He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.
Parallel translations
- WEB The appetite of the laboring man labors for him; for his mouth urges him on.
- BSB A worker’s appetite works for him because his hunger drives him onward.
- NKJV The person who labors, labors for himself, For his hungry mouth drives him on.
- NASB A worker’s appetite works for him, For his hunger urges him on.
- NLT It is good for workers to have an appetite; an empty stomach drives them on.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Hunger drives a worker to labor, as appetite spurs effort. It matters because God uses ordinary needs to motivate honest, productive work.
Overview
This proverb observes that a laborer's appetite compels him to work, since his needs urge him on. It recognizes the God-given role of necessity in prompting diligence. The Bible affirms honest labor as good and orderly, with provision tied to work (2 Thessalonians 3:10).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Eccl 6:7All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
- Prov 14:23In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
- Prov 9:12If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
- 2 Th 3:8–12Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
- 1 Th 4:11–12And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 16:26 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.