Proverbs 16:26
Proverbs 16:26 in Multiple Translations
A worker’s appetite works for him because his hunger drives him onward.
He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.
The appetite of the laboring man laboreth for him; For his mouth urgeth him thereto.
The desire of the working man is working for him, for his need of food is driving him on.
A good appetite helps workers—hunger encourages them.
The person that traueileth, traueileth for himselfe: for his mouth craueth it of him.
A labouring man hath laboured for himself, For his mouth hath caused [him] to bend over it.
The appetite of the laboring man labors for him, for his mouth urges him on.
He that laboreth laboreth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.
The soul of him that laboureth, laboureth for himself, because his mouth hath obliged him to it.
If a worker ◄has an appetite/is hungry►, that urges him to work hard because he [SYN] wants to earn money to buy things to eat.
Berean Amplified Bible — Proverbs 16:26
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Proverbs 16:26 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
נֶ֣פֶשׁ
עָ֭מֵל
עָ֣מְלָה
לּ֑/וֹ
כִּֽי
אָכַ֖ף
עָלָ֣י/ו
פִּֽי/הוּ
נֶ֣פֶשׁ
nephesh
H5315
soul
N-cs
עָ֭מֵל
ʻâmêl
H6001
labour(er)
Adj
עָ֣מְלָה
ʻâmal
H5998
to toil
V-Qal-Perf-3fs
לּ֑/וֹ
Prep | Suff
כִּֽי
kîy
H3588
for
Conj
אָכַ֖ף
ʼâkaph
H404
to crave
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
עָלָ֣י/ו
ʻal
H5921
upon
Prep | Suff
פִּֽי/הוּ
peh
H6310
lip
N-ms | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Proverbs 16:26
נֶ֣פֶשׁ
nephesh
H5315
"soul"
N-cs
The Hebrew word for soul or living being, used in the Bible to describe the essence of a person or animal. It encompasses the ideas of life, breath, and vitality, and is translated as 'soul' or 'creature' in the KJV. This word is central to biblical concepts of humanity and existence.
Definition: 1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion 1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man 1b) living being 1c) living being (with life in the blood) 1d) the man himself, self, person or individual 1e) seat of the appetites 1f) seat of emotions and passions 1g) activity of mind 1g1) uncertain 1h) activity of the will 1h1) uncertain 1i) activity of the character 1i1) uncertain
Usage: Occurs in 683 OT verses. KJV: any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, [idiom] dead(-ly), desire, [idiom] (dis-) contented, [idiom] fish, ghost, [phrase] greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, [idiom] jeopardy of) life ([idiom] in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, [phrase] slay, soul, [phrase] tablet, they, thing, ([idiom] she) will, [idiom] would have it. See also: Genesis 1:20; Leviticus 26:43; Judges 18:25.
עָ֭מֵל
ʻâmêl
H6001
"labour(er)"
Adj
This word describes someone who is laboring or sorrowful, like a worker or a person in misery. It appears in the Bible to describe people who are struggling or suffering.
Definition: 1) labourer, sufferer, wretched one 1a) labourer, workman 1b) sufferer
Usage: Occurs in 9 OT verses. KJV: that laboureth, that is a misery, had taken (labour), wicked, workman. See also: Judges 5:26; Ecclesiastes 2:18; Proverbs 16:26.
עָ֣מְלָה
ʻâmal
H5998
"to toil"
V-Qal-Perf-3fs
To toil means to work very hard, often with difficulty or annoyance, like the laborers in the parable of the workers in the vineyard in Matthew 20.
Definition: 1) to labour, toil 1a) (Qal) to labour
Usage: Occurs in 11 OT verses. KJV: (take) labour (in). See also: Psalms 127:1; Ecclesiastes 2:20; Proverbs 16:26.
לּ֑/וֹ
""
Prep | Suff
כִּֽי
kîy
H3588
"for"
Conj
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Definition: 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
Usage: Occurs in 3910 OT verses. KJV: and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 26:16; Genesis 42:15.
אָכַ֖ף
ʼâkaph
H404
"to crave"
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
To crave means to strongly desire something, like when the Israelites craved meat in Psalm 78:18. It can also mean to urge or press someone to do something.
Definition: 1) press, urge, bend 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to crave
Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: crave. See also: Proverbs 16:26.
עָלָ֣י/ו
ʻal
H5921
"upon"
Prep | Suff
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)
Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.
פִּֽי/הוּ
peh
H6310
"lip"
N-ms | Suff
In the Bible, this Hebrew word refers to the mouth, lips, or edge of something, and can also mean a portion or side of something. It is often used to describe speech or the act of speaking. This word appears in various forms, such as mouth, lip, or edge.
Definition: : lip/mouth peh 1) mouth 1a) mouth (of man) 1b) mouth (as organ of speech) 1c) mouth (of animals) 1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc) 1e) extremity, end pim 2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21
Usage: Occurs in 460 OT verses. KJV: accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment, assent, collar, command(-ment), [idiom] eat, edge, end, entry, [phrase] file, hole, [idiom] in, mind, mouth, part, portion, [idiom] (should) say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, tenor, [idiom] to, [phrase] two-edged, wish, word. See also: Genesis 4:11; Deuteronomy 21:17; Ezra 9:11.
Study Notes — Proverbs 16:26
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Proverbs 16:26 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 16:26
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 16:26
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 16:26
- Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 16:26
- Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 16:26
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 16:26
- Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 16:26
- Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 16:26
- Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 16:26
- Sermons on Proverbs 16:26
Context — The Reply of the Tongue Is from the LORD
24Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
25There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
26A worker’s appetite works for him because his hunger drives him onward.
27A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire. 28A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ecclesiastes 6:7 | All a man’s labor is for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied. |
| 2 | Proverbs 14:23 | There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty. |
| 3 | Proverbs 9:12 | If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage; but if you scoff, you alone will bear the consequences. |
| 4 | 2 Thessalonians 3:8–12 | nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you. Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate. For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.” Yet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies. We command and urge such people by our Lord Jesus Christ to begin working quietly to earn their own living. |
| 5 | 1 Thessalonians 4:11–12 | and to aspire to live quietly, to attend to your own matters, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you. Then you will behave properly toward outsiders, without being dependent on anyone. |
Proverbs 16:26 Summary
This verse teaches us that when we have a strong desire or need, it can motivate us to work hard to achieve our goals. Just like our physical hunger drives us to find food, our spiritual hunger should drive us to seek after God and His righteousness, as seen in Matthew 5:6. By recognizing and embracing our needs, we can find the motivation we need to move forward in life, whether that's in our careers, our relationships, or our walk with God. As we seek to apply this principle, we can look to examples in the Bible, such as the apostle Paul's drive to spread the gospel, as described in Romans 1:14-16.
Frequently Asked Questions
What role does hunger play in a worker's life according to Proverbs 16:26?
According to Proverbs 16:26, a worker's hunger drives him onward, indicating that a strong desire or need can motivate someone to work hard, as also seen in Proverbs 19:15 where laziness leads to a lack of motivation.
Is it always good to be driven by our appetites or desires?
While Proverbs 16:26 suggests that a worker's appetite can be a driving force, other scriptures like Proverbs 25:16 warn against overindulging our desires, reminding us to balance our needs with self-control and wisdom, as taught in Proverbs 23:20-21.
How does this verse relate to the concept of diligence and hard work?
Proverbs 16:26 highlights the importance of diligence and hard work, which is a recurring theme in the book of Proverbs, as seen in Proverbs 10:4-5, where the diligent are contrasted with the lazy, and in Proverbs 6:6-11, where the industry of ants is held up as an example to follow.
Can this verse be applied to spiritual hunger as well as physical hunger?
While the immediate context of Proverbs 16:26 refers to physical hunger, the principle of being driven by a deep-seated need can also be applied to spiritual hunger, as seen in Matthew 5:6, where those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed, and in Psalm 42:1-2, where the psalmist expresses a deep longing for God.
Reflection Questions
- What are the things that drive me to work hard, and are they aligned with God's purposes for my life?
- In what ways can I cultivate a healthy appetite for spiritual growth and development, and what role does discipline play in this process?
- How can I balance my physical needs with my spiritual needs, and what priorities should I set in my daily life to reflect this balance?
- What are some areas in my life where I am lacking motivation or drive, and how can I apply the principle of Proverbs 16:26 to stir up a sense of purpose and direction?
Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 16:26
He that laboureth, laboureth for himself,.... Man is born for labour; it is a part of the curse inflicted on him for sin; and his condition and circumstances are such as make it necessary, for such
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 16:26
He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him. He that laboureth, laboureth for himself - literally, 'The soul of him that laboureth, laboureth,' etc.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 16:26
For himself; for his own use and benefit. The scope of the proverb is to commend and press diligence in a man’ s calling, and to condemn idleness. Craveth it of him, Heb. boweth to him, as a suppliant; beggeth him to labour, that it may have something to put into it for its own comfort, and for the nourishment of the whole body.
Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 16:26
Proverbs 16:26 He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.Ver. 26. He that laboureth, laboureth for himself.] He earns it to eat it, he gets it with his hands to maintain "the life of his hands," as it is therefore also called Animantis cuiusque vita in fuga est, saith the philosopher; Life will away if not repaired by aliment. Et dii boni; quantum hominum unus exereet venter! Oh what ado there is to provide meat for the belly! There are those who make too much ado, while they make it "their god," as did that Pamphagus, Nabal; those in St Paul’ s time, that "served not the Lord Jesus Christ, but their own bellies"; and our Abbey lubbers, Quorum luxuriae totus non sufficit orbis; O monachi, vestri stomachi, &c. See my Common Place of Abstinence. For his mouth craveth it of him.] Heb., Bows down to him, or upon him, either as a suppliant or as importunately urgent. The belly hath no ears; necessity hath no law. Malesuada fames will have it if it be to be had. Drusus, meat being denied him, did eat the very stuffings of his bed; but that was not nourishment.
The stomach of man is a monster, saith one, which, being contained in so little a bulk as the body, is able to consume and devour all things; and yet is not consumed of itself, nor destroyed by that heat that digesteth all that comes into it. Seneca. Quippe quem suum cogit os. - Castalio. Sueton. in Tiber.
Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 16:26
(26) He that laboureth laboureth for himself.—Rather, the desire, or hunger, of the labourer laboureth for him, for his mouth urges him on; the feeling that he is supplying his own needs gives him strength for his work.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 16:26
Verse 26. He that laboureth] No thanks to a man for his labour and industry; if he do not work he must starve.
Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 16:26
26. He that laboureth laboureth for himself] Rather, the desire, or appetite (lit. soul, see A.V. marg.) of him that laboureth, laboureth for him. The desire which craves satisfaction is the motive power, impelling to the labour by which it is satisfied. Couched, after the true manner of a parable, in terms belonging to the lowest sphere of animal appetite (“his mouth, or bodily hunger, craveth it of him”), the proverb extends to the highest aspirations and noblest efforts of the affections, the intellect and the soul. Comp. John 6:27, and Ecclesiastes 6:7 (where the Heb. words for “labour” and “desire” or “appetite” are the same as here): “All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet his appetite is not filled.” Proverbs 16:27-29. A group of three proverbs: “A worthless man”; “A froward man”; “A man of violence.”
Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 16:26
He that laboreth - literally, as in the margin, i. e., “The desire of the laborer labors for him” (or, helps him in his work), “for his mouth urges him on.” Hunger of some kind is the spring of all hearty labor.
Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 16:26
26. Laboureth… for himself — It is probable that the point and meaning of this proverb may be expressed thus: “The appetite of the labourer labours for him.” A good appetite spurs a man to work.
Sermons on Proverbs 16:26
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Are You Hungry? by John Wesley | John Wesley emphasizes the importance of recognizing our hunger for satisfaction and contentment in life, suggesting that true fulfillment comes from seeking righteousness. He poin |
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Step 14 on the Clamorous , Yet Wicked Master-the Stomach. by St. John Climacus | St. John Climacus delivers a sermon on the dangers of gluttony, highlighting how it leads to hypocrisy, excess, and a lack of self-control. He emphasizes the importance of mortifyi |
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(Dangers in the Way Series): Dangers of Idleness and Busyness by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the dangers that Christians may encounter on their spiritual journey. The speaker emphasizes the importance of walking circumspectly and not b |
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27 - Ministry Plans for Work Camp Schools by Ben Torrey | The sermon transcript discusses the daily work and activities at the 3C's ranch, where participants engage in various tasks such as weeding, cleaning, and preparing pastures. The w |
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Idleness Is the Enemy of the Soul by St. Benedict of Nursia | St. Benedict of Nursia emphasizes the importance of staying occupied with both manual labor and sacred reading to combat idleness, which is seen as the enemy of the soul. He provid |
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A Judgement Is Coming by Vance Havner | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of not just having access to the light of God's truth, but also actively engaging with it. He warns against the danger of bei |
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The Wisdom of a Master Soul-Winner by David Legge | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of passionate preaching and evangelism. He uses the analogy of a watchman sounding the trumpet to warn the city, stating that |