Bible Strands
Proverbs 28:11
A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man with discernment sees through him.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The speaker addresses a general audience with practical instruction, positioned between a warning about corrupt leadership and an observation on the public visibility of the wicked.
The words — The Hebrew מֵבִין (me.Vin) denotes a discerning person, while יַחְקְרֶֽנּוּ (yach.ke.Re.nu) literally means he examines or cross-examines him.
The thread — The text echoes the cross-examination motif in Proverbs 18:17 and the overlooked wisdom of a poor man in Ecclesiastes 9:15, while aligning with the integrity preference in Proverbs 19:1.
Why it lands — The text states that self-assured wealth blinds one to reality, while the discerning poor person exposes that deception. It asks the reader to reject self-validation and submit to external, truth-testing scrutiny.
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
The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 18:17 The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.
- Ecclesiastes 9:15 Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.
- Proverbs 19:1 Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a fool whose lips are perverse.
- Proverbs 26:16 The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
- Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
- Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited.
- 1 Corinthians 3:18 Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise.
- Proverbs 23:4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.
- Ezekiel 28:3 Behold, you are wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you!
- Job 32:9 It is not only the old who are wise, or the elderly who understand justice.