Bible Strands
Proverbs 13:7
One pretends to be rich, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The wisdom author addresses readers evaluating moral conduct, placing this observation between a statement on righteousness guarding the upright (Proverbs 13:6) and a note on wealth’s inability to ransom all lives (Proverbs 13:8).
The words — מִ֭תְעַשֵּׂר (mit'asher) literally means "[one who] enriches himself," while מ֝֝תְרוֹשֵּׁשׁ (mitroshesh) literally means "[one who] impoverishes himself."
The thread — The tension between claimed status and actual condition appears in Luke 18:11, Revelation 3:17, and the principle of generous giving versus selfish withholding in Proverbs 11:24.
Why it lands — The text demands that readers evaluate true wealth by actual possession rather than outward pretense, rejecting self-promotion and false humility alike.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.
Cross-references
- Luke 18:11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
- Revelation 3:17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.
- Proverbs 11:24 One gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.
- Proverbs 12:9 Better to be lightly esteemed yet have a servant, than to be self-important but lack food.
- Proverbs 13:11 Dishonest wealth will dwindle, but what is earned through hard work will be multiplied.
- Luke 12:21 This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”
- 2 Corinthians 4:7 Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.
- 2 Corinthians 6:10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
- James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?
- 2 Peter 2:19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to depravity. For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.