The Meaning of Proverbs 12:11 Explained

Proverbs 12:11

KJV: He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.

YLT: Whoso is tilling the ground is satisfied with bread, And whoso is pursuing vanities is lacking heart,

Darby: He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread; but he that followeth the worthless is void of understanding.

ASV: He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread; But he that followeth after vain persons is void of understanding.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He that tilleth  his land  shall be satisfied  with bread:  but he that followeth  vain  [persons is] void  of understanding. 

What does Proverbs 12:11 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 12

1  Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge

What do the individual words in Proverbs 12:11 mean?

He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread but he who follows frivolity [is] lacking understanding
עֹבֵ֣ד אַ֭דְמָתוֹ יִֽשְׂבַּֽע־ לָ֑חֶם וּמְרַדֵּ֖ף רֵיקִ֣ים חֲסַר־ לֵֽב

עֹבֵ֣ד  He  who  tills 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: עָבַד  
Sense: to work, serve.
אַ֭דְמָתוֹ  his  land 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֲדָמָה 
Sense: ground, land.
יִֽשְׂבַּֽע־  will  be  satisfied 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׂבַע  
Sense: to be satisfied, be sated, be fulfilled, be surfeited.
לָ֑חֶם  with  bread 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֶחֶם  
Sense: bread, food, grain.
וּמְרַדֵּ֖ף  but  he  who  follows 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: רָדַף  
Sense: to be behind, follow after, pursue, persecute, run after.
רֵיקִ֣ים  frivolity 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רֵיק  
Sense: empty, vain.
חֲסַר־  [is]  lacking 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular construct
Root: חָסֵר  
Sense: in need of, lacking, needy, in want of.
לֵֽב  understanding 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.