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NASB | Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, "Eat and drink!" But his heart is not with you. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he [in behavior--one who manipulates]. He says to you, "Eat and drink," Yet his heart is not with you [but it is begrudging the cost]. |
Bible Question (short): What was the man thinking? |
Question (full): "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he." I've heard this verse misquoted and taken out of context so many times, I'm confused about its real, intended meaning. Many like to quote it as "What a man thinks in his heart, so is he," as an effort to support the ideal that we can set the path of our life by the way we think - for good or bad. I.e., if you dwell on who you are in Christ, righteous, victorious, etc., you will eventually live that kind of life. It's kind of a mind-over-matter philosophy, I suppose. While it can be shown that thoughts have a huge impact on our lives, I don't know if it is scriptural to say that who we are heavily depends on what we think of ourselves. There are cases in scripture that would indicate that one is not always who they think they are: James 1:26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless. 1 Cor 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. Gal 6:3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. If I am using these verses out of context, please let me know. Back to the original verse, what is the man in Proverbs 23:7 thinking? NIV translates that first statement quite differently: "for he is the kind of man who is always thinking about the cost." If that translation is correct, there seems to be no direct application to the positive thinking ideal. Instead it's a statement to further describe the man, which helps to emphasize the thrust of the passage. Then, can we even say that this statement alone has a direct application in our own lives? So my question is three-fold: 1) What is the man thinking? 2) Does it support the mind-over-matter philosophy? (in light of the other said passages) 3) Does this statement have a practical application? If so, what is it? Any helpful exegetical advice would be much appreciated. :) -David |
Down View Branch | ID# 72491 | ||
Questions and/or Subjects for Prov 23:7 | Author | ||
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dgregg | ||
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disciplerami | ||
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Glory_Bound | ||
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humbledbyhisgrace | ||
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carladodrama | ||
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KENH |