Back to Proverbs 27

Proverbs 27:18

Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit. He who looks after his master shall be honored.

World English Bible · Public Domain

Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit. He who looks after his master shall be honored.

  • KJV King James Version

    Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.

  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    Whoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof; and he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.

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Cross-references (29)

Passages linked to Proverbs 27:18 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:7 What soldier ever serves at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard, and doesn’t eat of its fruit? Or who feeds a flock, and doesn’t drink from the flock’s milk?
  • 2 Timothy 2:6 The farmer who labors must be the first to get a share of the crops.
  • Song of Solomon 8:12 My own vineyard is before me. The thousand are for you, Solomon, two hundred for those who tend its fruit.
  • Luke 12:37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Most certainly I tell you that he will dress himself, make them recline, and will come and serve them.
  • John 12:26 If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there my servant will also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
  • Matthew 24:46 Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds doing so when he comes.
  • Luke 12:43-44 Blessed is that servant whom his lord will find doing so when he comes. Truly I tell you, that he will set him over all that he has.
  • Luke 19:17 “He said to him, ‘Well done, you good servant! Because you were found faithful with very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’
  • 1 Corinthians 3:8 Now he who plants and he who waters are the same, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
  • Genesis 39:22-23 The keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever they did there, he was responsible for it. The keeper of the prison didn’t look after anything that was under his hand, because Yahweh was with him; and that which he did, Yahweh made it prosper.
  • Proverbs 22:29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won’t serve obscure men.
  • Matthew 25:21-22 “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ “He also who got the two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained another two talents in addition to them.’
  • 1 Corinthians 9:13 Don’t you know that those who serve around sacred things eat from the things of the temple, and those who wait on the altar have their portion with the altar?
  • 1 Peter 2:18 Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all respect: not only to the good and gentle, but also to the wicked.
  • 1 Peter 2:21 For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps,
  • Genesis 24:2-3 Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please put your hand under my thigh. I will make you swear by Yahweh, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live.
  • Genesis 39:2-5 Yahweh was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man. He was in the house of his master the Egyptian. His master saw that Yahweh was with him, and that Yahweh made all that he did prosper in his hand. Joseph found favor in his sight. He ministered to him, and Potiphar made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. From the time that he made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, Yahweh blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake. Yahweh’s blessing was on all that he had, in the house and in the field.
  • Exodus 24:13 Moses rose up with Joshua, his servant, and Moses went up onto God’s Mountain.
  • 1 Samuel 2:30 “Therefore Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, ‘I said indeed that your house and the house of your father should walk before me forever.’ But now Yahweh says, ‘Far be it from me; for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me will be cursed.
  • Psalms 123:2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress; so our eyes look to Yahweh, our God, until he has mercy on us.
  • Proverbs 17:2 A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.
  • Matthew 24:25 “Behold, I have told you beforehand.
  • Mark 10:43 But it shall not be so among you, but whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant.
  • Acts 10:7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier of those who waited on him continually.
  • Colossians 3:22 Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.
  • 2 Kings 3:11 But Jehoshaphat said, “Isn’t there a prophet of Yahweh here, that we may inquire of Yahweh by him?” One of the king of Israel’s servants answered, “Elisha the son of Shaphat, who poured water on the hands of Elijah, is here.”
  • 2 Kings 5:2-3 The Syrians had gone out in bands, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maiden; and she waited on Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “I wish that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would heal him of his leprosy.”
  • 2 Kings 5:25 But he went in, and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, “Where did you come from, Gehazi?” He said, “Your servant went nowhere.”
  • 2 Kings 5:27 Therefore the leprosy of Naaman will cling to you and to your offspring forever.” He went out from his presence a leper, as white as snow.

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

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Explain this verse (17 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Pro 27:18 Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat…

Pro 27:18 Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.

Ver. 18. Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat, &c.] Of the continually renewed fruits thereof; for when the ripe figs are pulled off others shortly come in their place. The Egyptian fig tree is reported by Solinus to bear fruit seven times in a year: such as is good both for meat and medicine, as Galen observeth, and after him Dioscorides.

Read full note →

So he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.] That is, Liberally maintained, and highly promoted, as Joseph was wherever he served. The heathens were very cruel to their servants; putting an engine about their necks, called παυσικοπη, and it reached down to their hands, that they might not so much as lick off the meal when they were sifting it. These poor servants were in worse case than the Jews’ oxen. {1Co 9:9} But such as are faithful and serviceable, however their masters deal with them - they should deal well with them {Deu 15:12-14} - God will bestow upon them a child’s part, even "the reward of inheritance." {Col 3:22-24} Their masters also, if faithful and beloved, as "they partake of the benefit," {a} viz., of their good service, so they will be beneficial to them. Beneficentiae recompensatores, as Bullinger, after Theophilact, renders that text, 1Ti 6:2.

{a} οι της ευεργησιας αντιλαμβανομενοι.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain He mentions the fig tree, because they abounded in…
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain This is designed to encourage diligence, faithfulness, and constancy,…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain Hell and destruction are never full,.... The grave, as…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain So he - That serves him faithfully, prudently, and…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain Pro 27:18. Whoso keepeth the fig-tree — That is,…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain Waiteth - literally, “keepeth,” “observeth.” As the fig tree…
Charles Bridges 1846 · Public Domain An encouragement to diligence in our calling! The fig-tree…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain Glorified. He who serves his master well shall be…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain Diligence secures a reward, even for the humble servant.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 18. Eat the fruit thereof — Diligence and faithfulness…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 18. See Gen_39:4; Gen_39:22; and for the highest reference…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (18) Whoso keepeth the fig-tree—i.e., tends it carefully year…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit…
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain So he that waiteth on his master shall be…
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary 1892 · Public Domain MAIN HOMILETICS OF Pro_27:18
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 27:18 An employer values loyal workers who protect their…

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