Bible Strands
Proverbs 19:6
Many seek the favor of the prince, and everyone is a friend of the gift giver.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The text is a proverbial observation addressing the general conduct of individuals navigating social and political hierarchies. It functions as a standalone wisdom saying within a collection of practical instructions.
The words — The Hebrew term רַבִּים (rabim) identifies "many" as the actors, while נָדִיב (nadiyb) denotes the "noble" or "prince" whose face is sought. The phrase מַתָּן (matan) specifies the "gift" that transforms ordinary acquaintances into friends.
The thread — This dynamic of leveraging material offerings to gain advantage appears in Proverbs 18:16 and Proverbs 17:8, where gifts open doors and act as a charm for success. The pattern of seeking human authority is also noted in Proverbs 29:26, which contrasts that pursuit with the expectation of receiving justice from the LORD.
Why it lands — The verse demands recognition of how transactional relationships often replace genuine loyalty. It instructs readers to evaluate social bonds by their underlying motives rather than their outward displays of friendship.
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
Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 18:16 A man’s gift opens doors for him, and brings him before great men.
- Proverbs 29:26 Many seek the ruler’s favor, but a man receives justice from the LORD.
- Proverbs 17:8 A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
- Genesis 42:6 Now Joseph was the ruler of the land; he was the one who sold grain to all its people. So when his brothers arrived, they bowed down before him with their faces to the ground.
- Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Proverbs 19:12 A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
- Proverbs 21:14 A gift in secret soothes anger, and a covert bribe pacifies great wrath.
- 2 Samuel 19:19 and said, “My lord, do not hold me guilty, and do not remember your servant’s wrongdoing on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king not take it to heart.
- Job 29:24 If I smiled at them, they did not believe it; the light of my countenance was precious.
- Genesis 43:15 So the men took these gifts, along with double the amount of silver, and Benjamin as well. Then they hurried down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.