Tree of Life Version
Proverbs 14:20
20The poor is hated even by his neighbor, but many are those who love the rich.
Proverbs 14:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
- New International Version (NIV)The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The poor man is hated even by his own neighbor, But the rich has many friends.
Context of Proverbs 14:20
18The naïve inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. 19Evil men will bow in the presence of the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous. The poor is hated even by his neighbor, but many are those who love the rich. 21Whoever despises his neighbor sins, but whoever is gracious to the needy is blessed. 22Indeed those who plot evil go astray but grace and truth come to those who plan good.
Read all of Proverbs 14Proverbs 14:20 word by word
גַּם־לְ֭רֵעֵהוּ יִשָּׂ֣נֵא רָ֑שׁ וְאֹהֲבֵ֖י עָשִׁ֣יר רַבִּֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 14:20
- Proverbs 10:15The wealth of a rich man is a strong city. Poverty is the ruin of the poor.
- Proverbs 19:7All a poor man’s relatives despise him— how much more his friends avoid him. He pursues them with words, but they are not there.
- Job 6:21“Indeed, now you have become nothing; you see a terror and are afraid.
- Job 19:13“He removed my brothers far from me; my acquaintances are only strangers to me.
- Job 30:10They despise me; they keep their distance from me; they do not hesitate to spit in my face.
- Proverbs 19:4Wealth adds many friends, yet a poor man is deserted by his friend.
- Esther 3:2All the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded it. But Mordecai would not bow down or pay him honor.
- Esther 5:10Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. He sent for his friends and his wife Zeresh.
Commentaries on Proverbs 14:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20But the rich hath many friends - Many who speak to him the language of friendship; but if they profess friendship because he is rich, there is not one real friend among them. There is a fine saying of Cicero on this subject: Ut hirundines festivo tempore praesto sunt, frigore pulsae recedunt: ita falsi amici sereno tempore praesto sunt: simul atque fortunae hiemem viderint, evolant omnes - Lib. iv., ad Herenn. "They are like swallows, who fly off during…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20The maxim, jarring as it is, represents the generalization of a wide experience; but the words which follow Proverbs 14:21 show that it is not to be taken by itself. In spite of all the selfish morality of mere prudence, the hearer is warned that to despise his “neighbor” (Christians must take the word in all the width given to it by the parable of the Good Samaritan) is to sin. The fullness of blessing comes on him who sees in the poor the objects of his…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20Verse 20 Friendship in the world is governed by self-interest. It is good to have God our Friend; he will not desert us.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20This proverb might advise moderation, suggesting having neither too little nor too much (Proverbs 30:7–9).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. This sad but true picture of human nature is not given approvingly, but only as a fact.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 14:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 14
- 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
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
Tree of Life Version — © 2015 The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
Commentaries