biblical theme that God often uses difficult circumstances to draw people closer to Him, as seen in the life of Job or the Israelites during their wilderness journey. The sweetness of the "bitter thing" can also be seen as a type of Christ, who transforms suffering and trials into growth and deeper faith for those who seek Him earnestly.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/s/solomon.htm">Solomon</a></b><br>Traditionally attributed as the author of Proverbs, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israel.htm">Israel</a></b><br>The cultural and historical context of Proverbs is rooted in ancient Israel, where wisdom literature was a key part of spiritual and practical life.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/w/wisdom_literature.htm">Wisdom Literature</a></b><br>Proverbs is part of the wisdom literature in the Bible, which includes practical teachings and moral lessons.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/c/contentment_and_satisfaction.htm">Contentment and Satisfaction</a></b><br>A full soul represents contentment, where even the sweetest things may not bring additional joy. This teaches us to find satisfaction in what we have rather than constantly seeking more.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_hunger.htm">Spiritual Hunger</a></b><br>Just as physical hunger can make even bitter things seem sweet, spiritual hunger can drive us to seek God earnestly. We should cultivate a hunger for righteousness and spiritual growth.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/perspective_on_desires.htm">Perspective on Desires</a></b><br>Our desires can change based on our state of satisfaction. When we are spiritually full, worldly temptations lose their appeal. This encourages us to focus on spiritual fulfillment.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/gratitude_and_appreciation.htm">Gratitude and Appreciation</a></b><br>Recognizing the value of what we have, even if it seems bitter, can lead to a deeper appreciation and gratitude for God's provision in our lives.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_proverbs_27.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Proverbs 27</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_'honeycomb'_imagery_outdated.htm">Proverbs 27:7 – Does the imagery of a “honeycomb” rely on outdated scientific knowledge about dietary needs or sweetness? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_many_of_jacob's_house_went_to_egypt.htm">How many members of the house of Jacob came to Egypt? Seventy souls (Genesis 4 - 27) Seventy-five souls (Acts 7:14)</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_to_verify_proverbs_5_3-4's_claim.htm">Proverbs 5:3-4: How can we verify the claim that enticing words inevitably lead to bitterness if there's no tangible evidence for such moral cause-and-effect?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_skeptical_theism_say_on_divine_hiddenness.htm">What does the Bible say about mental health?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/proverbs/27.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(7) <span class= "bld">The full soul loatheth an honeycomb.--</span>So the moderate use of the good things of this life increases our enjoyment of them. But in spiritual things, the less we content ourselves with, the less hunger we feel, and less enjoyment do we derive from them.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/proverbs/27.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 7.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">The full soul loatheth an honeycomb</span>. For "loathes" the Hebrew is literally "treads upon," "tramples underfoot," which is the expression of the greatest disgust and contempt; or it may mean that the well-fed man will not stoop to pick up the comb which may have dropped in his path from some tree or rock. But whichever way we take it, the same truth is told - Self-restraint increases enjoyment; over-iudulgence produces satiety, fatigue, and indolence. Horace, 'Sat.,' 2:2, 38 - <p><span class="foreign">"Jejunus raro stomachus vulgaria temnit."</span> But to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. So the prodigal in the parable would fain fill himself with the husks which the swine did eat. So we say, "Hunger is the best sauce;" the Germans, "Hunger makes raw beans sweet;" and the Portuguese. "Brackish water is sweet in a dry land." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/proverbs/27-7.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">The soul</span><br /><span class="heb">נֶ֣פֶשׁ</span> <span class="translit">(ne·p̄eš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5315.htm">Strong's 5315: </a> </span><span class="str2">A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion </span><br /><br /><span class="word">that is full</span><br /><span class="heb">שְׂ֭בֵעָה</span> <span class="translit">(ḇê·‘āh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7649.htm">Strong's 7649: </a> </span><span class="str2">Sated, satisfied, surfeited</span><br /><br /><span class="word">loathes</span><br /><span class="heb">תָּב֣וּס</span> <span class="translit">(tā·ḇūs)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_947.htm">Strong's 947: </a> </span><span class="str2">To tread down, trample</span><br /><br /><span class="word">honey,</span><br /><span class="heb">נֹ֑פֶת</span> <span class="translit">(nō·p̄eṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5317.htm">Strong's 5317: </a> </span><span class="str2">Flowing honey, honey from the comb</span><br /><br /><span class="word">but to a hungry</span><br /><span class="heb">רְ֝עֵבָ֗ה</span> <span class="translit">(rə·‘ê·ḇāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7457.htm">Strong's 7457: </a> </span><span class="str2">Hungry</span><br /><br /><span class="word">soul,</span><br /><span class="heb">וְנֶ֥פֶשׁ</span> <span class="translit">(wə·ne·p̄eš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5315.htm">Strong's 5315: </a> </span><span class="str2">A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion </span><br /><br /><span class="word">any</span><br /><span class="heb">כָּל־</span> <span class="translit">(kāl-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> </span><span class="str2">The whole, all, any, every</span><br /><br /><span class="word">bitter thing</span><br /><span class="heb">מַ֥ר</span> <span class="translit">(mar)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4751.htm">Strong's 4751: </a> </span><span class="str2">Bitter, bitterness, bitterly</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is sweet.</span><br /><span class="heb">מָתֽוֹק׃</span> <span class="translit">(mā·ṯō·wq)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4966.htm">Strong's 4966: </a> </span><span class="str2">Sweet, sweetness</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/proverbs/27-7.htm">Proverbs 27:7 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/proverbs/27-7.htm">Proverbs 27:7 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/proverbs/27-7.htm">Proverbs 27:7 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/proverbs/27-7.htm">Proverbs 27:7 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/proverbs/27-7.htm">Proverbs 27:7 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/proverbs/27-7.htm">Proverbs 27:7 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/proverbs/27-7.htm">Proverbs 27:7 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/proverbs/27-7.htm">Proverbs 27:7 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/proverbs/27-7.htm">Proverbs 27:7 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/proverbs/27-7.htm">Proverbs 27:7 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/proverbs/27-7.htm">OT Poetry: Proverbs 27:7 A full soul loathes a honeycomb (Prov. Pro Pr) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/proverbs/27-6.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Proverbs 27:6"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Proverbs 27:6" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/proverbs/27-8.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Proverbs 27:8"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Proverbs 27:8" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>