Proverbs 22:16
WEB
Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.
BSB
Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself or giving gifts to the rich will surely lead to poverty.
KJV
He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
Matthew Henry
Hebrew interlinear
H6231
v — press upon, oppress, defraud, violate, overflow
Derivation: a primitive root (compare 6229);
to press upon, i.e. oppress, defraud, violate, overflow
KJV: get deceitfully, deceive, defraud, drink up, (use) oppress(-ion), -or), do violence (wrong).
oppress
עָשַׁק oppress, wrong, extort
H1800
a — dangling, weak, thin
Derivation: from 1809;
properly, dangling, i.e. (by implication) weak or thin
KJV: lean, needy, poor (man), weaker.
adj — low
דַּל adj. low, weak, poor, thin (especially common in Wisd. lit. and poet.)
H7235
v — increase
Derivation: a primitive root;
to increase (in whatever respect)
KJV: (bring in) abundance (× -antly), archer (by mistake for 7232), be in authority, bring up, × continue, enlarge, excel, exceeding(-ly), be full of, (be, make) great(-er, -ly, × -ness), grow up, heap, increase, be long, (be, give, have, make, use) many (a time), (any, be, give, give the, have) more (in number), (ask, be, be so, gather, over, take, yield) much (greater, more), (make to) multiply, nourish, plenty(-eous), × process (of time), sore, store, thoroughly, very.
vb — be much
[רָבָה] 225 vb. be, or become, much, many, great
Qal 59
1. become many, numerous
2.
a. be great
b. grow great (Aramaism)
Pi. 4 make large, increase
Hiph. 162
1. make much or many
2. make great, obj. pers.
H5414
v — give, put, make
Derivation: a primitive root;
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
KJV: add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, × avenge, × be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, × doubtless, × without fail, fasten, frame, × get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), × have, × indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), lie, lift up, make, O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, × pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), sing, slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, × surely, × take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, weep, willingly, withdraw, would (to) God, yield.
vb — give
נָתַן 2007 vb. give, put, set
Qal 1917
1. give
2. Put, set
3. Make, constitute
Niph. 82
1. be given
2. Be put, set
Hoph.
1.
a. be given, bestowed
b. = be given to one for wife
2. be put upon
H6223
n-m — rich, noble
Derivation: from 6238;
rich, whether literal or figurative (noble)
KJV: rich (man).
n. m — rich
עָשִׁיר rich; usu. n. m. the rich
H389
adv — affirmation, surely, only
Derivation: akin to 403;
a particle of affirmation, surely; hence (by limitation) only
KJV: also, in any wise, at least, but, certainly, even, howbeit, nevertheless, notwithstanding, only, save, surely, of a surety, truly, verily, wherefore, yet (but).
adv — surely
אַךְ 159 adv. 1. surely. 2. with a restrictive force, emphasizing what follows
H4270
n-m — deficiency, impoverishment
Derivation: or מַחְסֹר; from 2637;
deficiency; hence, impoverishment
KJV: lack, need, penury, poor, poverty, want.
n.[m.] — need
מַחְסוֹר, מַחְסֹר n.[m.] need, thing needed, poverty
1. need = thing needed
2. lack, want
3. in gen., need, poverty
Bible49 app
Get translation compare, commentary, and interlinear study — offline, on iPhone and Mac.
See Bible49
Verse 16
Proverbs 22:16
This shows what evil courses rich men sometimes take, by which, in the end, they will impoverish themselves and provoke God, notwithstanding their abundance, to bring them to want; they oppress the poor and give to the rich. 1. They will not in charity relieve the poor, but withhold from them, that by saving that which is really the best, but which they think the most needless part of their expenses, they may increase their riches; but they will make presents to the rich, and give them great entertainments, either in pride and vain-glory, that they may look great, or in policy, that they may receive it again with advantage. Such shall surely come to want. Many have been beggared by a foolish generosity, but never any by a prudent charity. Christ bids us to invite the poor, Luk 14:12, Luk 14:13. 2. They not only will not relieve the poor, but they oppress them, rob the spital, extort from their poor tenants and neighbours, invade the rights of those who have not wherewithal to defend themselves, and then give bribes to the rich, to protect and countenance them in it. But it is all in vain; they shall come to want. Those that rob God, and so make him the enemy, cannot secure themselves by giving to the rich, to make them their friends.
Cross-references: Luke 14:12 · Luke 14:13