For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
Parallel translations
- WEB for as he thinks about the cost, so he is. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
- BSB for he is keeping track, inwardly counting the cost. “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
- NKJV For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you.
- NASB For as he thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, “Eat and drink!” But his heart is not with you.
- NLT They are always thinking about how much it costs. “Eat and drink,” they say, but they don’t mean it.
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
A grudging host's friendly words mask a heart that is not really with you.
Overview
This exposes the hypocrisy of the stingy host: his outward invitation contradicts his inward calculation of cost. The proverb teaches that a person's true self lies in his inner thoughts, not just his words. It anticipates Christ's teaching that the heart, not mere appearances, defines a person (Matt. 15:18-19).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Ps 12:2They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
- Ps 55:21The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
- Judg 16:15And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.
- Matt 9:3–4And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
- Luke 11:37–54And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat.
- Luke 7:39Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
- Dan 11:27And both these kings’ hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.
- Prov 19:22The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.
- 2 Sam 13:26–28Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee?
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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 23:7 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.