Proverbs 23:8 - The morsel which you have eaten you shall vomit up, and lose your good words.

Generated Verse: Proverbs 23:8

What does "Proverbs 23:8" mean?


Proverbs 23:8, "The morsel which you have eaten you shall vomit up, and lose your good words," is a proverb about the consequences of associating with someone who is stingy or begrudging of their hospitality. Let's break it down:

"The morsel which you have eaten you shall vomit up": This is a visceral image suggesting a forced and unpleasant experience. The "morsel" represents the food you've reluctantly accepted from a stingy person. The idea is that the person's grudging attitude will make the food unpleasant and you'll feel sick. It's not necessarily about physical vomiting, but rather the feeling of disgust and regret. It suggests that the hospitality offered wasn't genuine and the experience was ultimately unsatisfying.

"and lose your good words": This refers to the polite and thankful words you might have offered to your host. Because of the person's begrudging nature, your gratitude will seem hollow and perhaps even be taken advantage of. Or, you might regret having spoken kindly to a person who clearly didn't deserve it. You'll wish you hadn't wasted your "good words" on someone so ungenerous in spirit. The verse suggests you cannot engage with a stingy person without coming out with feelings of bitterness.

In Essence: The proverb warns against accepting hospitality from someone who is stingy or unwilling to give generously. The experience will be unpleasant and leave you feeling regretful, as if you've wasted your politeness and appreciation on someone who doesn't deserve it. It's better to avoid such situations in the first place. The bitterness will not allow you to appreciate the experience.

Themes and Lessons:

The Importance of Generosity: The proverb contrasts generosity with stinginess and shows the negative effects of the latter.
Discerning Companions: It emphasizes the importance of choosing your company wisely, avoiding those who are unwilling to share.
Sincerity in Hospitality: It implies that true hospitality comes from a generous heart, not just from going through the motions.

In simpler terms, the verse means: "If you eat the food of a stingy person, you'll regret it and wish you hadn't been so kind or complimentary to them. It's a waste of your efforts to be gracious to someone who doesn't have a generous spirit."

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