Proverbs 23:3 · King James Version

Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.
Proverbs 23:3 in the King James Version reads: “Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.”. Read it in the full context of Proverbs 23, or compare how other translations render it below.

Proverbs 23:3 in the Original Hebrew

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KJV word order, keyed to Strong's numbers. About the lexicon →

Proverbs 23:3 in Other Translations

KJV Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.
WEB Don’t be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.
ASV Be not desirous of his dainties; Seeing they are deceitful food.
YLT Have no desire to his dainties, seeing it is lying food.
WBT Be not desirous of his dainties: for they [are] deceitful food.
DBY Be not desirous of his dainties; for they are deceitful food.

Commentary on Proverbs 23:3

Expositions from classic Bible commentators.

John Gill · Proverbs 23:3

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.

Read John Gill's full commentary on Proverbs 23 →

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Proverbs 23:3

are deceitful meat--though well tasted, injurious.

Read Jamieson, Fausset & Brown's full commentary on Proverbs 23 →

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Cross References for Proverbs 23:3

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Questions about Proverbs 23:3

What does Proverbs 23:3 say?

Proverbs 23:3 in the King James Version reads: “Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.” Read it in the full context of Proverbs 23, alongside the classic commentary on this page.

Where is Proverbs 23:3 found in the Bible?

Proverbs 23:3 is in the book of Proverbs, chapter 23, verse 3, in the Old Testament.

What Bible translation is Proverbs 23:3 shown in?

This is the King James Version (KJV), a public-domain translation. You can compare how other translations render Proverbs 23:3 in the table on this page.

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