Waters and Bread Proverbs 9

KJV Proverbs 9:17-18
17. Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. 18. But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

Look at the physical. Stolen waters may be sweet to the thief thinking they have gotten away with something for free. Water may not be expensive so this verse may be referring to water that is stolen after another person has put the work into drawing it up out of a well. Much like the shepherds that were about to steal the water from the daughters of Midian, before Moses helped them. “Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.” KJV Exodus 2:16-17

We also see bread eaten in secret is pleasant. This creates a picture of a person eating bread inside of a closet, hiding themselves, not taking a chance of being seen. How could hiding yourself to eat plain bread be a pleasant experience? Since this does not make much sense in a physical nature there must be a spiritual meaning to the text.

Water

KJV James 3:10-11
10. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

KJV Isaiah 17:12
12. Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!

KJV Isaiah 57:20
20. But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

KJV Revelation 12:15-16
15. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. 16. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

KJV Psalms 29:3
3. The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters.

KJV Proverbs 18:4
4. The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

KJV Proverbs 20:5
5. Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

KJV Isaiah 12:3
3. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

KJV Mark 1:8
8. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

KJV 1 John 5:5-6
5. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 6. This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

KJV 1 John 5:7-9
7. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 9. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

KJV Revelation 7:17
17. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

KJV John 4:13-14
13. Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Water

The Bible makes it clear that there are multiple spiritual meanings for the word water. Water can be used to represent a group of evil people, nations and bitterness used by Satan. Water also represents the Spirit, Christ, the word of God and everlasting life.

Bread

KJV Proverbs 4:17
17. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

KJV Proverbs 20:17
17. Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

KJV 1 Corinthians 5:8
8. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

KJV Amos 8:11
11. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:

KJV John 6:35
35. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

KJV John 6:51
51. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

Bread
The word bread also has multiple spiritual meanings. Bread can be used to represent wickedness and deceit. Bread also represents sincerity, truth and the word of God. Bread is also used to represent Christ.

KJV Proverbs 9:17-18
17. Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. 18. But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

To paraphrase Proverbs 9:17-18

Because the words water and bread have multiple meanings we can write the paraphrase using each of the spiritual meanings.

Stolen deceits (waters) are sweet, and bitterness (bread) in secret is pleasant. But they do not know the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

When we look at the literal translation we see that the word eaten is added to the King James translation.

LIT Proverbs 9:17

17. |4325| waters |1589| Stolen |4985| are sweet, |3899| and bread |5643| {in} secret |5276| is pleasant.

When we look at the paraphrase using the spiritual interpretations of the words water and bread we see it agrees with the physical characteristics of the original text. The spiritual meaning helps to explain a deeper meaning lying just below the surface. When people steal things they think they may experience a sweet feeling when they feel they will not be caught. This is the same feeling people may have while harboring bitter feelings in secret. But the end for both lies in the depths of hell.

We can also paraphrase the text using the other spiritual meanings for the words water and bread.

Stealing the word of God and the faith of Christ is sweet, and the truth of Christ in secret is pleasant.

This paraphrase also seems to be accurate when looking only at verse 17, but when we add verse 18 it raises questions. ” But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.” Proverbs 9:18

Following are a couple of verses that will help us to understand this predicament.

KJV Revelation 12:15-16

15. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. 16. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

KJV 1 Corinthians 5:8

8. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Revelation 12 shows us the serpent, Satan, can use water. When this water is spiritually interpreted as the word of God it shows that Satan has the potential to use scripture for his own purpose. This is further explained in Matthew chapter 4. Satan used scripture to tempt Christ.

1 Corinthians explains the same concept used for the word bread. There are two types of bread. God used unleavened bread to symbolize the pure word. Bread containing leaven represents God’s word that has been tainted, signifying that something has been added. The bread has been altered from it’s pure form.

Looking at the second paraphrase we can now begin to understand the conflict.

Stealing the word of God and the faith of Christ is sweet, and the truth of Christ in secret is pleasant.

Our first clue is given in the fact the word of God is stolen. Who would steal the word of God and the faith of Jesus and what would they do with it? The second disturbing statement we see tells us the truth of Christ is in secret is pleasant. Now we can see how verse 18 helps us to understand the spiritual meaning of verse 17. “But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.” Proverbs 9:18

Now the spiritual meaning to this text becomes clear. It is in fact a warning telling us there will be people twisting the word of God to serve their own purpose. We have been given an example when Christ was tempted in the wilderness. Satan will continue changing the word of God and use people to deliver his twisted message. Satan is the one who wants to keep the truth of Christ in a secret place.

Proverbs 10 Wind and Foundation

KJV Proverbs 10:25

25. As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.

What are the physical aspects of the text? One day it may be windy, as the sun sets the wind calms and is no more. Wind is something that may be present one day and gone the next day. The righteous are compared to a foundation. A foundation is the beginning of a building. The condition of the foundation effects the entire building physically and monetarily. A building with a poor foundation will not last long and will never be worth much.

Wind

KJV Exodus 10:13

13. And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the Lord brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.

KJV Exodus 10:19

19. And the Lord turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red sea; there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt.

KJV Exodus 14:21

21. And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

KJV Genesis 41:27

27. And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.

KJV Psalms 1:4

4. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

KJV Psalms 148:8

8. Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:

KJV Proverbs 10:25-26

25. As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.

Wind is used to symbolize a trial and is also used as a symbol to represent the end of a trial.

Foundation

KJV Hebrews 1:10

10. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

KJV Hebrews 11:10

10. For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

KJV 1 Corinthians 3:10-11

10. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

KJV Ephesians 1:3-5

3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

KJV Ephesians 2:20

20. And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

KJV Hebrews 9:25-27

25. Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26. For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

KJV 1 Peter 1:19-21

19. But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20. Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21. Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

The foundation of the earth was built by God and symbolizes Christ.

Wind is used to symbolize a trial and is also used as a symbol to represent the end of a trial.

KJV Proverbs 10:25

25. As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.

To paraphrase Proverbs 10:25

As the trial (whirlwind) passes, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous are everlasting in Christ (foundation).

Kingdom of God Luke 9:27

Did Peter John and James see Heaven without dying? Jesus said they would see the kingdom of God. Is this the same as Heaven, or is there a difference?

KJV Luke 9:27

27. But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.

Some people think that this verse is saying that Jesus is telling the disciples that some of them will go to Heaven without dying. This verse illustrates one of the rules of Bible interrelation. You can view these rules at the following web site: http://hystar.wordpress.com/category/study-references/ This rule suggests that if the understanding of the verse is difficult, look further in that book of the Bible to see if there is an explanation.

It turns out there is an explanation immediately following.

KJV Luke 9:28-31

28. And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.

29. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.

30. And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:

31. Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.

Peter and John and James went into a mountain to pray with Jesus where they experienced a vision. In that vision they saw Jesus talking to Moses and Elijah. This is what Jesus referred to as the kingdom of God. Both Moses and Elijah were taken to Heaven. We see the proof in the following text.

KJV Jude 1:9

9. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

KJV 2 Kings 2:11

11. And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

Peter and John and James did not see Heaven but they were allowed to see Moses and Elijah. Moses represents all of those that will be risen from the dead to enter Heaven. Elijah represents all those that will go to Heaven while they are still alive.

KJV 1 Corinthians 15:51-54

51. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

54. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

KJV Romans 6:5

5. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: