God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 27:7
7One who is full despises honey, but to one who is hungry, even bitter food tastes sweet.
Proverbs 27:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
- New International Version (NIV)One who is full loathes honey from the comb, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.
- English Standard Version (ESV)One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet.
- New King James Version (NKJV)A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, But to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
Context of Proverbs 27:7
5Open criticism is better than unexpressed love. 6Wounds made by a friend are intended to help, but an enemy’s kisses are too much to bear. One who is full despises honey, but to one who is hungry, even bitter food tastes sweet. 8Like a bird wandering from its nest, so is a husband wandering from his home. 9Perfume and incense make the heart glad, but the sweetness of a friend is a fragrant forest.
Read all of Proverbs 27Proverbs 27:7 word by word
נֶ֣פֶשׁ שְׂ֭בֵעָה תָּב֣וּס נֹ֑פֶת וְנֶ֥פֶשׁ רְ֝עֵבָ֗ה כָּל־מַ֥ר מָתֽוֹק׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 27:7
- Numbers 11:4Some foreigners among the Israelites had a strong craving for ⌞other kinds of⌟ food. Even the Israelites started crying again and said, “If only we had meat to eat!
- Numbers 21:5and criticized God and Moses. They said, “Why did you make us leave Egypt—just to let us die in the desert? There’s no bread or water, and we can’t stand this awful food!”
- Job 6:7I refuse to touch such things. They are disgusting to me.
- Luke 15:16No one in the country would give him any food, and he was so hungry that he would have eaten what the pigs were eating.
- John 6:9“A boy who has five loaves of barley bread and two small fish is here. But they won’t go very far for so many people.”
Commentaries on Proverbs 27:7
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7The special instance covers the general law, that indulgence in pleasure of any kind brings on satiety and weariness, but self-restraint multiplies the sources of enjoyment.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7Verse 7 The poor have a better relish of their enjoyments, and are often more thankful for them, than the rich. In like manner the proud and self-sufficient disdain the gospel; but those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, find comfort from the meanest book or sermon that testifies of Christ Jesus.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7Even the best teaching (honey) will be ignored if given at the wrong time. The key to real learning is the student's willingness to learn.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. The luxury of wealth confers less happiness than the healthy appetite of labor.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 27:7
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 27
- 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries