Bible Strands
Proverbs 28:8
He who increases his wealth by interest and usury lays it up for one who is kind to the poor.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The author of Proverbs addresses a student or son, placing this warning within a sequence of contrasts between obedient wisdom and reckless behavior in daily life.
The words — The Hebrew נֶשֶׁךְ (neShekh) denotes interest or usury, while יִקְבְּצֶנּוּ (yikbetsenu) literally means he gathers it, framing the accumulation of wealth as a temporary holding rather than permanent ownership.
The thread — This mechanism of redirected wealth appears in Job 27:16, Proverbs 13:22, and Ecclesiastes 2:26, where the text consistently records that hoarded or unjustly acquired silver is ultimately transferred to others.
Why it lands — The verse demands a reader to reject exploitative lending by recognizing that such gains are structurally temporary and destined to fund another person’s generosity.
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 by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
Cross-references
- Job 27:16 Though he heaps up silver like dust and piles up a wardrobe like clay,
- Proverbs 13:22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is passed to the righteous.
- Ecclesiastes 2:26 To the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner He assigns the task of gathering and accumulating that which he will hand over to one who pleases God. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
- Exodus 22:25 If you lend money to one of My people among you who is poor, you must not act as a creditor to him; you are not to charge him interest.
- Leviticus 25:36 Do not take any interest or profit from him, but fear your God, that your countryman may live among you.
- Ezekiel 18:17 He withholds his hand from harming the poor and takes no interest or usury. He keeps My ordinances and follows My statutes. Such a man will not die for his father’s iniquity. He will surely live.
- Proverbs 14:31 Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.
- Ezekiel 18:8 He does not engage in usury or take excess interest, but he withholds his hand from iniquity and executes true justice between men.
- Ezekiel 18:13 He engages in usury and takes excess interest. Will this son live? He will not! Since he has committed all these abominations, he will surely die; his blood will be on his own head.
- Proverbs 19:7 All the brothers of a poor man hate him—how much more do his friends avoid him! He may pursue them with pleading, but they are nowhere to be found.