Proverbs 22:22
Proverbs 22:22 in Multiple Translations
Do not rob a poor man because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate,
Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
Rob not the poor, because he is poor; Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
Do not take away the property of the poor man because he is poor, or be cruel to the crushed ones when they come before the judge:
For you shouldn't steal from the poor just because they're poor; and you shouldn't crush those with limited means in court,
Robbe not the poore, because hee is poore, neither oppresse the afflicted in iudgement.
Rob not the poor because he [is] poor, And bruise not the afflicted in the gate.
Don’t exploit the poor because he is poor; and don’t crush the needy in court;
Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
Do no violence to the poor, because he is poor: and do not oppress the needy in the gate:
It is easy to rob poor people who are helpless and cannot defend themselves, but never do that; and do not oppress in court those who are needy/afflicted,
Berean Amplified Bible — Proverbs 22:22
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Proverbs 22:22 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
אַֽל
תִּגְזָל
דָּ֭ל
כִּ֣י
דַל
ה֑וּא
וְ/אַל
תְּדַכֵּ֖א
עָנִ֣י
בַ/שָּֽׁעַר
אַֽל
ʼal
H408
not
Part
תִּגְזָל
gâzal
H1497
to plunder
V-Qal-Juss-2ms
דָּ֭ל
dal
H1800
poor
Adj
כִּ֣י
kîy
H3588
for
Conj
דַל
dal
H1800
poor
Adj
ה֑וּא
hûwʼ
H1931
he/she/it
Pron
וְ/אַל
ʼal
H408
not
Conj | Part
תְּדַכֵּ֖א
dâkâʼ
H1792
to crush
V-Piel-Juss-2ms
עָנִ֣י
ʻânîy
H6041
afflicted
Adj
בַ/שָּֽׁעַר
shaʻar
H8179
gate
Prep | N-ms
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Proverbs 22:22
אַֽל
ʼal
H408
"not"
Part
Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.
Definition: 1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference) 1a) do not, let not (with a verb) 1b) let there not be (with a verb understood) 1c) not, no (with substantive) 1d) nothing (as substantive) Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)
Usage: Occurs in 572 OT verses. KJV: nay, neither, [phrase] never, no, nor, not, nothing (worth), rather than. See also: Genesis 13:8; Joshua 11:6; 1 Chronicles 22:13.
תִּגְזָל
gâzal
H1497
"to plunder"
V-Qal-Juss-2ms
This verb means to take something by force, like plundering or robbing, and is used in stories like David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. It can also mean to strip or flay something, and is often associated with violence.
Definition: 1) to tear away, seize, plunder, tear off, pull off, rob, take away by force 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to tear away, rob 1a2) to seize, plunder (with acc cognate) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be robbed 1b2) to be taken away
Usage: Occurs in 30 OT verses. KJV: catch, consume, exercise (robbery), pluck (off), rob, spoil, take away (by force, violence), tear. See also: Genesis 21:25; Psalms 69:5; Psalms 35:10.
דָּ֭ל
dal
H1800
"poor"
Adj
The Hebrew word for someone who is poor or weak, often describing those in need of help or assistance. In the book of Proverbs, it warns against oppressing the poor, and in Psalm 35:10, it describes the needy and the poor. The word is also used in Isaiah 41:17.
Definition: low, poor, weak, thin, one who is low
Usage: Occurs in 46 OT verses. KJV: lean, needy, poor (man), weaker. See also: Exodus 23:3; Proverbs 19:17; Psalms 41:2.
כִּ֣י
kîy
H3588
"for"
Conj
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Definition: 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
Usage: Occurs in 3910 OT verses. KJV: and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 26:16; Genesis 42:15.
דַל
dal
H1800
"poor"
Adj
The Hebrew word for someone who is poor or weak, often describing those in need of help or assistance. In the book of Proverbs, it warns against oppressing the poor, and in Psalm 35:10, it describes the needy and the poor. The word is also used in Isaiah 41:17.
Definition: low, poor, weak, thin, one who is low
Usage: Occurs in 46 OT verses. KJV: lean, needy, poor (man), weaker. See also: Exodus 23:3; Proverbs 19:17; Psalms 41:2.
ה֑וּא
hûwʼ
H1931
"he/she/it"
Pron
This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.
Definition: pron 3p s 1) he, she, it 1a) himself (with emphasis) 1b) resuming subj with emphasis 1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate) 1d) (anticipating subj) 1e) (emphasising predicate) 1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron 2) that (with article)
Usage: Occurs in 1693 OT verses. KJV: he, as for her, him(-self), it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they, this, those, which (is), who. See also: Genesis 2:11; Genesis 32:19; Exodus 21:3.
וְ/אַל
ʼal
H408
"not"
Conj | Part
Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.
Definition: 1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference) 1a) do not, let not (with a verb) 1b) let there not be (with a verb understood) 1c) not, no (with substantive) 1d) nothing (as substantive) Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)
Usage: Occurs in 572 OT verses. KJV: nay, neither, [phrase] never, no, nor, not, nothing (worth), rather than. See also: Genesis 13:8; Joshua 11:6; 1 Chronicles 22:13.
תְּדַכֵּ֖א
dâkâʼ
H1792
"to crush"
V-Piel-Juss-2ms
This verb means to crush or bruise something, and can be used literally or figuratively. It is often translated as 'crush', 'bruise', or 'oppress' in English Bibles.
Definition: 1) to crush, be crushed, be contrite, be broken 1a) (Niphal) 1a1) to be crushed 1a2) to be contrite (fig.) 1b) (Piel) to crush 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to be crushed, be shattered 1c2) to be made contrite 1d) (Hithpael) to allow oneself to be crushed
Usage: Occurs in 18 OT verses. KJV: beat to pieces, break (in pieces), bruise, contrite, crush, destroy, humble, oppress, smite. See also: Job 4:19; Psalms 143:3; Psalms 72:4.
עָנִ֣י
ʻânîy
H6041
"afflicted"
Adj
This word describes someone who is depressed, humble, or weak, often due to difficult circumstances, as described in the Psalms and other biblical books.
Definition: 1) poor, afflicted, humble, wretched 1a) poor, needy 1b) poor and weak 1c) poor, weak, afflicted, wretched 1d) humble, lowly
Usage: Occurs in 77 OT verses. KJV: afflicted, humble, lowly, needy, poor. See also: Exodus 22:24; Psalms 88:16; Psalms 9:13.
בַ/שָּֽׁעַר
shaʻar
H8179
"gate"
Prep | N-ms
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means a gate or door, often referring to city entrances or temple doors, like in Genesis and Exodus. It can also symbolize a meeting place or marketplace. The word is used to describe important locations in the Bible.
Definition: : gate 1) gate 1a) gate (of entrance) 1b) gate (of space inside gate, i.e. marketplace, public meeting place) 1b1) city, town 1c) gate (of palace, royal castle, temple, court of tabernacle) 1d) heaven
Usage: Occurs in 302 OT verses. KJV: city, door, gate, port ([idiom] -er). See also: Genesis 19:1; 1 Chronicles 9:18; Psalms 9:14.
Study Notes — Proverbs 22:22
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Proverbs 22:22 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 22:22
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 22:22
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 22:22
- Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 22:22
- Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 22:22
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 22:22
- Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 22:22
- Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 22:22
- Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 22:22
- Sermons on Proverbs 22:22
Context — Saying 2
20Have I not written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge,
21to show you true and reliable words, that you may soundly answer those who sent you?
22Do not rob a poor man because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate,
23for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who rob them. 24Do not make friends with an angry man, and do not associate with a hot-tempered man,Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zechariah 7:10 | Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. And do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.’ |
| 2 | Malachi 3:5 | “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. And I will be a swift witness against sorcerers and adulterers and perjurers, against oppressors of the widowed and fatherless, and against those who defraud laborers of their wages and deny justice to the foreigner but do not fear Me,” says the LORD of Hosts. |
| 3 | Exodus 23:6 | You shall not deny justice to the poor in their lawsuits. |
| 4 | Proverbs 22:16 | Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself or giving gifts to the rich will surely lead to poverty. |
| 5 | Job 31:16 | If I have denied the desires of the poor or allowed the widow’s eyes to fail, |
| 6 | Job 31:21 | if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless because I saw that I had support in the gate, |
| 7 | Ezekiel 22:29 | The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy and have exploited the foreign resident without justice. |
| 8 | Proverbs 23:10–11 | Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless, for their Redeemer is strong; He will take up their case against you. |
| 9 | Job 29:12–16 | because I rescued the poor who cried out and the fatherless who had no helper. The dying man blessed me, and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; justice was my robe and my turban. I served as eyes to the blind and as feet to the lame. I was a father to the needy, and I took up the case of the stranger. |
Proverbs 22:22 Summary
This verse is telling us to be kind and fair to people who are poor or struggling, and not to take advantage of them just because they are weak. We should remember that God loves and cares for the poor, and He will judge those who are cruel to them, as seen in Psalm 140:12. We can show God's love by being generous and compassionate to those in need, and by standing up for what is right and just, as encouraged in Micah 6:8. By doing so, we can reflect God's heart of love and justice in our own lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to 'rob a poor man because he is poor' in Proverbs 22:22?
This phrase means to take advantage of someone who is poor and vulnerable, exploiting their weakness for personal gain, as warned against in Exodus 22:22 and Deuteronomy 24:14.
Why is it important not to 'crush the afflicted at the gate'?
The 'gate' was a place of judgment and decision-making in ancient times, and to 'crush the afflicted' there means to deny them justice and fairness, which is contrary to God's command to 'do justice and to love kindness' in Micah 6:8.
How does God feel about those who rob and oppress the poor?
According to Proverbs 22:23, God will take up the case of those who are robbed and plunder those who do the robbing, demonstrating His strong concern for the welfare of the poor and vulnerable, as seen also in Psalm 140:12.
What is the relationship between this verse and the rest of the chapter?
Proverbs 22:22 is part of a larger section that emphasizes the importance of living a life of wisdom, justice, and compassion, as introduced in Proverbs 22:17-21, and continued in the warnings against associating with angry and hot-tempered men in Proverbs 22:24-25.
Reflection Questions
- In what ways can I be taking advantage of those who are poor or vulnerable in my own life, and what steps can I take to change this?
- How can I be an advocate for justice and fairness for those who are afflicted or oppressed in my community?
- What are some ways that I can show kindness and compassion to those who are struggling, as commanded in Micah 6:8?
- How does the promise of Proverbs 22:23, that God will take up the case of the poor and plunder those who rob them, impact my own behavior and attitudes towards the poor?
Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 22:22
Rob not the poor, because he [is] poor,.... And cannot help himself; cannot go to law with him that has injured him, and defend his own cause; which the other knowing, is the more emboldened to spoil
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 22:22
Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: Rob not the poor, because he is poor - because you think he is unable to ward off wrong. Or, since he is poor, do not add to his affliction.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 22:22
Because he is poor: this may be mentioned, either, 1. As a motive to this robbery, because he was unable to resist him, or to revenge himself upon him. Do not take advantage of his poverty. Or, 2. As an argument against it, because he is a fitter object for thy pity and charity, than for thy injustice or cruelty. It is base and inhuman to crush such a person. In the gate; in the place of judgment, or under pretence of justice, and much less in other ways, where there is no colour of justice.
Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 22:22
Proverbs 22:22 Rob not the poor, because he [is] poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:Ver. 22. Rob not the poor, &c.] Here some caviller will be apt to cry out, Quid dignum tauto feret hic promissor hiatu? After so promising a preface, and such wooing of attention, we looked for some new matter, and that of best note too. But behold here is nothing but what we had before. It is truth, saith the wise man; and yet I must tell you, that "to write the same things, to me indeed is not grievons, but for you it is safe." See the like in Psalms 49:1-3, &c. The scope of the psalm is to show the happy and secure estate of the saints in trouble, and the slippery condition of the wicked when at their height. Now whereas some might object and say, This is an ordinary argument, we have heard of it a hundred times; the Psalmist answers, that yet this is the great "wisdom" that he will speak of, and the "dark saying" that he will open. And hereunto he makes a solemn Oyez! - "Hear this, all ye people, and give ear all ye inhabitants of the world." Because he is poor.] As the greater fish devour the lesser, and as the larger falls upon the cur and worries him, only because he is bigger than the other. This is a brutish ferity. See Psalms 10:1-18 And if those that relieve not the poor shall be damned, surely they that rob them shall be double damned.
Neither oppress the afflicted.] The poor man must needs be an afflicted man, obnoxious to all manner of injuries and hard usages. But God, who is the poor man’ s king - more truly so called than James IV of Scotland was - takes order here, that no man oppress or wrong him, either at the gate of his house, whither he comes begging, or at the gate of the city, where he sues for redress of injury; let not might suppress right, lest some Cato complain, as once, and not without cause, that poor thieves sit in the stocks, when greater thieves sit on the seats of judicature. Gel., lib. xi. cap. 18.
Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 22:22
5. FIRST TO THE “ OF SOLOMON” (Proverbs 10:1 to Proverbs 22:16), OF LENGTHS, FROM THE DISTICH TO THE POEM (Proverbs 22:22 to Proverbs 24:22). (22) Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate.—The place of business (Genesis 34:20) and of judgment (Deuteronomy 21:19; Amos 5:15). (Comp. the title, “the Sublime Porte.”) This, with the following Proverbs 22:23, forms a tetrastich or verse of four lines, as do also Proverbs 22:24-25.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 22:22
Verse 22. Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate] In judgment let the poor have a fair hearing; and let him not be borne down because he is poor. The reader has often seen that courts of justice were held at the gates of cities in the East.
Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 22:22
The body of the CollectionChap. Proverbs 22:22 to Proverbs 24:2222. because] Which may either mean, Do not let his poverty and consequent defencelessness be a temptation to thee to wrong him, or, Let it be a motive with thee to abstain through pity from doing so. The latter meaning is indicated in R.V. marg. by rendering for, instead of because. πτωχὸςγάρἐστι, LXX. the gate] The place of business (Genesis 34:20), and of judgement, (Deuteronomy 21:19).
Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 22:22
i. e., “Do not be tempted by the helplessness of the poor man to do him wrong:” some prefer, “Refrain from doing him wrong through pity for his helplessness.” The gate - The place where the rulers of the city sit in judgment.
Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 22:22
22, 23. Neither oppress… in the gate — The “gate” was the place of public resort, where courts were held, and causes tried and decided.
Sermons on Proverbs 22:22
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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God Changeth Not by Joshua Daniel | In this sermon, Joshua Daniel discusses the need for a revival of faith and a return to God's unchanging truth. He emphasizes that while God and the gospel remain constant, it is o |
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I Am the God That Changeth Not by Joshua Daniel | In this sermon, Joshua Daniel emphasizes the importance of recognizing our accountability to God. He warns that without the blessing of God and the guidance of His Word, we are los |
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A Cry Against Wicked Youth! by David Wilkerson | David Wilkerson delivers a powerful sermon titled 'A Cry Against Wicked Youth!' where he draws parallels between the wickedness of Nineveh and the moral decline of modern youth. He |
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Epistle 367 by George Fox | George Fox emphasizes the necessity of living a life of righteousness and holiness, as it is essential for seeing God and maintaining peace within a community. He warns that unholi |
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Don't Preach About Hell! (Compilation) by Compilations | The video is a sermon that emphasizes the importance of recognizing oneself as a child of God. The speaker repeats the phrase "You are my child" multiple times to drive this point |
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Turning the Tide - Part 1 by Charles Stanley | This sermon emphasizes the importance of heeding God's warnings throughout history to avoid the consequences of disobedience. It reflects on the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden |
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At Ease in Zion by David Legge | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of preaching about Christ and the gospel in churches. He urges Christians to be stirred and moved by the idolatry and sin in |