Proverbs - 23:3



3 Don't be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Proverbs 23:3.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
Be not desirous of his dainties; Seeing they are deceitful food.
Be not desirous of his meats, in which is the bread of deceit.
Have no desire to his dainties, seeing it is lying food.
Have no desire for his delicate food, for it is the bread of deceit.
Do not desire his foods, in which is the bread of deceit.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

Dainties deceitful meat - Such as "savory meat," venison Genesis 27:4, offered not from genuine hospitality, but with some by-ends.

Be not desirous of his dainties: (c) for they [are] deceitful food.
(c) For often the rich when they bid their inferiors to their tables, it is not for the love they bear them, but for their own secret purposes.

Be not desirous of his dainties,.... His savoury food, which is very grateful to the taste, his rich provisions and royal dainties; do not lust after them, as the word (s) signifies, in an immoderate way, as the Israelites lusted after the fleshpots in Egypt: these may be lawfully desired, but not sinfully lusted after; and in feeding on them nature may be satisfied, and not the sensual lusts gratified in such a manner they crave, which would be criminal;
for they are deceitful meat; or, "bread of lies" (t): through the pleasant and agreeable taste of them, they lead on to luxury and excess before a man is aware, and so deceive him; they promise him a great deal of pleasure, but, being too much indulged to, they produce sickness and nauseousness. Some think they are called so, from the intention and issue of them; being designed to draw out secrets, which men are very apt to divulge, when they have ate and drank freely. Some apply this to false doctrines, which are framed sometimes in a very plausible manner, and deceive the simple; are bread of lies, lies in hypocrisy, and are very pernicious; such words eat, as do a canker, instead of yielding solid nourishment.
(s) "ne concupiscas", Pagninus, Montanus, Mercerus, Cocceius, Gejerus, Schultens; "ne coucupiscito", Piscator. (t) "panis mendaciorum", Montanus, Munster, Vatablus, Mercerus, Cocceius, Gejerus, Michaelis; "cibus mendaciorum", Piscator, Schultens.

are deceitful meat--though well tasted, injurious.

Deceitful - They do not yield thee that satisfaction which thou didst expect from them.

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