Proverbs 18:23

Proverbs 18:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The poor use entreaties, but the rich answer roughly.
• New King James Version (NKJV)The poor man uses entreaties, But the rich answers roughly.
• New Living Translation (NLT)The poor plead for mercy; the rich answer with insults.

Context of Proverbs 18:23

21The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. 22He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord. The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly. 24One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 18:23 word by word

תַּחֲנוּנִ֥ים יְדַבֶּר־רָ֑שׁ וְ֝עָשִׁ֗יר יַעֲנֶ֥ה עַזּֽוֹת׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The poorרוּשׁrûsh · be poorH7326
• usethדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
• intreatiesתַּחֲנוּןtachănûn tachănûnâh · supplicationH8469
• but the richעָשִׁיר‛âshîyr · richH6223
• answerethעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
• roughlyעַז‛az · strongH5794

Cross-references for Proverbs 18:23

• Ruth 2:7She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters.’ She came into the field and has remained here from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter.”
• 1 Samuel 2:36Then everyone left in your family line will come and bow down before him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread and plead, “Appoint me to some priestly office so I can have food to eat.” ’ ”
• 2 Kings 4:1The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”
• Isaiah 66:2Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the Lord. “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.
• Matthew 5:3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
• James 1:9Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position.
• Genesis 42:7As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. “Where do you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied, “to buy food.”
• Exodus 5:2Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go.”
• 1 Samuel 25:10Nabal answered David’s servants, “Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days.
• James 2:3If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,”

Commentaries on Proverbs 18:23

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23Note the paradox. The poor man, of whom one might expect roughness, supplicates; the rich, well nurtured, from whom one might look for courtesy, answers harshly and brusquely.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 23Verse 23 Poverty tells men they must not order or demand. And at the throne of God's grace we are all poor, and must use entreaties.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23God will punish the powerful who look down on the poor. Wise people help those in need (Proverbs 11:24; 28:27; 29:7, 14).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. the rich ... roughly--He is tolerated because rich, implying that the estimate of men by wealth is wrong.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 18:23

• Poor
• Rich, the
• Speaking

In the dictionaries

• Brother
• Contention
• Innermost
• Offend
• Slothful
• Snare
• Stick
• Waster
• Poverty
• Proverb

Commentaries on Proverbs 18

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings