Postings on Proverbs 12:11

“He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,

But he who pursues worthless things lacks sense” (NASB)

Observation: What does Proverbs 12:11 say?

The word “but” shows this is an antithetic parallelism, the second line being the opposite of the first line, a fact which helps with interpretation.

Who?  Anyone

What?  One man has plenty of bread, while the other man pursued worthless things.

Where and When?  Anywhere and at anytime

Why?  The first man had plenty of bread because he tilled his land; the second man pursued worthless things because he lacked sense

How?  Not sure

Word Studies: plenty, pursues, worthless, “lacks sense”

Line 1 seems to be a specific example of hard work, while line 2 is a general statement. Line 1 just seems obvious—no farmer can have bread unless he tills his land first.

The reason for blessing in line 1 is tilling land; the reason for wasted pursuits in line 2 is lacking sense. The blessing in line 1 is having plenty of bread; the curse of line 2 is pursing worthless things.

How does “lacks sense” correspond to tilling one’s land?  How does pursuing “worthless things” correspond to having plenty of bread?

If the parallels above match the text, then this verse is a chiasm (AB, BA), meaning the emphasis in the proverb the middle section, the B, plenty of bread and pursuing worthless things, namely, the focus is on the results.

Notice, both lines show people exerting energy, one for something worthwhile (having bread) and the other for things that are “worthless.”

Interpretation: What does Proverbs 12:11 mean?

The fool in line 2 is characterized by a “lack of heart” (a literal translation of the words the NASB translate “lacks sense,” which means without judgment or insight [Waltke 91], not having the sense to see how wrong or empty one's decisions are [Waltke 95]). Longman saying “it may be said that those who lack substance (heart) purse that which lacks substance (“emptiness”).”

Waltke makes more sense than my statement above about this proverb being a chiasm when he takes tilling as parallel to pursuing or chasing, and the “land” as parallel to worthless or empty things, which he calls “ventures or gambles that do not involve hard work and/or contribute to the common wealth” (528).

Application: What does Proverbs 12:11 mean to me?

Son, no one did this better than the Savior.  Jesus never pursued worthless things.  He always made the most of His time (Eph 5:16).  How did He do this? By saying only what God told Him to say (John 12:49-50) and doing only what God wanted Him to do (John 4:34) because, He said, "I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me" (John 5:36, see also John 6:38, 17:4).

Also, notice the wisdom in this verse.  Both men were working hard (tilling and pursuing). Both men were focused.  Both men were driven.  The difference is not their work ethic; the difference is what they’re working at, one was worthwhile (tilling his land so he could eat), the other was “worthless,” empty, producing nothing of any real benefit.

Wise men, men who don’t “lack sense,” can see through the many encouragements they get on a daily basis to pursue “worthless things” and keep their minds fixed on pursuing what’s best.  Tilling land to have plenty of bread means planning, foresight and delayed gratification, doing hard work now for a future pay off.

Fools are regularly enticed by, succumb to, and even vigorously defend their right to do what's worthless.  They trade what’s best for what’s comfortable, what’s fun, and what’s easy.

Son, what kind of man will you be? I’ve been praying since you were born that you would be a wise man, a man who lives for the smile of God on his life (e.g., 2 Cor 5:9), a man who can say with Jesus "I glorified God on earth by accomplishing the work which You have given Me to do" (John 17:4), and this verse is one of hundreds that tells you how.

I hope that helps!  TII!!!