Mishle 23:2

2 And put a sakin (knife) to thy throat, if thou be a ba’al nefesh (man given to gluttony).

Mishle 23:2 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 23:2

And put a knife to thy throat
Refrain from too much talk at the table; give not too loose to thy tongue, but bridle it, considering in whose presence thou art; do not use too much freedom, either with the ruler or fellow guests; which, when persons have ate and drank well, they are too apt to do, and sometimes say things offensive to one or the other; it is good for a man to be upon his guard; see ( Ecclesiastes 5:2 ) . Or restrain thine appetite; deny thyself of some things agreeable, that would lead thee to what might be hurtful, at least if indulged to excess: put as it were a knife unto thine appetite, and mortify it; which is the same as cutting off a right hand, or plucking out a right eye ( Matthew 5:29 Matthew 5:30 ) . Or while thou art at such a table, at such a sumptuous entertainment, consider thyself as in danger, as if thou hadst a knife at thy throat; and shouldest thou be too free with the food or liquor, it would be as it were cutting thine own throat; if thou [be] a man given to appetite;
there is then the more danger; and therefore such a person should be doubly on his guard, since he is in the way of temptation to that he is naturally inclined to. Or, "if thou art master of appetite" ^F18: so the Targum,

``if thou art master of thy soul;''

if thou hast power over it, and the command of it, and canst restrain it with ease; to which agrees the Vulgate Latin version: but the former sense is more agreeable to the Hebrew idiom.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 (vpn leb) "dominus animae", Vatablus, Mercerus, Michaelis.

Mishle 23:2 In-Context

1 3 When thou sittest to dine with a moshel (ruler), consider diligently what is before thee,

2 And put a sakin (knife) to thy throat, if thou be a ba’al nefesh (man given to gluttony).

3 Be not desirous of his delicacies, for they are lechem kezavim (deceitful food).

4 Overwork not to get rich; cease from thine own binah (understanding).

5 Wilt thou let thine eynayim fly after that which is not? For such [wealth] certainly sprouts kenafayim (wings); they fly away as a nesher (eagle) toward Shomayim.