Proverbs 24:27
Proverbs 24:27 in Multiple Translations
Complete your outdoor work and prepare your field; after that, you may build your house.
Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
Prepare thy work without, And make it ready for thee in the field; And afterwards build thy house.
Put your work in order outside, and make it ready in the field; and after that, see to the building of your house.
Do the work you need to do outside first, then prepare and sow your fields, and only after that start building your house.
Prepare thy worke without, and make readie thy thinges in the fielde, and after, builde thine house.
Prepare in an out-place thy work, And make it ready in the field — go afterwards, Then thou hast built thy house.
Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.
Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thy house.
Prepare thy work without, and diligently till thy ground: that afterward thou mayst build thy house.
First, do the work that needs to be done outside your house, and prepare your fields, and then plant things, and after you finish doing that, build your house.
Berean Amplified Bible — Proverbs 24:27
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 24:27 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
הָ֘כֵ֤ן
בַּ/ח֨וּץ
מְלַאכְתֶּ֗/ךָ
וְ/עַתְּדָ֣/הּ
בַּ/שָּׂדֶ֣ה
לָ֑/ךְ
אַ֝חַ֗ר
וּ/בָנִ֥יתָ
בֵיתֶֽ/ךָ
הָ֘כֵ֤ן
kûwn
H3559
to establish
V-Hiphil-Impv-2ms
בַּ/ח֨וּץ
chûwts
H2351
outside
Prep | N-ms
מְלַאכְתֶּ֗/ךָ
mᵉlâʼkâh
H4399
work
N-fs | Suff
וְ/עַתְּדָ֣/הּ
ʻâthad
H6257
be ready
Conj | V-Piel-Impv-2ms | Suff
בַּ/שָּׂדֶ֣ה
sâdeh
H7704
field
Prep | N-ms
לָ֑/ךְ
Prep | Suff
אַ֝חַ֗ר
ʼachar
H310
after
Prep
וּ/בָנִ֥יתָ
bânâh
H1129
to build
Conj | V-Qal-2ms
בֵיתֶֽ/ךָ
bayith
H1004
place
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 24:27
הָ֘כֵ֤ן
kûwn
H3559
"to establish"
V-Hiphil-Impv-2ms
This verb means to set something up or establish it, like setting up a tent or appointing someone to a position, as seen in Isaiah 7:14.
Definition: : prepare/direct 1) to be firm, be stable, be established 1a) (Niphal) 1a1) to be set up, be established, be fixed 1a1a) to be firmly established 1a1b) to be established, be stable, be secure, be enduring 1a1c) to be fixed, be securely determined 1a2) to be directed aright, be fixed aright, be steadfast (moral sense) 1a3) to prepare, be ready 1a4) to be prepared, be arranged, be settled 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to establish, set up, accomplish, do, make firm 1b2) to fix, make ready, prepare, provide, provide for, furnish 1b3) to direct toward (moral sense) 1b4) to arrange, order 1c) (Hophal) 1c1) to be established, be fastened 1c2) to be prepared, be ready 1d) (Polel) 1d1) to set up, establish 1d2) to constitute, make 1d3) to fix 1d4) to direct 1e) (Pulal) to be established, be prepared 1f) (Hithpolel) to be established, be restored
Usage: Occurs in 211 OT verses. KJV: certain(-ty), confirm, direct, faithfulness, fashion, fasten, firm, be fitted, be fixed, frame, be meet, ordain, order, perfect, (make) preparation, prepare (self), provide, make provision, (be, make) ready, right, set (aright, fast, forth), be stable, (e-) stablish, stand, tarry, [idiom] very deed. See also: Genesis 41:32; Job 18:12; Psalms 5:10.
בַּ/ח֨וּץ
chûwts
H2351
"outside"
Prep | N-ms
This word means outside or outdoors, referring to something beyond a wall or boundary. It can also mean a street or highway, as seen in various KJV translations, including abroad, field, and without.
Definition: outside, outward, street, the outside
Usage: Occurs in 158 OT verses. KJV: abroad, field, forth, highway, more, out(-side, -ward), street, without. See also: Genesis 6:14; 2 Chronicles 24:8; Psalms 18:43.
מְלַאכְתֶּ֗/ךָ
mᵉlâʼkâh
H4399
"work"
N-fs | Suff
Means work or employment, like a job or business, and is used to describe someone's occupation or the result of their labor, as seen in the Bible's description of various professions and industries.
Definition: 1) occupation, work, business 1a) occupation, business 1b) property 1c) work (something done or made) 1d) workmanship 1e) service, use 1f) public business 1f1) political 1f2) religious
Usage: Occurs in 149 OT verses. KJV: business, [phrase] cattle, [phrase] industrious, occupation, ([phrase] -pied), [phrase] officer, thing (made), use, (manner of) work((-man), -manship). See also: Genesis 2:2; 1 Chronicles 9:13; Psalms 73:28.
וְ/עַתְּדָ֣/הּ
ʻâthad
H6257
"be ready"
Conj | V-Piel-Impv-2ms | Suff
This Hebrew word means to get ready or prepare for something, like in Genesis when God prepares a place for his people. It can also mean to make something or someone fit for a purpose. In the Bible, it is often used to describe God's preparation for important events.
Definition: 1) to be ready, make ready, prepare 1a) (Piel) to make ready 1b) (Hithpael) to be prepared
Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: make fit, be ready to become. See also: Job 15:28; Proverbs 24:27.
בַּ/שָּׂדֶ֣ה
sâdeh
H7704
"field"
Prep | N-ms
A field or land is what this word represents, often referring to a flat area of land used for cultivation or as a habitat for wild animals, as described in the book of Genesis. It can also mean a plain or a country, as opposed to a mountain or sea. This term is used in the story of Ruth and Boaz.
Definition: 1) field, land 1a) cultivated field 1b) of home of wild beasts 1c) plain (opposed to mountain) 1d) land (opposed to sea)
Usage: Occurs in 309 OT verses. KJV: country, field, ground, land, soil, [idiom] wild. See also: Genesis 2:5; Deuteronomy 28:38; Nehemiah 12:29.
לָ֑/ךְ
""
Prep | Suff
אַ֝חַ֗ר
ʼachar
H310
"after"
Prep
Achar means backwards or after, used to describe something that happens later or in the rear. It is used in various senses in the Bible, including in 1 Kings 12:18.
Definition: 1) after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time) 1a) as an adverb 1a1) behind (of place) 1a2) afterwards (of time) 1b) as a preposition 1b1) behind, after (of place) 1b2) after (of time) 1b3) besides 1c) as a conjunction 1c) after that 1d) as a substantive 1d1) hinder part 1e) with other prepositions 1e1) from behind 1e2) from following after
Usage: Occurs in 664 OT verses. KJV: after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, [phrase] out (over) live, [phrase] persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth), when, with. See also: Genesis 5:4; Exodus 18:2; Joshua 8:14.
וּ/בָנִ֥יתָ
bânâh
H1129
"to build"
Conj | V-Qal-2ms
The Hebrew word bânâh means to build something, like a house or a family. It can also mean to establish or repair something, and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible.
Definition: 1) to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to build, rebuild 1a2) to build a house (ie, establish a family) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be built 1b2) to be rebuilt 1b3) established (of restored exiles) (fig.) 1b4) established (made permanent) 1b5) to be built up (of childless wife becoming the mother of a family through the children of a concubine) Aramaic equivalent: be.nah (בְּנָה "to build" H1124)
Usage: Occurs in 345 OT verses. KJV: (begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make, repair, set (up), [idiom] surely. See also: Genesis 2:22; 1 Kings 8:48; 2 Chronicles 20:8.
בֵיתֶֽ/ךָ
bayith
H1004
"place"
N-ms | Suff
The Hebrew word for house refers to a dwelling place, including a family home, temple, or even the human body. It appears in various contexts, such as the temple in Jerusalem or the household of a family. In the Bible, it is often used to describe a place of worship or a family's living space.
Definition: nm place, origin, between
Usage: Occurs in 1712 OT verses. KJV: court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out). See also: Genesis 6:14; Exodus 8:5; Numbers 1:45.
Study Notes — Proverbs 24:27
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Proverbs 24:27 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 24:27
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 24:27
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 24:27
- Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 24:27
- Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 24:27
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 24:27
- Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 24:27
- Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 24:27
- Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 24:27
- Sermons on Proverbs 24:27
Context — Further Sayings of the Wise
25but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come upon them.
26An honest answer given is like a kiss on the lips.
27Complete your outdoor work and prepare your field; after that, you may build your house.
28Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips. 29Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luke 14:28–30 | Which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it? Otherwise, if he lays the foundation and is unable to finish the work, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This man could not finish what he started to build.’ |
| 2 | 1 Kings 5:17–18 | And the king commanded them to quarry large, costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple with dressed stones. So Solomon’s and Hiram’s builders, along with the Gebalites, quarried the stone and prepared the timber and stone for the construction of the temple. |
| 3 | 1 Kings 6:7 | The temple was constructed using finished stones cut at the quarry, so that no hammer or chisel or any other iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built. |
Proverbs 24:27 Summary
This verse is teaching us to prioritize our responsibilities and be diligent in our work before pursuing other goals or desires. It's like a farmer who needs to prepare their field before building their house - they need to take care of the basics first. This principle can be applied to our spiritual lives, as seen in 1 Corinthians 3:6-7, where we need to nurture our relationship with God and grow in faith before expecting to build a strong foundation for our lives. By trusting God and being faithful with what we have been given, we can trust Him to provide for our needs, as promised in Jeremiah 17:7-8.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to 'complete your outdoor work' in Proverbs 24:27?
This phrase refers to preparing and tending to one's fields and outdoor responsibilities, such as farming or gardening, before focusing on building a house, as seen in the context of responsible stewardship in Genesis 1:28 and Matthew 25:14-30.
Is this verse only talking about farming and building houses?
No, this verse is using farming and building as a metaphor for prioritizing one's responsibilities and being diligent in one's work, as taught in Colossians 3:23-24 and 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12.
Why is it important to prepare your field before building your house?
Preparing your field represents taking care of your foundational responsibilities and being faithful with what you have been given, as Jesus teaches in Luke 16:10-12, before pursuing other endeavors or investments, like building a house.
How does this verse relate to my everyday life?
This verse encourages you to prioritize your responsibilities, be diligent in your work, and trust God to provide for your needs, as promised in Philippians 4:19 and Matthew 6:33, before pursuing other goals or desires, like building a house or starting a new project.
Reflection Questions
- What are some 'outdoor work' responsibilities in my life that I need to prioritize and complete before pursuing other goals or desires?
- How can I apply the principle of preparing my 'field' to my spiritual life, such as nurturing my relationship with God and growing in faith?
- What are some ways I can demonstrate faithfulness and diligence in my work, like a farmer tending to their field, and trust God to provide for my needs?
- How can I balance my desire to build my 'house', whether literally or figuratively, with the need to prioritize my foundational responsibilities and trust God's timing and provision?
Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 24:27
Prepare thy work without,.... As Solomon did for the building of the temple; timber and stones were prepared, hewed, squared, and fitted for the building before brought thither, 1 Kings 5:18; or
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 24:27
Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house. Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterward build thine house.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 24:27
This is a domestical precept, requiring both industry and prudence in the management of a man’ s concerns, that he take care in the first place to furnish himself with cattle and the fruits of the field, which are necessary for his subsistence, and after that he may procure such things as are for ornament and comfort, such as the building of a convenient house is.
Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 24:27
Proverbs 24:27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.Ver. 27. Prepare thy work without, &c.] God would have all his to be not good men only, but good husbands too; to order their affairs with discretion, and to take their fittest opportunities for despatch of household businesses. Pliny hath a saying to like sense with this: Aedificandum, saith he, consito agro, et tunc quoque cunctanter, - Let building alone till thy field be tilled, vined, planted, &c. Lib, xviii, cap. 1.
Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 24:27
(27) Prepare thy work without . . .—Method in work is here advised; first till the ground, and then build the house which will be maintained by the produce of the field. In the spiritual life, too, we should seek to “perceive and know what things we ought to do,” if we are not to waste time and energy upon unsuitable and unattainable objects.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 24:27
Verse 27. Prepare thy work without] Do nothing without a plan. In winter prepare seed, implements, tackle, geers, &c., for seed-time and harvest.
Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 24:27
27. thy work] viz. the work required for building thy house. Follow the course pursued in the erection of the Temple, 1 Kings 6:7. Comp. 1 Chronicles 28:2, I had made ready (the same Heb. word as is here rendered prepare) for the building. Such preparing and making ready includes mental as well as material preparation, prudent “counting the cost,” as well as careful selection of materials. When this is understood, the proverb which has been obscured by supposing it to mean, “first till thy field and then build thy house,” or, “first make provision for a family and then found one,” is plain and forcible, and lends itself readily to moral and spiritual applications.
Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 24:27
i. e., Get an estate into good order before erecting a house on it.
Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 24:27
27. Prepare thy work without… afterwards build thine house — The sense is, first sustenance, then accommodation.
Sermons on Proverbs 24:27
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Fatherly Exhortation Part 2 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith emphasizes the importance of listening to and respecting our parents. He encourages his listeners to value truth, wisdom, instruction, and unders |
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Building on His Voice by Brian Guerin | Brian Guerin emphasizes the significance of building our lives on the solid foundation of Jesus' words, as illustrated in the parable of the wise and foolish builders. He explains |
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Work Prepared by Thomas Bradbury | Thomas Bradbury preaches on the profound spiritual teachings found in the Book of Proverbs, emphasizing the importance of seeking divine guidance and understanding through the Holy |
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(Heavenly Life) Heavenly Attitudes by Zac Poonen | This sermon emphasizes the importance of being the salt of the earth by bringing a taste of heaven to wherever we are, whether at home, work, or church. It highlights the need to h |
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Here's My Life by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal story about meeting a 94-year-old lady who lived to be 108. He reflects on the brevity of life and asks the audience to consider what |
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Stephen Kaung's Personal Testimony by Stephen Kaung | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on his journey in serving the Lord and the struggles he faced. He emphasizes the importance of returning to simplicity and unity in the church. |
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Qualifications for Spiritual Leadership - Part 2 by Stephen Kaung | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the qualities of a true leader. He highlights the importance of brokenness and humility in leadership, contrasting it with the ambition and s |