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NASB | Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But desire fulfilled is a tree of life. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life. |
Bible Question: How is hope deferred? |
Bible Answer: You can "hope" for an education, or closer to the christian walk, perhaps a specific oportunity to work for the Lord. But in this hope you procrastinate in your journey, i.e., drop out of school; fail to make your desire known about the opportunity your seeking...thus "deferring" your hope. The "Nelson Study Bible" states it beautifully, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life." The footnotes state: "THe tree of life...symbolizes the achievement of a deeply felt desire. It is like coming back to the Garden of Eden." The New Strongs Complete Dictionary of Bible Words says the Hebrew word for deferred is "achar (akh-ar') a prim. root to loiter (i.e. be behind) by impl. to procrastinate. That's how hope can be deferred, by putting of doing what it takes to bring to pass that which is hoped for. |