Bible Strands
Proverbs 28:16
A leader who lacks judgment is also a great oppressor, but he who hates dishonest profit will prolong his days.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The book of Proverbs delivers this instruction as part of a collection of wisdom sayings directed at a general audience. The surrounding context frames the verse between a warning about a wicked ruler oppressing the helpless and a declaration concerning a person burdened by bloodguilt.
The words — The Hebrew term חֲסַר תְּבוּנוֹת (cha.Sar Te.vu.not) literally means "lacking of understanding," while שֹׂנֵא בֶ֝֗צַע (so.ne.'ei' Ve.tza') denotes one who "hates unjust gain." These phrases establish the precise moral and intellectual conditions governing the leader's conduct and the righteous man's longevity.
The thread — The prohibition against dishonest profit appears in Exodus 18:21 as a qualification for capable leaders, and the theme of oppressive rule connects to the counsel recorded in 1 Kings 12:10 and 12:14 regarding the heavyening of a people's yoke. These passages trace the same concern for how leadership handles exploitation and profit.
Why it lands — The text requires a reader to examine whether their pursuit of gain relies on exploitation or restraint. It demands a concrete choice between the short-term oppression of a leader who lacks understanding and the sustained life of one who refuses dishonest profit.
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 prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.
Cross-references
- Exodus 18:21 Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
- 1 Kings 12:10 The young men who had grown up with him replied, “This is how you should answer these people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you must make it lighter.’ This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist!
- 1 Kings 12:14 and spoke to them as the young men had advised, saying, “Whereas my father made your yoke heavy, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.”
- Nehemiah 5:15 The governors before me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them bread and wine plus forty shekels of silver. Their servants also oppressed the people. But I did not do this, because of my fear of God.
- Ecclesiastes 4:1 Again I looked, and I considered all the oppression taking place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; the power lay in the hands of their oppressors, and there was no comforter.
- Isaiah 3:12 Youths oppress My people, and women rule over them. O My people, your guides mislead you; they turn you from your paths.
- Isaiah 33:15 He who walks righteously and speaks with sincerity, who refuses gain from extortion, whose hand never takes a bribe, who stops his ears against murderous plots and shuts his eyes tightly against evil—
- Jeremiah 22:15 Does it make you a king to excel in cedar? Did not your father have food and drink? He administered justice and righteousness, and so it went well with him.
- Amos 4:1 Hear this word, you cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy, who say to your husbands, “Bring us more to drink.”