Proverbs 23:8The morsel which you have eaten you shall vomit up, and lose your good words.
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~950 BC. A wealthy person's dining hall where social climbers gather, seeking favor through flattery and gifts.
The emotion here: disgusted by social manipulation he witnessed
The original word
qay' (קיא) — to vomit, expel violently what was consumed
Why it matters
In ancient Near East, sharing a meal created covenant obligations between host and guest
Read with care
What most readers miss in Proverbs 23:8
The 'good words' are your compliments and flattery that become worthless when the relationship sours
Common misconceptionMost think this is about literal food poisoning, but it's about the bitter taste of discovering someone only befriended you for what you could give them.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Proverbs 23:8
Bible Genome reading
Proverbs 23:8 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Proverbs 23:8 comes from the book of Proverbs, written during the United Kingdom period. The dominant emotion in this verse is anxious, with a comfort power of 10% and a tone that is prophetic. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include consequences, relationships. Notable phrases: vomit up; lose your good words. This verse contains prophecy.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same anxious
“And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.”
— 2 Corinthians 11:14
“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
— 2 Timothy 3:12
“The evil spirit answered, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?"”
— Acts 19:15
“I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'”
— Acts 22:7
“When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is har…”
— Acts 26:14
Your reflection
What does Proverbs 23:8 mean to you, today?
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