Proverbs 22:16

Proverbs 22:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
• New International Version (NIV)One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.
• New King James Version (NKJV)He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.

Context of Proverbs 22:16

14The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; He who is cursed of the Lord will fall into it. 15Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him. He who oppresses the poor to make more for himself Or who gives to the rich, will only come to poverty. 17Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your mind to my knowledge; 18For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, That they may be ready on your lips.

Proverbs 22:16 word by word

עֹ֣שֵֽׁק דָּ֭ל לְהַרְבּ֣וֹת ל֑וֹ נֹתֵ֥ן לְ֝עָשִׁ֗יר אַךְ־לְמַחְסֽוֹר׃Read the interlinear

• who oppressesעָשַׁק‛âshaq · to oppressH6231
• to makeרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235
• Or who givesנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• to the richעָשִׁיר‛âshîyr · richH6223
• onlyאַךְ'ak · surelyH389
• povertyמַחְסוֹרmachsôr machsôr · needH4270

Cross-references for Proverbs 22:16

• Proverbs 22:22Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Or crush the afflicted at the gate;
• Proverbs 14:31He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker, But he who is gracious to the needy honors Him.
• Proverbs 28:3A poor man who oppresses the lowly Is like a driving rain which leaves no food.
• Job 20:19For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; He has seized a house which he has not built.
• Psalms 12:5“Because of the devastation of the afflicted, because of the groaning of the needy, Now I will arise,” says the Lord; “I will set him in the safety for which he longs.”
• Micah 2:2They covet fields and then seize them, And houses, and take them away. They rob a man and his house, A man and his inheritance.
• Zechariah 7:9“Thus has the Lord of hosts said, ‘Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother;
• James 2:13For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
• James 5:1Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you.
• Luke 6:33If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.
• Luke 14:12And He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment.
• Luke 16:24And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’

Commentaries on Proverbs 22:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16He that oppresseth the poor - He who, in order to obtain the favor of the rich and great, either robs or cheats the poor, to make those men presents; or gives in presents to them, for the sake of honor and reputation, what he should have given to the poor, shall surely come to want.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Better, He who oppresses the poor for his own profit gives. (i. e., will, in the common course of things, be compelled to give) to a rich man, and that only to his own loss. Ill-gotten gains do not prosper, and only expose the oppressor to extortion and violence in his turn.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16Verse 16 We are but stewards, and must distribute what God intrusts to our care, according to his will.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16A person advances through hard work, not by taking advantage of the poor or bribing the wealthy (compare Proverbs 22:29).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. These two vices pertain to the same selfish feeling. Both are deservedly odious to God and incur punishment.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 22:16

• Covetousness
• Employee
• Employer
• Flattery
• Master
• Poor

In the dictionaries

• Evil
• Hide
• Lender
• Prudent
• Rob
• Train
• Proverb
• Proverbs, the Book of
• Sirach, the Alphabet of

Commentaries on Proverbs 22

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings