Proverbs 28:11 — Word Study
WLCחָכָ֣ם בְּ֭עֵינָיו אִ֣ישׁ עָשִׁ֑יר וְדַ֖ל מֵבִ֣ין יַחְקְרֶֽנּוּ׃
BSAA richʻâshîyr [wealthy, noble] manʼîysh is wisechâkâm [intelligent, skilled] in his own eyesʻayin [conceit, opinion] but a poor mandal [needy, weak] with discernmentbîyn [understanding, insight] sees through himchâqar▸ [searches, examines, thoroughly, to find the truth]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| חָכָ֣ם | [is] wise | Adj |
| בְּ֭עֵינָיו | in own eyes his | Preposition, noun common feminine dual construct, suffix |
| אִ֣ישׁ | a person | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| עָשִׁ֑יר | rich | Adj |
| וְדַ֖ל | and a poor [person] | Conjunction |
| מֵבִ֣ין | understanding | Verb, Hiphil, participle (active) masculine singular |
| יַחְקְרֶֽנּוּ׃ | he examines thoroughly him | Verb qal imperfect third person masculine singular, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man with discernment sees through him. |
| KJV | The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out. |
| ASV | The rich man is wise in his own conceit; But the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out. |
| YLT | A rich man is wise in his own eyes, And the intelligent poor searcheth him. |
| WEB | The rich man is wise in his own eyes; but the poor who has understanding sees through him. |
| BBE | The man of wealth seems to himself to be wise, but the poor man who has sense has a low opinion of him. |
The translations agree on the key terms in this verse, emphasizing the contrast between the rich and poor.
The sentence presents a main clause followed by a contrasting clause, emphasizing the difference in perception between the rich and the poor.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbבִּין
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Proverbs 28:11
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Wisdom and Understanding in Proverbsgenerated
Proverbs 28:11 contrasts the perception of a rich man who sees himself as wise with a poor man who possesses discernment. This verse highlights the theme of true wisdom versus self-deception, showing that wealth does not equate to understanding. The surrounding verses further explore the consequences of leading others astray and the importance of righteousness, as seen in Proverbs 28:10 and 28:12.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 18:11 | A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city; it is like a high wall in his imagination. |
| 2 | Proverbs 23:4 | Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself. |
| 3 | Isaiah 10:13–14 | For he says: ‘By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, for I am clever. I have removed the boundaries of nations and plundered their treasures; like a mighty one I subdued their rulers. |
| 4 | Ezekiel 28:3–5 | Behold, you are wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you! |
| 5 | Luke 16:13–14 | 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.” |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 15 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — חָכָם, cha.Khamgenerated
The Hebrew word חָכָם (*cha.Kham*) is an adjective meaning 'wise' and encompasses various aspects of intelligence and skillfulness. It describes someone who is not only knowledgeable but also crafty and prudent, often implying a level of cunning in their wisdom.
This word is derived from a root that also suggests craftiness and ethical understanding. It can refer to individuals who are learned or skilled in various fields, including those who may use their knowledge for deceptive purposes.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses wise for חָכָם and poor for דַּל.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main clause centers around the finite verb חָכָם, is wise, which describes the rich man. This clause is followed by a contrasting clause that introduces the poor man with discernment.
The structure emphasizes the contrast between the rich man's self-perception and the poor man's insight, highlighting the relationship between wealth and true wisdom.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates חָכָם as σοφὸς, meaning 'wise', which aligns with the Hebrew meaning but may carry a slightly different connotation in the Greek context.
The choice of σοφὸς suggests an emphasis on practical wisdom, which could imply a more universally recognized understanding of wisdom compared to the Hebrew context.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 28:11 shows that a rich man may think he is wise, but a poor man who understands can see through his pretense. This teaches us that true wisdom is not determined by wealth, but by insight and discernment.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
This phrase suggests that the rich man has a self-inflated view of his intelligence and abilities, often ignoring the wisdom of others.
Discernment involves the ability to judge well and understand deeper truths, while knowledge can simply be the accumulation of facts.
This contrast highlights that wealth does not guarantee wisdom, and that true understanding often comes from experience and insight, regardless of one's social status.
The poor man represents the value of discernment and the ability to see through superficial appearances, emphasizing that true wisdom is found in understanding.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I sometimes overestimate my own wisdom?
- How can I cultivate greater discernment in my life?
- What experiences have taught me the value of insight over wealth?
- How can I help others recognize the difference between true wisdom and self-deception?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 28:11 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThe rich man [is] wise in his own conceit,.... Ascribing his getting riches to his great sagacity, wisdom, and prudence; and being flattered with it by dependents on him; but the poor that hath
Read John Gill on Proverbs 28 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThe rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out. The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 28 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleIs wise in his own conceit; thinks himself to be wise when he is not, being puffed up with the opinion of his riches, which also he imputes to his own wisdom, and with the admirations and applauses of flatterers, which commonly attend upon them. Searcheth him out; knoweth him better than he knoweth himself; and, looking through all his pomp and vain show, he sees him to be what indeed he is, a foolish and miserable man, notwithstanding all his riches, and discovers the folly of his words and actions.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 28 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 28:11 The rich man [is] wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.Ver. 11. The rich man is wise in his own conceit.] He sacrificeth to himself, as Sejanus did; to his "drag and net," as the Babylonians did; he thanks his wit for his wealth, and takes upon him as if there were none such. Like Isis her ass, that had gone so oft to the temple of that goddess, that at length she thought herself worshipful. Every grain of riches hath a vermin of pride and self-conceit in it, and a very small wind will blow up a bubble. But the poor that hath understanding.] That is, Well versed in the bigger volume of God’ s word, and in the lesser volume of his own…
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 28 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(11) The rich man is wise in his own conceit.—For the blinding effect of wealth comp. Revelation 3:17.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 28 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges11. searcheth him out] sees through him, as we should say, “Bene novit, neutiquam, ut Euripidis utamur dicto, τὸνεὐτυχοῦνταπάντʼ ? ἐπίστασθαικαλῶς,” Maurer.
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 28 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleWealth blunts, poverty sharpens, the critical power of intellect.
Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 28 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible11. Rich… conceit — Riches sometimes gives a man an overweening opinion of his own wisdom. A man of intelligence, though poor, easily sees through him, and can easily expose his pretensions.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 28 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man with discernment sees through him.
The rich man is wise in his own eyes; but the poor who has understanding sees through him.
A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man with discernment sees through him.
A rich person is wise in his own eyes, but a discerning poor person can evaluate him properly.
Tyndale line
The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.
The rich man is wise in his own conceit; But the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.
The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.
The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor man that hath understanding searcheth him out.
The riche man is wise in his owne conceite: but the poore that hath vnderstanding, can trie him.
Strictly literal
A rich man is wise in his own eyes; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.
A rich man is wise in his own eyes, And the intelligent poor searcheth him.
A rich man is wise in his own eyes, || And the intelligent poor searches him.
The rich man is wise in his own eyes; but the indigent that hath understanding can search him through.
The rich person may be wise in his own eyes, but a poor person who has understanding will find him out.
From the Latin
The rich man seemeth to himself wise: but the poor man that is prudent shall search him out.
Simplified
The rich see themselves as wise, but poor people with insight see right through them.
The man of wealth seems to himself to be wise, but the poor man who has sense has a low opinion of him.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in their wording for this verse, with six of the seven words matching. The Septuagint's word order differs, indicating a translation rather than a direct correspondence.
חָכָ֣ם בְּ֭עֵינָיו אִ֣ישׁ עָשִׁ֑יר וְדַ֖ל מֵבִ֣ין יַחְקְרֶֽנּוּ׃
6 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 28:11
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word חָכָם (*chakam*) means 'wise' and encompasses various aspects of wisdom, including skillfulness in technical work, shrewdness, and ethical understanding. It can refer to a class of learned individuals, including those involved in astrology and magic. The word is derived from a related term, חָכַם (*chakam*), which also relates to intelligence and craftiness.
חָכָם adj. wise
skilful in technical work
wise in the administration of affairs
shrewd, crafty, cunning
pl. class of learned and shrewd men, incl. astrologers, magicians and the like
prudent
wise, ethically and religiously
base
H2450 חָכָם wise . skilful in technical work
. wise in the administration of affairs
. shrewd, crafty, cunning
. pl. class of learned and shrewd men, incl. astrologers, magicians and the like
. prudent
. wise, ethically and religiously
2450 chakam khaw-kawm'
from 2449; wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or
artful):--cunning (man), subtil, ((un-)), wise((hearted),
man).
see HEBREW for 02449
חָכָם (cha.kham) — wise.
1) wise, wise (man)
1a) skilful (in technical work)
1b) wise (in administration)
1c) shrewd, crafty, cunning, wily, subtle
1d) learned, shrewd (class of men)
1e) prudent
1f) wise (ethically and religiously)
Adj — AdjHAamsa
The Hebrew word עַ֫יִן (*'ayin*) means 'eye' and can refer to both the physical organ and its figurative uses, such as mental qualities and desires. It also denotes a 'spring' or 'fountain' of water. The entries highlight various phrases and contexts, including appearances and expressions of emotion, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.
עַ֫יִן 859 n.f. eye
lit. as physical organ
eyes as showing mental qualities
desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes
Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states
Transferred mngs.:
visible surface of earth
appearance
gleam, sparkle
Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead
base
עַ֫יִן n.f. spring (of water). Particular springs are:
ע׳ חֲרֹר Ju 7:1
ע׳ הַקּוֹרֵא (partridge-spring) Ju 15:19
ע׳ רֹגֵל near Jerus.
ע׳ הַתַּנִּין (dragon-spring)
base
H5869a עַ֫יִן eye . lit. as physical organ
. . eyes as showing mental qualities
. desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes
. Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states
. Transferred mngs.: . visible surface of earth
. appearance
. gleam, sparkle
. Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead
H5869b עַ֫יִן spring (of water)
5869 `ayin ah'-yin
probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or
figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the
landscape):--affliction, outward appearance, + before, +
think best, colour, conceit, + be content, countenance, +
displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, + favour,
fountain, furrow (from the margin), X him, + humble,
knowledge, look, (+ well), X me, open(-ly), + (not) please,
presence, + regard, resemblance, sight, X thee, X them, +
think, X us, well, X you(-rselves).
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye.
: eye
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain (Gate).
§ spring, fountain
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain of.
§ spring, fountain
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: seeing.
: seeing
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: appearance.
: appearance
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: before(the eyes).
: before(the_eyes)
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: sin.
: sin
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
Prep | N-cd | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine dual construct · suffixHR/Ncfdc/Sp3ms
The Hebrew word אִישׁ (iysh) means 'man' and can refer to an individual male, a husband, or a human being in general. It encompasses various meanings, including champion and great man, and can also imply 'whosoever' or 'each.' The word is built from a root suggesting existence and is used throughout the Old Testament.
אִישׁ 2166 n.m. man (= vir)
base
H376 אִישׁ man (= vir)
376 'iysh eesh
contracted for 582 (or perhaps rather from an unused root
meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male
person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and
in such cases frequently not expressed in
translation):--also, another, any (man), a certain, +
champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-,
husband-)man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree),
him (that is), husband, man(-kind), + none, one, people,
person, + steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy.
Compare 802.
see HEBREW for 0582
see HEBREW for 0802
אִישׁ (ish) — man.
: man
1) man
1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)
1b) husband
1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)
1d) servant
1e) mankind
1f) champion
1g) great man
2) whosoever
3) each (adjective)
אִישׁ (ish) — man: husband.
: husband
1) man
1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)
1b) husband
1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)
1d) servant
1e) mankind
1f) champion
1g) great man
2) whosoever
3) each (adjective)
אִישׁ (ish) — man: anyone.
: anyone/someone
1) man
1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)
1b) husband
1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)
1d) servant
1e) mankind
1f) champion
1g) great man
2) whosoever
3) each (adjective)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
עָשִׁיר (ashiyr) means 'rich' and can refer to wealth in both a literal and figurative sense. It is primarily used as a noun to denote a rich person or the wealthy. The word is derived from another Hebrew root, but the entries do not provide further details on its usage in specific verses.
עָשִׁיר rich; usu. n. m. the rich
base
H6223 עָשִׁיר rich; usu. n. m. the rich
6223 `ashiyr aw-sheer'
from 6238; rich, whether literal or figurative
(noble):--rich (man).
see HEBREW for 06238
עָשִׁיר (a.shir) — rich.
adj
1) rich, wealthy
n
2) the rich, the wealthy, rich man
Adj — AdjHAamsa
The Hebrew word דַּל (dal) is built from the root meaning 'dangling' or 'weak.' It covers a range of meanings including low, weak, poor, and thin, and is particularly noted in wisdom literature and poetry. The entries consistently emphasize its connotations of neediness and weakness.
דַּל adj. low, weak, poor, thin (especially common in Wisd. lit. and poet.)
base
H1800 דַּל low, weak, poor, thin (especially common in Wisd. lit. and poet.)
1800 dal dal
from 1809; properly, dangling, i.e. (by implication) weak or
thin:--lean, needy, poor (man), weaker.
see HEBREW for 01809
דַּל (dal) — poor.
low, poor, weak, thin, one who is low
Conj | Adj — ConjunctionHC/Aamsa
בִּין (biyn) is a Hebrew verb meaning to discern or understand. It encompasses a range of meanings including perceiving, considering, and teaching, with various forms indicating different nuances, such as being intelligent or discreet. The entries highlight its use in contexts requiring mental separation or insight, but do not present any significant disagreement among lexicographers.
בִּין vb. discern
Qal
perceive
understand, know (with mind)
observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, consider (with attention)
have discernment, insight, understanding
Niph. be intelligent, discreet, discerning, distinguish, have understanding
Po. he attentively considereth him
Hiph.
understand
give heed to, attend to, observe, discern
give understanding, make understand, teach
Hithp.
shew oneself attentive, consider diligently
get understanding, understand
shew oneself to have understanding
base
H995 בִּין discern .. perceive
. understand, know (with mind)
. observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, consider (with attention)
. have discernment, insight, understanding
. be intelligent, discreet, discerning, distinguish, have understanding
. he attentively considereth him
. . understand
. give heed to, attend to, observe, discern
. give understanding, make understand, teach
. . shew oneself attentive, consider diligently
. get understanding, understand
. shew oneself to have understanding
995 biyn bene
a primitive root; to separate mentally (or distinguish),
i.e.(generally) understand:--attend, consider, be cunning,
diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel, inform, instruct,
have intelligence, know, look well to, mark, perceive, be
prudent, regard, (can) skill(-full), teach, think, (cause,
make to, get, give, have) understand(-ing), view, (deal)
wise(-ly, man).
בִּין (bin) — to understand.
1) to discern, understand, consider
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to perceive, discern
1a2) to understand, know (with the mind)
1a3) to observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, consider
1a4) to have discernment, insight, understanding
1b) (Niphal) to be discerning, intelligent, discreet, have understanding
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to understand
1c2) to cause to understand, give understanding, teach
1d) (Hithpolel) to show oneself discerning or attentive, consider diligently
1e) (Polel) to teach, instruct
2) (TWOT) prudent, regard
V-Hiphil — Verb · Hiphil · participle (active) masculine singularHVhrmsa
חָקַר (chaqar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to search or examine. It encompasses actions like searching for, exploring, and thoroughly investigating. The word can also imply being found out or ascertained. It appears in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Piel, indicating different nuances of searching and examination.
[חָקַר] vb. search
Qal
search (for)
search through, explore
search a man, find out his sentiments
of י׳ searching man
of examining thoroughly
Niph. be searched out, found out, ascertained
Pi. he sought out many proverbs
base
H2713 [חָקַר] search .. search (for)
. . search through, explore
. search a man, find out his sentiments
. of י׳ searching man
. of examining thoroughly
. be searched out, found out, ascertained
. he sought out many proverbs
2713 chaqar khaw-kar'
a primitive root; properly, to penetrate; hence, to examine
intimately:--find out, (make) search (out), seek (out), sound,
try.
חָקַר (cha.qar) — to search.
1) to search, search for, search out, examine, investigate
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to search (for)
1a2) to search through, explore
1a3) to examine thoroughly
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be searched out, be found out, be ascertained, be examined
1c) (Piel) to search out, seek out
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms | Suff — Verb qal imperfect third person masculine singular · suffixHVqi3ms/Sp3ms