Philippians 4:11–13
Paul learned to be content, whether hungry or well fed
Study it word by word11Not that I speak out of need, for I have learned in whatever circumstances I am to be content.
12I know also how to be brought low, I know also how to abound; in everything and in all things I have learned the secret, both to be well fed and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in need.
13I can do all things in the one who strengthens me.
In its context
9The things you also learned and received and heard and saw in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
10I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that now at last you have revived your thinking about me, about which you were also thinking, but you lacked opportunity.
…
14Nevertheless, you did well by sharing in my affliction.
15And you also know, Philippians, that in the beginning of the good news, when I left Macedonia, no assembly shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you alone;
Its words in the original
- ὑστέρησινhysterēsin· need, poverty
Poverty, need.
- λέγωlegō· say
Say, speak; in the passive, "be called".
- ἔμαθονemathon· learn
Learn.
- εἰμιeimi· be
Be, exist.
- αὐτάρκηςautarkēs· content
Content, satisfied with what one has.
- οἶδαoida· know
Know, understand; also see.
- ταπεινοῦσθαιtapeinousthai· humble, bring low
Humble, bring low, abase; humble oneself, make oneself small.
- περισσεύεινperisseuein· be left over, abound
Be left over, abound; exceed.
- μεμύημαιmemyēmai· learn the secret
Learn the secret; be initiated into something hidden.
- χορτάζεσθαιchortazesthai· feed, satisfy
Satisfy, feed until full.
- πεινᾶνpeinan· be hungry
Be hungry; also long for something.
- ὑστερεῖσθαιhystereisthai· run short, lack
Run short, lack; fall behind.
- ἰσχύωischyō· be strong, be able
Be strong, be able; be valid, be of use.
- ἐνδυναμοῦντίendynamounti· strengthen
Strengthen, make strong.