Proverbs 13 · Verse 12

Proverbs 13:12

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
Proverbs 13:12, King James Version

Proverbs 13:12 in other translations

BSBHope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
WEBHope deferred makes the heart sick, but when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.
ASVHope deferred maketh the heart sick; But when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
YLTHope prolonged is making the heart sick, And a tree of life is the coming desire.
DARBYHope deferred maketh the heart sick; but the desire that cometh to pass is a tree of life.
BBEHope put off is a weariness to the heart; but when what is desired comes, it is a tree of life.
WebsterHope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

What does Proverbs 13:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. desire cometh--is realized. a tree of life--or, "cause of happiness."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick - When once a good is discovered, want of it felt, strong desire for the possession excited, and the promise of attainment made on grounds unsuspected, so that the reality of the thing and the certainity of the promise are manifest, hope posts forward to realize the blessing. Delay in the gratification pains the mind; the increase of the delay prostrates and sickens the heart; and if delay sickens the heart, ultimate disappointment kills it. But when the thing desired, hoped for, and expected comes, it is a tree of life, עץ חיים ets chaiyim, "the tree of lives;" it comforts and invigorates both body and soul. To the tree of lives, in the midst of the gardens of paradise, how frequent are the allusions in the writings of Solomon, and in other parts of the Holy Scriptures! What deep, and perhaps yet unknown, mysteries were in this tree!

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
The delay of what is anxiously hoped for, is very painful to the mind; obtaining it is very pleasant. But spiritual blessings are chiefly intended.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 13:12 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

תּוֹחֶ֣לֶתto.Che.lethopeH8431
מְ֭מֻשָּׁכָהMe.mu.sha.khahdeferredH4900
מַחֲלָה\־ma.cha.lah-[is] making sickH2470
לֵ֑בLev[the] heartH3820
וְעֵ֥ץve.'Etzand [is] a tree ofH6086
חַ֝יִּ֗יםchai.YimlifeH2416
תַּאֲוָ֥הta.'a.Vaha desireH8378
בָאָֽה\׃va.'Ah[which] comesH935

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 13:12

  • John 16:22

    And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

  • Proverbs 13:19

    The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.

  • Psalms 119:81-83

    כ CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word. Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me? For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.

  • Psalms 17:15

    As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

  • Proverbs 11:30

    The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

  • Proverbs 3:18

    She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

  • Psalms 69:3

    I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.

  • Psalms 143:7

    Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.

  • Genesis 21:6-7

    And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me. And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.

  • Psalms 40:2-3

    He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.

  • Song of Solomon 5:8

    I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love.

  • 1 Samuel 1:26-28

    And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord. For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Hope.
Ps 42:1-3; 69:3; 119:81-83; 143:7; So 5:8
when.
19; Ge 21:6,7; 46:30; 1Sa 1:26-28; Ps 17:15; 40:2,3; Lu 2:29,30
Joh 16:22
a tree.
3:18; 11:30; Re 22:2

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 13:11

    Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

  • Proverbs 13:12

    Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

  • Proverbs 13:13

    Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

Read all of Proverbs 13

Proverbs 13:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		La esperanza que se prolonga, es tormento del corazón: mas árbol de vida es el deseo cumplido.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		L’attente différée rend le cœur malade, mais le désir qui arrive est un arbre de vie.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Lang hingezogenes Harren macht das Herz krank, aber ein eingetroffener Wunsch ist ein Baum des Lebens.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Spes quæ differtur affligit animam; lignum vitæ desiderium veniens.