Proverbs 1:31 — Word Study
WLCוְֽ֭יֹאכְלוּ מִפְּרִ֣י דַרְכָּ֑ם וּֽמִמֹּעֲצֹ֖תֵיהֶ֣ם יִשְׂבָּֽעוּ׃
BSASo they {will} eatʼâkal▸ [devour, consume] the fruitpᵉrîy [results, consequences] of their own wayderek [path, manner of life] and be filledsâbaʻ▸ [satisfied, made full] with their own devicesmôwʻêtsâh [counsels, plans, schemes]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְֽ֭יֹאכְלוּ | so they may eat | Conjunction, verb qal third person masculine plural |
| מִפְּרִ֣י | from [the] fruit of | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| דַרְכָּ֑ם | way their | Noun common both singular construct, suffix |
| וּֽמִמֹּעֲצֹ֖תֵיהֶ֣ם | and from own schemes their | Conjunction, preposition, noun common feminine plural construct |
| יִשְׂבָּֽעוּ׃ | they will be surfeited | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine plural |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. |
| KJV | Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. |
| ASV | Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, And be filled with their own devices. |
| YLT | And they eat of the fruit of their way, And from their own counsels they are filled. |
| WEB | Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes. |
| BBE | So the fruit of their way will be their food, and with the designs of their hearts they will be made full. |
All translations agree here, conveying the same essential meaning.
The sentence has a main clause followed by two prepositional phrases, emphasizing the connection between one's actions and their outcomes.





6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbשָׂבֵעַ
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 1:31
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 Consequences of Rejecting Wisdomgenerated
Proverbs 1:31 warns that those who disregard wisdom will ultimately face the results of their own choices. The preceding verses highlight the rejection of counsel and the folly of ignoring reproof. This theme is echoed throughout Proverbs, emphasizing the importance of heeding wise advice to avoid negative outcomes.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 14:14 | The backslider in heart receives the fill of his own ways, but a good man is rewarded for his ways. |
| 2 | Proverbs 22:8 | He who sows injustice will reap disaster, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed. |
| 3 | Job 4:8 | As I have observed, those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble reap the same. |
| 4 | Isaiah 3:10–11 | Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor. |
| 5 | Jeremiah 2:19 | Your own evil will discipline you; your own apostasies will reprimand you. Consider and realize how evil and bitter it is for you to forsake the LORD your God and to have no fear of Me,” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — אָכַל, Ve.yo.khe.lugenerated
The verb אָכַל (akal) means 'to eat' and covers a range of meanings from literal consumption to figurative uses like destruction. In this context, it signifies the act of consuming the consequences of one's actions.
The parsing indicates that this is a third-person masculine plural verb, suggesting that the subject is a group of people who will experience the results of their choices. The use of the verb here emphasizes the inevitability of facing the outcomes of one's own path.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
All translations agree on the meaning of the verse, conveying that individuals will experience the results of their own actions.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb יֹאכְלוּ governs the sentence, with two phrases following: a prepositional phrase describing the source of what they eat and another prepositional phrase indicating what they will be filled with. The structure emphasizes the direct relationship between one's actions and their outcomes.
The Hebrew word order places the emphasis on the consequences of one's own way and schemes, highlighting the personal nature of the results.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew verb אָכַל is rendered as ἔδονται (edontai), which also means 'they will eat'. This choice maintains the literal sense of consumption while aligning with the broader message of facing the consequences.
The translation reflects a similar understanding of the consequences of one's actions, emphasizing the inevitability of reaping what one sows.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 1:31 teaches that people will face the consequences of their own choices. Those who ignore wise counsel will eat the fruit of their own way and be filled with their own schemes. This verse serves as a reminder of the importance of heeding wisdom to avoid negative outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means to experience the results or consequences of one's own actions and choices.
Heeding counsel helps individuals avoid negative outcomes and guides them toward wise decisions.
Examples include the literal fruit of the ground, as well as the figurative fruit representing the consequences of actions, such as good deeds or bad choices.
By seeking counsel, reflecting on past choices, and aligning actions with moral principles, individuals can follow a wise path.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are some consequences I have faced due to my own choices?
- How can I better heed wise counsel in my life?
- In what ways can I help others understand the importance of their choices?
- What steps can I take to ensure my path aligns with wisdom?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Bede comments on this verse, noting that it reflects the consequences of one's actions and the importance of heeding wisdom.
Therefore they will eat the fruit of their way. Their way, he says, of which he had spoken above: For their feet run to evil.Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 1 →
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 1:31 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleTherefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way,.... Their evil ways; be punished according to their deserts, and receive the just reward of their iniquities; see Isaiah 3:10; and be filled
Read John Gill on Proverbs 1 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryTherefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 1 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThey shall eat of the fruit of their own way; they shall receive punishments answerable to their sins. With their own devices; with the fruits or effects of their wicked devices. What was sweet in their mouths shall be bitter in their bellies, and that destruction which they have plotted against others shall fall upon themselves.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 1 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 1:31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.Ver. 31. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit.] Eat as they baked, drink as they brewed. They that sow the wind of iniquity, shall reap the whirlwind of misery, Aequum est ut faber quas fecit compedes ipse gestiat. And be filled with their own devices.] Their never enough shall be quit with fire enough in the bottom of hell.
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 1 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges31. the fruit of their own way] As they sow, so shall they reap, in accordance with the eternal law of righteousness. Comp. Galatians 6:7-8.
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 1 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible31. Therefore — For this reason they shall suffer the natural and penal consequences of their crimes. There is nothing arbitrary in their doom. As they have sown so shall they reap.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 1 →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
So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes.
So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
Therefore they will eat from the fruit of their way, and they will be stuffed full of their own counsel.
Tyndale line
Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, And be filled with their own devices.
Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
Therefore shall they eate of ye fruite of their owne way, and be filled with their owne deuises.
Strictly literal
therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their way, and be filled with their own devices.
And they eat of the fruit of their way, And from their own counsels they are filled.
And they eat of the fruit of their way, || And they are filled from their own counsels.
Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and from their own counsels shall they be satisfied.
They will eat the fruit of their ways, and with the fruit of their schemes they will be filled.
From the Latin
Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and shall be filled with their own devices.
Simplified
So they'll have to eat the fruit of their own choices, bloated by their own devious schemes.
So the fruit of their way will be their food, and with the designs of their hearts they will be made full.
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 aligns with the Septuagint in meaning, as both convey the idea of individuals experiencing the results of their own paths. The Dead Sea Scrolls, while partially damaged, also support this understanding, with some words supplied by an editor.
וְֽ֭יֹאכְלוּ מִפְּרִ֣י דַרְכָּ֑ם וּֽמִמֹּעֲצֹ֖תֵיהֶ֣ם יִשְׂבָּֽעוּ׃
4 of the 5 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.
ויאכלו [מפרי] [דרכ׳ם] וממעצתי׳הם ישבעו
3 words on the leather — 2 supplied entire by an editor.
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 1:31
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.
אָכַל (akal) means 'to eat' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including literal consumption by humans and animals, as well as figurative uses like devouring by fire or destruction. It can describe actions such as feeding or causing to eat, and it also appears in contexts of oppression and destruction. The verb has various forms, indicating different subjects and nuances.
אָכַל 806 vb. eat
Qal
eat, human subject
of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour
fig. of fire, devour, consume
of sword, devour, slay
in genl., devour, consume, destroy
fig. of oppression, devour the poor
Niph.
be eaten by man
be devoured by fire, consumed
be wasted, destroyed, of flesh
Pu. be consumed
Hiph.
cause to eat, feed with
cause to devoure, obj. sword
base
H398 אָכַל eat .. eat, human subject
. of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour
. fig. of fire, devour, consume
. of sword, devour, slay
. in genl., devour, consume, destroy
. fig. of oppression, devour the poor
. . be eaten by man
. be devoured by fire, consumed
. be wasted, destroyed, of flesh
. be consumed
. . cause to eat, feed with
. cause to devoure, obj. sword
398 'akal aw-kal'
a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively):--X at
all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up),
feed (with), food, X freely, X in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay)
meat, X quite.
אָכַל (a.khal) — to eat.
1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to eat (human subject)
1a2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds)
1a3) to devour, consume (of fire)
1a4) to devour, slay (of sword)
1a5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought)
1a6) to devour (of oppression)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be eaten (by men)
1b2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire)
1b3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh)
1c) (Pual)
1c1) to cause to eat, feed with
1c2) to cause to devour
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to feed
1d2) to cause to eat
1e) (Piel)
1e1) consume
Aramaic equivalent: a.khal (אֲכַל "to devour" H0399)
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Conjunction · verb qal third person masculine pluralHC/Vqu3mp
פְּרִי (priy) means 'fruit' and encompasses various meanings, including the literal fruit of the ground, offspring or children, and figurative fruit representing the consequences of actions. It is derived from a root that emphasizes the concept of produce or reward.
פְּרִי 119 n.m. fruit
fruit of the ground, of produce in gen.
= offspring, fruit of womb
fig. of fruit of actions, i.e. their consequences
base
H6529 פְּרִי fruit . fruit of the ground, of produce in gen.
. = offspring, fruit of womb
. fig. of fruit of actions, i.e. their consequences
6529 priy per-ee'
from 6509; fruit (literally or figuratively):--bough,
((first-)) fruit((-ful)), reward.
see HEBREW for 06509
פְּרִי (pe.ri) — fruit.
1) fruit
1a) fruit, produce (of the ground)
1b) fruit, offspring, children, progeny (of the womb)
1c) fruit (of actions) (fig.)
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular constructHR/Ncmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (derek) means way, road, or journey, and can refer to both literal paths and figurative courses of life or actions. It encompasses various aspects such as direction, manner, and moral character, often highlighting the nature of one's conduct. The term is used in both positive and negative contexts, reflecting the moral implications of one's path.
דֶּ֫רֶךְ 715 n.m. way, road, distance, journey, manner
way, road, path
journey
of direction, almost or quite = toward
way, manner
fig. of course of life, or action, undertakings
of moral action and character
of duty
specif.: in good sense
oftener in bad sense
way of י׳
base
H1870 דֶּ֫רֶךְ way, road, distance, journey, manner . way, road, path
. journey
. of direction, almost or quite = toward
. way, manner
. fig. of course of life, or action, undertakings
. . of moral action and character
. of duty
. specif.: in good sense
. oftener in bad sense
. way of י׳
1870 derek deh'-rek
from 1869; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of
life or mode of action, often adverb:--along, away, because
of, + by, conversation, custom, (east-)ward, journey, manner,
passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-)way(-side),
whither(-soever).
see HEBREW for 01869
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: conduct.
: conduct/lifestyle
1) way, road, distance, journey, manner
1a) road, way, path
1b) journey
1c) direction
1d) manner, habit, way
1e) of course of life (fig.)
1f) of moral character (fig.)
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — Way.
This name means way, road
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — (King's) Highway.
This name means way, road
Combined with me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "King's" H4428I)
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: direction.
: direction
1) way, road, distance, journey, manner
1a) road, way, path
1b) journey
1c) direction
1d) manner, habit, way
1e) of course of life (fig.)
1f) of moral character (fig.)
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: road.
: road/route
1) way, road, distance, journey, manner
1a) road, way, path
1b) journey
1c) direction
1d) manner, habit, way
1e) of course of life (fig.)
1f) of moral character (fig.)
דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: journey.
: journey
N-cs | Suff — Noun common both singular construct · suffixHNcbsc/Sp3mp
מוֹעִצָה (mo`etsah) refers to a purpose or counsel, encompassing meanings like plan, principle, and device. It is derived from another Hebrew word, indicating its roots in the concept of intention or strategy. The entries consistently highlight its use in contexts related to planning and advice.
[מוֹעֵצָה] n.f. counsel, plan, principle, device
base
H4156 [מוֹעִצָה] counsel, plan, principle, device
4156 mow`etsah mo-ay-tsaw'
from 3289; a purpose:--counsel, device.
see HEBREW for 03289
מוֹעֵצָה (mo.e.tsah) — counsel.
counsel, plan, principal, device
Conj | Prep | N-fp | Suff — Conjunction · preposition · noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHC/R/Ncfpc/Sp3mp
שָׂבֵעַ (saba`) means to be sated or satisfied, particularly in relation to food. It can also imply having one's desires fulfilled or being surfeited with excess. The verb has various forms, including Qal, Piel, and Hiphil, which cover meanings from simply being full to enriching or satisfying others. The entries indicate a focus on both literal and figurative senses of satisfaction.
[שָׂבֵעַ], שָׂבַע 96 vb. be sated, satisfied, surfeited
Qal 79
be sated (with food), esp. human subj.
more gen., be sated, have desire satisfied
have in excess, be surfeited with
Niph. Pt. sated
Pi. satisfy
Hiph.
satisfy (esp. with material blessings), subj. י׳
c. acc. of food pers., י׳ subj.
י׳ subj.
י׳ subj., c. acc. of beasts
enrich
sate, glut (with the undesired)
base
H7646 שָׂבֵעַ, שָׂבַע be sated, satisfied, surfeited .. be sated (with food), esp. human subj.
. more gen., be sated, have desire satisfied
. have in excess, be surfeited with
. Pt. sated
. satisfy
. . . satisfy (esp. with material blessings), subj. י׳
. c. acc. of food + pers., י׳ subj.
. י׳ subj.
. י׳ subj., c. acc. of beasts
. enrich
. sate, glut (with the undesired)
7646 saba` saw-bah'
or sabeay {saw-bay'-ah}; a primitive root; to sate, i.e. fill
to satisfaction (literally or figuratively):--have enough,
fill (full, self, with), be (to the) full (of), have plenty
of, be satiate, satisfy (with), suffice, be weary of.
שָׂבֵעַ (sa.va) — to satisfy.
1) to be satisfied, be sated, be fulfilled, be surfeited
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be sated (with food)
1a2) to be sated, be satisfied with, be fulfilled, be filled, have one's fill of (have desire satisfied)
1a3) to have in excess, be surfeited, be surfeited with
1a3a) to be weary of (fig)
1b) (Piel) to satisfy
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to satisfy
1c2) to enrich
1c3) to sate, glut (with the undesired)
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine pluralHVqi3mp
