The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.

Note – All words or phrases found in quotation marks are actual parts of the Hebrew or Greek definition(s).

¹¹ He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.

²⁴ The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.

²⁷ The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.

¹⁴ A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him.

Work and Words

What we say, what we do, both, have a major impact on the quality of our life. People speak death to their own lives then wonder why their lives are continually in lack. People want much but do little, then wonder why they do not have what they want or need.

If you work you eat (v.11).

This word “diligent’ that is used in verse twenty-four in the Hebrew definition has the meaning of being “eager” and having “determination” as qualities. A determined person finds a way through their eagerness to do what is necessary, and lawful, to take care of and provide for their family. They end up on top in a good sense for to “bear rule” as found in this verse, means to “to rule:— (have, make to have) dominion, governor, × indeed, reign, (bear, cause to, have) rule (-ing, -r), have power.^”

Looking at verse twenty-seven, we find that the “substance” which the “diligent man” has, is according to the Hebrew language, “wealth” and “implies enough” is the condition of the “diligent man” and lack is the condition of the “slothful” lazy man. Again, the idea of the man “hunting” for his food indicates he is actually doing something to produce this “substance” that he enjoys. And get a load of what this “precious” “substance” consist of according to the Hebrew language.

“precious” =

3368. יָקָר yâqâr, yaw-kawr’; from 3365; valuable (obj. or subj.):— brightness, clear, costly, excellent, fat, honourable women, precious, reputation.

3365. יָקַר yâqar, yaw-kar’; a prim. root; prop. appar. to be heavy, i.e. (fig.) valuable; caus. to make rare (fig. to inhibit):— be (make) precious, be prized, be set by, withdraw.

Wow, this type of man even draws a certain type of woman, an “honourable woman” (honorable). Be careful however about what your view of an “honourable woman” is because she definitely does not have the qualities viewed by the world as good, she has the qualities, often difficult ones for people to accept, but nevertheless qualities that God, not man, views as honorable.

Verse twenty-four has a very serious warning for the “slothful” person – a note here that this word “slothful” in the Hebrew language also means “deceitful” as well. That type of person will “be under tribute” in life. However, what does that mean? It is bad, very bad!

“shall be under tribute” in the Hebrew language means:

4522. מַס maç, mas; or

מִס miç, mees; from 4549; prop. a burden (as causing to faint), i.e. a tax in the form of forced labor:— discomfited, levy, task [-master], tribute (-tary).

4549. מָסַס mâçaç, maw-sas’; a prim. root; to liquefy; fig. to waste (with disease), to faint (with fatigue, fear or grief):— discourage, faint, be loosed, melt (away), refuse, × utterly.

This is not a good life. I have seen firsthand people with this life. People living this type of life and they were extremely lazy and deceitful people. That is all I will comment on that, as the meaning of the words say it all.

However, going back to verse eleven we find that people who have made the choice to follow “vain persons” which is inclusive according to the Hebrew language of people who are “empty fig. worthless” find they lack the “understanding” to ever make a life of true meaning or substance, and they always seem to try and blame someone else for that reality. Do people effect and affect another person’s existence? Yes, to a point depending on the depth of the relationship and the day to day interactions of the relationship. (This could lead to so much to write so I will just leave it there.) People are so vain; many think their education alone is cause for “enlightenment” of which they have none and their life reflects this fact. Nevertheless, people follow these “vain, empty, worthless” people down a path titled “enlightenment” that only leads to their misery and destruction – usually “death by a thousand cuts” sinful cuts, that is.

Be careful of what you say about yourself and other people. Be careful what you choose to do and not do in life for it will effect and affect every part of your existence.

Side note: on both spelling and grace

FYI for those of you who might not know; in Britain, which is where the King James Bible originated, the letter “u” is used in many more words than we use them in, here in America. I recall once I had another minister and his wife over for dinner. I had a tapestry on one of my tables. The wife pointed out that they had spelled the word “colour” (British) vs. color (American) incorrectly. She was a school teacher by trade but I knew it was due to her lack of exposure to other cultures that she was unaware of the differences, therefore, I said nothing. Nevertheless, it stuck with me and I learned a valuable lesson about grace as we never know the extent of another person’s background.

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All content generated by a human being, 100%, no AI. 

Throughout this study, if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.