Original Word: שָׁעַר
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: sha`ar
Pronunciation: shah-ar
Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-ar')
KJV: think
NASB: thinks
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to split or open
2. (literally, as denominative from H8179) to act as gate-keeper (see H7778)
3. (figuratively) to estimate

estimate

A primitive root; to split or open, i.e. (literally, but only as denominative from sha'ar) to act as gate-keeper (see show'er): (figuratively) to estimate -- think.

see HEBREW sha'ar

see HEBREW show'er

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to calculate, reckon
NASB Translation
thinks (1).

II. שָׁעַר verb calculate, reakon (Late Hebrew Pi`el Jewish-Aramaic Pa`el put a valuation, estimate; Jewish-Aramaic שַׁעֲרָא interest, market-price; Arabic market-price is loan-word Frä¹⁸⁹); —

Qal Perfect3masculine singular בְּנַפְשׁוֺ כֶּןהֿוּא ׳כְּמוֺשֿׁ Proverbs 23:7 as he has calculated in his soul, so is he, but dubious: De שֹׁעֵר as one who calculates; more radical conjectures in Bi Toy.

Root Idea

The verb שָׁעַר accents the hidden arithmetic of the soul—our inward calculating, estimating, and reckoning. Scripture treats this inner ledger as decisive for character and conduct, elevating thought-life to a moral plane that God inspects and weighs.

Biblical Occurrence

Proverbs 23:7 is the lone appearance: “For as he thinks within himself, so is he”. The context describes a stingy host whose words invite the guest to “Eat and drink,” while his heart quietly audits the cost. The proverb warns that a person’s covert computations, not the public invitation, reveal the true self.

Immediate Context and Message

Verses 1–8 counsel restraint at a ruler’s table and discernment in accepting hospitality from one “who has an evil eye.” The hearer must recognize that generosity can be feigned; the crucial factor is the unseen valuation occurring in the host’s heart. Thus the verb underscores a key theme in wisdom literature: appearance may flatter, but hidden motives govern outcomes.

Relation to the Heart in Wisdom Literature

Proverbs consistently locates thought, motive, and decision “within the heart” (Proverbs 4:23; 16:1–2). שָׁעַר reinforces that the heart is not only the seat of emotion but of mental calculus. Therefore, authentic wisdom judges persons by their internal accounting, not merely by external gestures.

Divine Scrutiny of Inner Reckonings

Other texts echo the principle:

• “The L ORD evaluates the motives” (Proverbs 16:2).
• “The L ORD knows the thoughts of man” (Psalm 94:11).
• “I, the L ORD, search the heart, I examine the mind” (Jeremiah 17:10).

Together they affirm that the true measure of a person lies in what he silently tallies. שָׁעַר finds its theological ballast here: God audits the books we keep in secret.

Contrast Between Outward Speech and Inward Intention

The verb exposes duplicity. Words can be hospitable, while inward calculations are selfish. Similar tension surfaces in:

• Isaiah 29:13​—lips near, hearts far.
• Matthew 15:8​—Jesus repeats the indictment.

Thus Proverbs 23:7 becomes a canonical lens through which all double-mindedness is judged.

New Testament Parallels

Jesus embodies divine insight into hidden thoughts:

• Mark 2:8—He “knew in His spirit” the reasonings of the scribes.
• John 2:24-25—He “knew all men… for He Himself knew what was in man.”

The Epistle to the Hebrews universalizes the scrutiny: “The word of God… judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

Historical Reception

Rabbinic commentators linked the proverb to Deuteronomy 15:9, where an Israelite might inwardly calculate to withhold generosity near the Sabbath year. Church Fathers saw a warning against hypocritical almsgiving; Reformers employed it to oppose formalism devoid of faith. Consistently, interpreters have stressed the priority of inner over outer religion.

Ministry and Discipleship Applications

1. Self-examination: Believers must audit their motives, inviting the Spirit to expose hidden agendas (Psalm 139:23-24).
2. Authentic hospitality: Christian fellowship avoids manipulative generosity; giving “must be genuine” (Romans 12:9-13).
3. Discernment: Pastors and leaders heed Proverbs 23 by weighing character rather than flattery or gifts.
4. Preaching: The verse serves homiletically to press hearers toward integrity—“as he thinks… so is he” challenges complacency and calls for heart transformation through the gospel.

Christological Fulfillment

Jesus, whose heart was wholly aligned with His words and deeds (John 8:29), fulfills the integrity demanded by שָׁעַר. In union with Him, believers receive a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26) that recalculates according to kingdom values, laying up treasure in heaven rather than tallying earthly loss or gain (Matthew 6:19-21).

Summary

Though שָׁעַר occurs only once, its spotlight on concealed computation illuminates a pervasive biblical truth: God judges us not by what we say or receive from others but by the silent arithmetic of our hearts. Genuine righteousness begins where the proverb situates it—within.

שָׁעַ֥ר שער šā‘ar šā·‘ar shaArInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts