Proverbs 22:23

Proverbs 22:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For the Lord will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
• New International Version (NIV)for the Lord will take up their case and will exact life for life.
• English Standard Version (ESV)for the Lord will plead their cause and rob of life those who rob them.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For the Lord will plead their cause, And plunder the soul of those who plunder them.

Context of Proverbs 22:23

21To make you know the certainty of the words of truth, So that you may correctly answer him who sent you? 22Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Nor crush the needy at the gate; For the Lord will plead their case And take the life of those who rob them. 24Do not make friends with a person given to anger, Or go with a hot-tempered person, 25Or you will learn his ways And find a snare for yourself.

Proverbs 22:23 word by word

כִּֽי־יְ֭הוָה יָרִ֣יב רִיבָ֑ם וְקָבַ֖ע אֶת־קֹבְעֵיהֶ֣ם נָֽפֶשׁ׃Read the interlinear

• For the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• pleadרִיבrîyb rûb · to contendH7378
• their caseרִיבrîyb rib · strifeH7379
• takeקָבַעqâba‛ · to robH6906
• the lifeנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: lifeH5315

Cross-references for Proverbs 22:23

• Proverbs 23:11For their Redeemer is strong; He will plead their case against you.
• 1 Samuel 24:12May the Lord judge between you and me, and may the Lord take vengeance on you for me; but my hand shall not be against you.
• 1 Samuel 25:39When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has pleaded the cause of the shame inflicted on me by the hand of Nabal, and has kept back His servant from evil. The Lord has also returned the evildoing of Nabal on his own head.” Then David sent a proposal to Abigail, to take her as his wife.
• Psalms 12:5“Because of the devastation of the poor, because of the groaning of the needy, Now I will arise,” says the Lord; “I will put him in the safety for which he longs.”
• Psalms 35:1Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me; Fight against those who fight against me.
• Psalms 43:1Vindicate me, God, and plead my case against an ungodly nation; Save me from the deceitful and unjust person!
• Psalms 68:5A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, Is God in His holy dwelling.
• Psalms 140:12I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, And justice for the poor.
• Jeremiah 50:34Their Redeemer is strong, the Lord of armies is His name; He will vigorously plead their case So that He may bring rest to their land, But turmoil to the inhabitants of Babylon.
• Jeremiah 51:36Therefore this is what the Lord says: “Behold, I am going to plead your case And take vengeance for you; And I will dry up her sea And make her fountain dry.
• Micah 7:9I will endure the rage of the Lord Because I have sinned against Him, Until He pleads my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me out to the light, And I will look at His righteousness.
• Malachi 3:5“Then I will come near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, those who oppress the wage earner in his wages or the widow or the orphan, and those who turn away the stranger from justice and do not fear Me,” says the Lord of armies.
• Isaiah 33:1Woe to you, destroyer, While you were not destroyed; And he who is treacherous, while others did not deal treacherously with him. As soon as you finish destroying, you will be destroyed; As soon as you cease to deal treacherously, others will deal treacherously with you.
• Habakkuk 2:8Since you have looted many nations, All the rest of the peoples will loot you-- Because of human bloodshed and violence done to the land, To the town and all its inhabitants.

Commentaries on Proverbs 22:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23For the Lord will plead their cause - Wo therefore to them that oppress them, for they will have God, not the poor, to deal with.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22-23Verses 22-23 He that robs and oppresses the poor, does so at his peril. And if men will not appear for them, God will.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 22-23Saying 1: God protects the weak, including the poor. Those who are wealthy should be generous to the poor (Proverbs 11:24–26; 21:13; 22:9, 16; 28:27).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22-2322-23. Here follow ten precepts of two verses each. Though men fail to defend the poor, God will (Pr 17:5; Psa 12:5). in the gate--place of public gathering (Job 5:4; Psa 69:12).Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 22:23

• Poor
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

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

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