Bible Strands
Proverbs 14:20
The poor man is hated even by his neighbor, but many are those who love the rich.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The passage delivers a wisdom observation addressing the reader regarding social behavior.
The words — The Hebrew יִשָּׂ֣נֵא (yi.Sa.ne') denotes active hatred, contrasting the destitute רָשׁ (Rash) with the wealthy עָשִׁ֣יר ('a.Shir).
The thread — The text states that social affection tracks material status, a pattern explicitly repeated in Proverbs 19:4 and illustrated by the isolation described in Job 30:10.
Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to acknowledge that human loyalty frequently follows wealth rather than moral worth.
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
The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 19:4 Wealth attracts many friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
- Proverbs 10:15 The wealth of the rich man is his fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.
- Job 30:10 They abhor me and keep far from me; they do not hesitate to spit in my face.
- Proverbs 19:6 Many seek the favor of the prince, and everyone is a friend of the gift giver.
- Esther 3:2 All the royal servants at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, because the king had commanded that this be done for him. But Mordecai would not bow down or pay homage.
- Esther 5:10 Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. And calling for his friends and his wife Zeresh,
- Job 6:21 For now you are of no help; you see terror, and you are afraid.
- Job 19:13 He has removed my brothers from me; my acquaintances have abandoned me.