Bible Strands
Proverbs 16:19
It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The wisdom tradition addresses a general audience, positioned between a warning against pride in the preceding verse and a call to heed instruction in the following verse.
The words — שְׁפַל־רוּחַ (shefal-ruach) literally means to be lowly in spirit, contrasted with חֵלֶק שָׁלָל (chelek shalal), meaning to divide plunder or spoil.
The thread — This theme of divine favor toward the lowly and distance from the proud appears in Matthew 5:3, Psalms 138:6, and Isaiah 57:15.
Why it lands — The text commands readers to prefer humble community over the material or social advantages of associating with arrogant people.
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
Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Cross-references
- Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Psalms 138:6 Though the LORD is on high, He attends to the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar.
- Isaiah 57:15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite.
- Exodus 15:9 The enemy declared, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword; my hand will destroy them.’
- Psalms 34:18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit.
- Isaiah 53:12 Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.
- Luke 1:51 He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
- Luke 18:13 But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’
- Proverbs 29:23 A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor.
- Isaiah 9:3 You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy. The people rejoice before You as they rejoice at harvest time, as men rejoice in dividing the plunder.