Fruit of his doings

Six days ago we began a series of 12 expressions and idioms that is bound to enrich your Hebrew vocabulary, both in physical and spiritual aspects, all involving a common noun that most of us use daily without giving it too much thought. This noun is p’ri, fruit.

Today’s expression sounds a little like a tongue twister, but it comes from the biblical word ma•a•la•lim, actions of a person. Pri ma•a•la•lav is either the reward or result (not a punishment because it is consequential and results from one’s doings only) of a behavior (good or bad). It may be wages or penalty for his actions, i.e. the results of his operations.

Here is an example for fruit of positive doings. It relates to the plural masculine so the ending is ‘hem.’ ma•a•la•ley•hem:

“Say to the righteous, that it shall be well with him; for they shall eat the fruit of their doings”

Here is an example of the fruit of negative doings:

“…receiving the wages of unrighteousness; people who count it pleasure to revel in the daytime, spots and blemishes, reveling in their deceit while they feast with you”