What is the meaning of Proverbs 13:25? “A righteous man” • Scripture consistently links righteousness with right standing before God (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:3). • Psalm 1:6: “For the LORD guards the path of the righteous.” That guarding covers every area of life, including daily bread. • Proverbs often notes that the righteous receive God’s favor (Proverbs 12:2; 15:29). • Because Christ is our righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21), every believer qualifies for this promise. “eats” • Eating is a picture of God meeting practical needs (Exodus 16:4; Matthew 6:11). • Psalm 37:25: “I have not seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging for bread.” • This is literal provision—regular meals on the table—yet it also hints at spiritual nourishment (John 6:35). “to his heart’s content” • God’s supply matches more than physical requirement; it touches the heart, satisfying deep longings (Psalm 107:9). • Philippians 4:19: “My God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” • Contentment grows when we trust the Giver rather than hoard the gifts (1 Timothy 6:6–8). “but” • The conjunction signals a sharp, moral contrast—common throughout Proverbs (e.g., Proverbs 10:2, 11:4). • Scripture divides humanity into only two camps: righteous and wicked (Malachi 3:18). There is no middle ground. “the stomach of the wicked” • Wickedness rejects God’s ways and therefore forfeits His provision (Proverbs 10:3; Isaiah 65:13). • Ecclesiastes 6:7: “All a man’s labor is for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied.” • Apart from God, even full cupboards feel empty. “is empty” • Literal hunger often stalks lives shaped by sin—crime, addiction, and broken relationships squander resources (Proverbs 21:17). • Beyond physical lack, emptiness pictures the soul’s famine (Amos 8:11). • Jesus warns that worldly gain without Him leaves hollowness (Luke 12:15–21). summary Proverbs 13:25 draws a vivid line: God feeds and fulfills the righteous, while the wicked experience gnawing lack. This is not poetic exaggeration; it is a literal promise anchored in the character of a faithful Provider. Walking in Christ-given righteousness brings steady provision and deep contentment; choosing wickedness guarantees eventual emptiness, no matter how full the pantry looks today. |
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