Proverbs 13:19
in Proverbs 13Desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but turning from evil is detestable to fools.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul; But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.
KJV
The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.
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This verse in Proverbs 13
Commentary
6 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
The connection is somewhat obscure. Either, “Satisfied desire is pleasant, therefore it is an abomination to fools to depart from the evil on which their minds are set;” or, “Sweet is the satisfaction of desire, yet the wicked will not depart from the evil which makes that satisfaction impossible.”
This site's exposition
Every prudent man acts with knowledge
on Proverbs 13:16-19
“Every prudent man acts with knowledge,” weighing what he says, while “a fool displays his folly” for anyone to see. The cluster closes on a near law of the soul: “Desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but turning from evil is detestable to fools”.
This site's exposition
Desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul
Albert Barnes calls the link between the two lines obscure and offers two readings. Satisfied desire is sweet, so fools cling to the evil, or fools refuse to turn from the very evil that keeps desire from being satisfied. Both readings leave the fool stuck.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
If desire is fulfilled, it delights the soul, etc. Every desire, whether good or bad, when it anticipates affection, delights the soul; but the foolish, who enjoy only carnal desires, detest those who, for the love of heavenly things, despise lower entertainments.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
The desire accomplished - See on Pro 13:12 (note).
The words behind it
8 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| תַּאֲוָ֣ה | taavah | a desire | H8378 → | 20 times |
| נִ֭הְיָה | nihyah | done | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| תֶּעֱרַ֣ב | teerav | <it> is pleasing | H6149 → | |
| לְנָ֑פֶשׁ | lenafesh | to a person | H5315 → | 754 times |
| וְתוֹעֲבַ֥ת | vetoavat | and [is] an abomination of | H8441 → | 117 times |
| כְּ֝סִילִ֗ים | kesilim | fools | H3684 → | 70 times |
| ס֣וּר | sur | to turn aside | H5493 → | 299 times |
| מֵרָֽע׃ | mera' | from evil | H7451 → | 662 times |
תַּאֲוָ֣הa desire
taavahH8378 →20 times
נִ֭הְיָהdone
nihyahH1961 →3559 times
תֶּעֱרַ֣ב<it> is pleasing
teeravH6149 →
לְנָ֑פֶשׁto a person
lenafeshH5315 →754 times
וְתוֹעֲבַ֥תand [is] an abomination of
vetoavatH8441 →117 times
כְּ֝סִילִ֗יםfools
kesilimH3684 →70 times
ס֣וּרto turn aside
surH5493 →299 times
מֵרָֽע׃from evil
mera'H7451 →662 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
2 Timothy 2:19Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.”
it leads to
- John 10:14
I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me,
- 1 Corinthians 8:3
But the one who loves God is known by God.
- Nahum 1:7
The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of distress; He cares for those who trust in Him.
- 1 John 3:7–10
Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous.
- Numbers 16:5
Then he said to Korah and all his followers, “Tomorrow morning the LORD will reveal who belongs to Him and who is holy, and He will bring that person near to Himself. The one…
- John 10:14
Through
Proverbs 13:12Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
it leads to
- John 16:22
So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.
- Psalms 119:81–83
My soul faints for Your salvation; I wait for Your word.
- Psalms 17:15
As for me, I will behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied in Your presence.
- John 16:22
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.