Bible Strands
Proverbs 14:31
Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The book of Proverbs delivers wisdom instruction to a general audience, framing daily ethical conduct as a matter of divine alignment.
The words — עֹשֵׁק (O.shek) = [one who] oppresses and חֹנֵן (cho.Nen) = [one who] shows favor to.
The thread — The connection between mistreating the vulnerable and insulting God runs through Proverbs 17:5, while the shared divine authorship of rich and poor is stated in Proverbs 22:2. The warning against oppressing the poor for personal gain appears in Proverbs 22:16.
Why it lands — The text states that oppressing the poor taunts the Creator, while kindness to the needy honors Him. It requires readers to treat economic vulnerability as a direct measure of their reverence for God.
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 oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 22:2 The rich and the poor have this in common: The LORD is Maker of them all.
- Proverbs 17:5 He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.
- Proverbs 22:16 Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself or giving gifts to the rich will surely lead to poverty.
- Proverbs 19:17 Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.
- 1 John 4:21 And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.
- Ecclesiastes 5:8 If you see the oppression of the poor and the denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be astonished at the matter; for one official is watched by a superior, and others higher still are over them.
- Psalms 12:5 “For the cause of the oppressed and for the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD. “I will bring safety to him who yearns.”
- 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?
- Job 31:13 If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or maidservant when they made a complaint against me,
- 2 Corinthians 8:7 But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in the love we inspired in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.