Proverbs 23:2

Proverbs 23:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.
• New International Version (NIV)and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony.
• English Standard Version (ESV)and put a knife to your throat if you are given to appetite.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And put a knife to your throat If you are a man given to appetite.

Context of Proverbs 23:2

16. When you sit down to eat a meal with a ruler, be careful how you eat. Even if you enjoy your food, do not eat too much of it. 3Do not want his special food for yourself. He may be trying to deceive you. 47. Do not work so hard to become rich that you make yourself ill. Be wise and rest when you need to.

Proverbs 23:2 word by word

וְשַׂמְתָּ֣ שַׂכִּ֣ין בְּלֹעֶ֑ךָ אִם־בַּ֖עַל נֶ֣פֶשׁ אָֽתָּה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And putשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: putH7760
• a knifeשַׂכִּיןώakkîyn · knifeH7915
• to thy throatלֹעַlôa‛ · throatH3930
• a man givenבַּעַלba‛al · master: menH1167
• to appetiteנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: appetiteH5315

Cross-references for Proverbs 23:2

• Proverbs 18:8We love to hear other people's secrets. They seem like good food that we can enjoy.
• 1 Corinthians 9:27I make my body do what I want it to do. I make it like my slave. I have told God's message to other people. I do not want to lose the prize myself. So I try very much to obey the rules of the race.
• Philippians 3:19In the end, God will destroy them. Their stomach is what they worship. They are proud of things that should make them ashamed. Their thoughts are full of things that belong to this world.

Commentaries on Proverbs 23:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Put a knife to thy throat - Repress thy appetite, and do not be incontinent of speech. Eat, drink, and converse, under a check.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2i. e., “Restrain thy appetite, eat as if the knife were at thy throat.” Others render the words “thou wilt put a knife to thy throat” etc., i. e., “indulgence at such a time may endanger thy very life.”Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-3Saying 6: Many proverbs advise young men in government jobs. A ruler's rich food might tempt a newcomer to overeat due to lack of self-control. But he will be at risk when full.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. put a knife--an Eastern figure for putting restraint on the appetite.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 23:2

• Abstemiousness
• Citizens
• Guest
• Manners
• Prudence
• Self-Denial
• Temperance

In the dictionaries

• Appetite
• Clothe
• Correction
• Dainty
• Desirous
• Drunkard
• Knife
• Poverty
• Riotous
• Sell

Commentaries on Proverbs 23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings