Bible Strands
Proverbs 14:21
He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The passage delivers a proverbial maxim positioned between observations on social favoritism toward the wealthy and warnings about contriving evil.
The words — The text uses חוֹטֵא (choTe'), literally 'sinning,' to describe the act of despising a neighbor, and עֲנָוִים (anaYim), literally 'humble ones,' to identify the recipients of kindness.
The thread — The theme of divine reward for aiding the vulnerable appears in Proverbs 19:17, which frames kindness to the poor as a loan to the Lord, and Proverbs 28:27, which warns that hiding one’s eyes from the needy brings curses.
Why it lands — The verse demands a deliberate choice to reject social contempt and actively extend favor to the economically disadvantaged, treating such action as a direct measure of spiritual standing.
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
He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 11:12 Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks judgment, but a man of understanding remains silent.
- Proverbs 19:17 Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.
- Proverbs 28:27 Whoever gives to the poor will not be in need, but he who hides his eyes will receive many curses.
- Proverbs 17:5 He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.
- 1 John 3:17 If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?
- Proverbs 14:31 Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.
- Proverbs 18:3 With a wicked man comes contempt as well, and shame is accompanied by disgrace.
- Job 31:13 If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or maidservant when they made a complaint against me,
- Job 35:5 Look to the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds high above you.
- Psalms 22:24 For He has not despised or detested the torment of the afflicted. He has not hidden His face from him, but has attended to his cry for help.