Bible Strands
Proverbs 22:16
Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself or giving gifts to the rich will surely lead to poverty.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The wisdom teacher addresses a student within a structured collection of moral instructions, following a warning about childhood discipline and preceding an invitation to heed the wise.
The words — עֹשֵׁק ('O.shek) denotes one who oppresses, paired with דָּל (dal), meaning the poor, highlighting the direct exploitation of the vulnerable.
The thread — This warning echoes in Proverbs 22:22’s command against crushing the afflicted, Psalms 12:5’s declaration of God’s response to the needy, and James 2:13’s principle that mercy triumphs over judgment.
Why it lands — The text states that both exploitative wealth accumulation and sycophantic bribery guarantee eventual destitution, demanding the reader reject both paths as self-defeating.
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 to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 22:22 Do not rob a poor man because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate,
- 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.”
- James 2:13 For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
- James 5:1 Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you.
- Luke 14:12 Then Jesus said to the man who had invited Him, “When you host a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or brothers or relatives or rich neighbors. Otherwise, they may invite you in return, and you will be repaid.
- Proverbs 14:31 Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.
- Proverbs 28:3 A destitute leader who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no food.
- Luke 6:33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same.
- Job 20:19 For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; he has seized houses he did not build.
- Proverbs 28:22 A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty awaits him.