Proverbs 6:8 — Word Study
WLCתָּכִ֣ין בַּקַּ֣יִץ לַחְמָ֑הּ אָגְרָ֥ה בַ֝קָּצִ֗יר מַאֲכָלָֽהּ׃
BSAit prepareskûwn▸ [sets up, establishes] its provisionslechem [food, bread] in summerqayits [the harvest season] it gathersʼâgar■ [collects, harvests] its foodmaʼăkâl [sustenance, nourishment] at harvestqâtsîyr [the time of reaping, the season of gathering]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| תָּכִ֣ין | it prepares | Verb, Hiphil, imperfect third person feminine singular |
| בַּקַּ֣יִץ | in the summer | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| לַחְמָ֑הּ | food its | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| אָגְרָ֥ה | it gathers | Verb, Qal, perfect third person feminine singular |
| בַ֝קָּצִ֗יר | at the harvest | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| מַאֲכָלָֽהּ׃ | food its | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food at harvest. |
| KJV | Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. |
| ASV | Provideth her bread in the summer, And gathereth her food in the harvest. |
| YLT | She doth prepare in summer her bread, She hath gathered in harvest her food. |
| WEB | provides her bread in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest. |
| BBE | She gets her meat in the summer, storing up food at the time of the grain-cutting. |
Where they part company is in the specific wording of the verbs — see How Translations Differ.
Two main clauses, each with a prepositional phrase indicating the time of action. The structure highlights the ant's proactive nature in both preparation and gathering.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbכּוּן
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Proverbs 6:8
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Wisdom of the Antgenerated
Proverbs 6:8 illustrates the ant's industrious nature, emphasizing the importance of preparation and hard work. The surrounding verses highlight the consequences of laziness, urging the reader to learn from the ant's example. This passage encourages diligence, especially in times of abundance, as seen in Proverbs 30:25.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 30:25 | The ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer; |
| 2 | 1 Timothy 6:19 | treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — תָּכִ֣ין, ta.Khingenerated
The verb כּוּן (kuwn) is a Hiphil form meaning to prepare or establish. It conveys the idea of setting something up firmly, much like a foundation or a plan. In this context, it signifies the ant's proactive behavior in securing provisions for the future.
The parsing indicates that it is in the imperfect tense, suggesting ongoing action. The ant is not just preparing once; it is actively engaged in establishing its provisions throughout the summer.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verbs תָּכִ֣ין (it prepares) and אַגְרָ֥ה (it gathers) govern the structure of the verse. The first clause describes the preparation during summer, while the second clause details the gathering at harvest.
The Hebrew word order emphasizes the actions of the ant, placing the focus on its diligent preparation and gathering.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates תָּכִ֣ין as ἑτοιμάζεται (hetoimazetai), meaning 'is prepared'. This choice indicates a focus on the state of readiness, aligning with the wisdom of being proactive.
The use of θέρους for summer reflects the agricultural context, emphasizing the importance of the harvest season in both Hebrew and Greek traditions.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 6:8 shows how the ant prepares its food in summer and gathers it during harvest. This teaches the importance of hard work and planning ahead, especially during times of plenty.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
To prepare provisions means to gather and store food or resources in advance, ensuring that one is ready for future needs.
The ant exemplifies diligence and foresight, demonstrating the value of hard work and preparation in contrast to laziness.
You can apply this lesson by planning ahead for your needs, working diligently, and not procrastinating.
Verses like Proverbs 30:25 and 1 Timothy 6:19 also emphasize the importance of diligence and wise management of resources.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are some ways I can prepare for future needs in my life?
- How can I cultivate a diligent attitude like the ant?
- What resources do I have that I can gather and prepare for the future?
- In what areas of my life am I being lazy, and how can I change that?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers referenced this verse to illustrate the importance of diligence, using the ant as a model for wise living.
Scripture says, “Go to the ant, you sluggard, and become wiser than he.” The ant at the time of harvest lays up an ample and varied store of food against the threat of winter.Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 6 →
There is the busy ant to rouse the indolent and sluggish; for when a man spends an idle youth, then he is instructed by the irrational creatures, being chided by the sacred Scripture, which says, “Go to the ant, O sluggard,Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 6 →
By “ant” Solomon seems to indicate the practical way, while the “bee” designates contemplation of creation and of the Creator. Both the pure and the impure, the wise and the foolish apply [this saying] for the benefit of their souls.Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 6 →
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 6:8 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleProvideth her meat in the summer,.... Against the winter, of which it is mindful, when it never comes out of its place, having in the summer time got a sufficiency laid up in cells for its use: she
Read John Gill on Proverbs 6 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryProvideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. Provideth her meat in the summer, (and) gathereth her food in the harvest.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 6 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleWhen they come forth in great numbers, as in winter they stir not out of their holes.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 6 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 6:8 Provideth her meat in the summer, [and] gathereth her food in the harvest.Ver. 8. Provideth her meat in the summer.] She devours indeed much grain, made chiefly for the use of man; but deserves, saith an interpreter, for this very cause, to be fed with the finest wheat, and greatest dainties, that all men may have her always in their eye: diligent men to quicken their diligence, and sluggards to shame them for their slothfulness. And gathereth her food in harvest.] That may serve in winter. It is good for a man to keep somewhat by him, to have something in store, and not in diem vivere, to live for the day, as the fowls of heaven do. Bonus Servatius facit bonum Bouifacium, as…
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 6 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges8. The LXX. addition to this verse is interesting, both as illustrating their tendency to gloss, and also because it exhibits the bee in a favourable light, as an example of industry and wisdom, whereas, unless we regard it as latent in the use of the word as a proper name (Deborah, Judges 4:4), that character of the insect is never referred to by the O.T. writers, who were familiar with it only in its wild state, and had no opportunity of watching its habits, but only noticed its vindictiveness in attacking men (Psalms 118:12; Isaiah 7:18). Their addition is:— “Or, go to the bee, and learn what a work woman she is, And how comely she makes her work, Whose labours kings and common people…
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 6 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible8. Provideth her meat — While the original is used of any kind of food, it especially denotes grain. But it is roundly asserted that no European ants feed on any kind of grain — that they are altogether carnivorous.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 6 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food at harvest.
provides her bread in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.
it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food at harvest.
yet it prepares its food in the summer; it gathers at the harvest what it will eat.
Tyndale line
Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
Provideth her bread in the summer, And gathereth her food in the harvest.
Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
Provideth her provisions in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
Prepareth her meat in the sommer, and gathereth her foode in haruest.
Strictly literal
provideth her bread in the summer, [and] gathereth her food in the harvest.
She doth prepare in summer her bread, She hath gathered in harvest her food.
She prepares her bread in summer, || She has gathered her food in harvest.
Provideth in the summer her provision, gathereth in harvest-time her food.
yet it prepares its food in the summer and during the harvest it stores up what it will eat.
From the Latin
Provideth her meat for herself in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
Simplified
yet they work hard during the summer getting their food, gathering what they need during the harvest.
She gets her meat in the summer, storing up food at the time of the grain-cutting.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in their wording, with five out of six words matched. This consistency highlights the shared understanding of the ant's diligent behavior across these ancient texts.
תָּכִ֣ין בַּקַּ֣יִץ לַחְמָ֑הּ אָגְרָ֥ה בַ֝קָּצִ֗יר מַאֲכָלָֽהּ׃
5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 6:8
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
כּוּן (kuwn) is a Hebrew verb meaning to establish or prepare. It encompasses a range of meanings, including to be firm, to fix, to direct, and to be ready, with applications in both literal and figurative contexts. The entries indicate various forms of the verb, such as Niph'al (to be established) and Hiph'il (to establish), but there is a note on a noun form, נָכוֹן (nakhon), meaning 'blow'.
[כּוּן] 218 vb. prob. be firm, only in der. conj.
Niph.
be set up, established, fixed
in a moral sense, be directed aright, of ways
prepare, be ready
pass. be prepared, of judgments
Hiph.
establish, set up
fix, so as to be ready, make ready, prepare, a gift
provide for, provide, furnish
direct one's face toward
arrange, order
Hoph.
be established, of throne
be prepared for
Po‛lēl.
set up, establish
constitute, make, a man (in womb)
fix, so as to be ready
direct
Po‛lal. be established
Hithpo‛l. be established
base
נָכוֹן n. [m.] = blow Jb 12:5
ref
H3559a כּוּן prob. be firm, only in der. conj. . . be set up, established, fixed
. in a moral sense, be directed aright, of ways
. prepare, be ready
. pass. be prepared, of judgments
. . establish, set up
. . fix, so as to be ready, make ready, prepare, a gift
. provide for, provide, furnish
. direct one's face toward
. arrange, order
. . be established, of throne
. be prepared for
. . set up, establish
. constitute, make, a man (in womb)
. fix, so as to be ready
. direct
. be established
. be established
H3559b נָכוֹן n. [m.] = blow
3559 kuwn koon
a primitive root; properly, to be erect (i.e. stand
perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a great
variety of applications, whether literal (establish, fix,
prepare, apply), or figurative (appoint, render sure, proper
or prosperous):--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, X very
deed.
כּוּן (kun) — to establish: prepare.
: 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
נָכוֹן (na.khon) — blow.
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person feminine singularHVhi3fs
קַ֫יִץ (qayits) refers to summer and summer-fruit, indicating both the season and its produce. It is derived from a root meaning to harvest, encompassing the idea of crops, whether grain or fruit. The word appears in contexts related to the harvest season.
קַ֫יִץ n.m. summer, summer-fruit
base
H7019 קַ֫יִץ summer, summer-fruit
7019 qayits kah'-yits
from 6972; harvest (as the crop), whether the product (grain
or fruit) or the (dry) season:--summer (fruit, house).
see HEBREW for 06972
קַ֫יִץ (qa.yits) — summer.
1) summer, summer-fruit
1a) summer
1b) summer-fruit
Aramaic equivalent: qa.yit (קַ֫יִט "summer" H7007)
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHRd/Ncmsa
sum'-er (qayits; Aramaic qayiT (Da 2:35), from quts quT, "to cut off," "to pluck or gather fruit," hence, the time of fruit, summer (2Sa 16:1,2; Jer 40:10,12); theros (Mt 24:32; Lu 21:30)): The Hebrew verb, mentioned above, occurs in Isa 18:6, "to summer," used of the ravenous birds feeding upon carcasses of the slain. The term "summer parlor" in Jud 3:20 (compare 3:24) is literally, "upper room," and is so rendered in the Revised Version (British and American). The summer was the dry season extending from April…
See CANAAN.
- Made by God
- Yearly return of, secured by covenant
- Characterised By
. Excessive heat
. Excessive drought
- Approach of, indicated by shooting out of leaves on trees
לֶ֫חֶם (lechem) means bread or food, encompassing items like grain and provisions for both humans and animals. It is derived from a related root and is used in various contexts, particularly in the Old Testament. The entries consistently emphasize its primary association with bread, though they also acknowledge its broader meaning as food.
לֶ֫חֶם 296 n.m. and (rarely) f. bread, food
base
H3899 לֶ֫חֶם bread, food
3899 lechem lekh'-em
from 3898; food (for man or beast), especially bread, or
grain (for making it):--((shew-))bread, X eat, food, fruit,
loaf, meat, victuals. See also 1036.
see HEBREW for 03898
see HEBREW for 01036
לֶ֫חֶם (le.chem) — food.
: food(eating)
1) bread, food, grain
1a) bread
1a1) bread
1a2) bread-corn
1b) food (in general)
לֶ֫חֶם (le.chem) — food: bread.
: bread/loaf
1) bread, food, grain
1a) bread
1a1) bread
1a2) bread-corn
1b) food (in general)
לֶ֫חֶם (le.chem) — food: allowance.
: allowance
1) bread, food, grain
1a) bread
1a1) bread
1a2) bread-corn
1b) food (in general)
N-cs | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3fs
אַגַר (agar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to gather, specifically in the context of food. The word is a primitive root and is used in the Qal form to denote the act of harvesting or collecting. The entries consistently emphasize this notion of gathering.
[אָגַר] vb. gather (food)
base
H103 [אָגַר] gather (food)
103 'agar aw-gar'
a primitive root; to harvest:--gather.
אָגַר (a.gar) — to gather.
1) to gather
1a) (Qal) to gather
V-Qal-Perf-3fs — Verb · Qal · perfect third person feminine singularHVqp3fs
קָצִיר (qatsiyr) refers to the act of harvesting or the harvest itself, encompassing the process, the crop, and the time of harvest. It can also denote boughs or branches of trees. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to sever,' indicating its connection to reaping.
קָצִיר n.m. harvesting, harvest
process of harvesting
what is reaped, harvested, crop
time of harvest
base
קָצִיר n.m. usually coll., boughs, branches
base
H7105a קָצִיר harvesting, harvest H7105b קָצִיר usually coll., boughs, branches
7105 qatsiyr kaw-tseer'
from 7114; severed, i.e. harvest (as reaped), the crop, the
time, the reaper, or figuratively; also a limb (of a tree, or
simply foliage):--bough, branch, harvest (man).
see HEBREW for 07114
קָצִיר (qa.tsir) — harvest.
1) harvest, harvesting
1a) process of harvesting
1b) crop, what is harvested or reaped
1c) time of harvest
קָצִיר (qa.tsir) — foliage.
boughs, branches
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHRd/Ncmsa
har'-vest (qatsir; therismos): To many of us, harvest time is of little concern, because in our complex life we are far removed from the actual production of our food supplies, but for the Hebrew people, as for those in any agricultural district today, the harvest was a most important season (Ge 8:22; 45:6). Events were reckoned from harvests (Ge 30:14; Jos 3:15; Jud 15:1; Ru 1:22; 2:23; 1Sa 6:13; 2Sa 21:9; 23:13). The three principal feasts of the Jews corresponded to the three harvest seasons (
Harvest
The season for gathering grain or fruit. On the 16th day of Abib (or April) a handful of ripe ears of corn was offered as a first-fruit before the Lord, and immediately after this the harvest commenced (Lev. 23:9-14; 2 Sam. 21:9, 10; Ruth 2:23). It began with the feast of Passover and ended with Pentecost, thus lasting for seven weeks (Ex. 23:16). The harvest was a season of joy (Ps. 126:1-6; Isa. 9:3). This word is used figuratively Matt. 9:37; 13:30; Luke…
[AGRICULTURE]
→ Sabbath to be observed in Ex 34:21
→ Sabbath desecrated in Ne 13:15-22
→ Of wheat at Pentecost, in Palestine Ex 34:22; Le 23:15-17
→ And of wheat before harvest time Le 26:5
מַאֲכָל (ma'akal) means 'food' and encompasses a range of edibles including fruit, meat, and provisions. It is derived from the root word for eating. The term appears in contexts related to nourishment, as noted in Judges 14:14.
מַאֲכָל 30 n.m. Ju 14:14 (f. Hb 1:16) food
base
H3978 מַאֲכָל food
3978 ma'akal mah-ak-awl'
from 398; an eatable (includ. provender, flesh and
fruit):--food, fruit, ((bake-)) meat(-s), victual.
see HEBREW for 0398
מַאֲכָל (ma.a.khal) — food.
food, fruit, meat
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3fs