Proverbs 13 · Verse 7

Proverbs 13:7

There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.

Proverbs 13:7, King James Version

Proverbs 13:7 in other translations

BSB	One pretends to be rich, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
WEB	There are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing. There are some who pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.
ASV	There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: There is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great wealth.
YLT	There is who is making himself rich, and hath nothing, Who is making himself poor, and wealth is abundant.
DARBY	There is that feigneth himself rich, and hath nothing; there is that maketh himself poor, and hath great wealth.
BBE	A man may be acting as if he had wealth, but have nothing; another may seem poor, but have great wealth.
Webster	There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.

What does Proverbs 13:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

7. In opposite ways men act hypocritically for gain of honor or wealth.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 7 There is that maketh himself rich - That labors hard to acquire money, yet hath nothing; his excessive covetousness not being satisfied with what he possesses, nor permitting him to enjoy with comfort what he has acquired. The fable of the dog in the manger will illustrate this. There is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches - "As poor," said St. Paul, "yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing all things." The former is the rich poor man; the latter is the poor rich man. As the words are here in the hithpael conjugation, which implies reflex action, or the action performed on one's self, and often signifies feigning or pretending to be what one is not, or not to be what one is; the words may be understood of persons who feign or pretend to be either richer or poorer than they really are, to accomplish some particular purpose. "There is that feigneth himself to be rich, yet hath nothing; there is that feigneth himself to be poor, yet hath great riches." Both these characters frequently occur in life.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

Some who are really poor, trade and spend as if they were rich: this is sin, and will be shame, and it will end accordingly. Some that are really rich, would be thought to be poor: in this there is want of gratitude to God, want of justice and charity to others. There are many hypocrites, empty of grace, who will not be convinced of their poverty. There are many fearing Christians, who are spiritually rich, yet think themselves poor; by their doubts, and complaints, and griefs, they make themselves poor.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 13:7 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

יֵ֣שׁyeshthereH3426

מִ֭תְעַשֵּׁרMit.'a.sher[is one who] enriches himselfH6238

וְאֵ֣יןve.'Einand there notH369

כֹּ֑לKol[is] anythingH3605

מִ֝תְרוֹשֵׁ֗שׁmit.ro.Shesh[one who] impoverishes himselfH7326

וְה֣וֹןve.Honand wealthH1952

רָֽב\׃RavgreatH7227

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 13:7

Revelation 3:17
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Luke 18:11-14
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Proverbs 11:24
There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
Proverbs 12:9
He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.
2 Corinthians 6:10
As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
James 2:5
Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
2 Corinthians 4:7
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
Luke 12:21
So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Proverbs 13:11
Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.
2 Peter 2:19
While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
Ecclesiastes 11:1-2
Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
1 Corinthians 4:10-11
We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

is that maketh himself rich.
11; 12:9; Lu 18:11-14; 1Co 4:8; 2Pe 2:19; Re 3:17
that maketh himself poor.
Ec 11:1,2; 1Co 4:10,11; 2Co 4:7; Re 2:9

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Proverbs 13:6
Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
Proverbs 13:7
There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.
Proverbs 13:8
The ransom of a man’s life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.

Read all of Proverbs 13

Proverbs 13:7 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Hay quienes se hacen ricos, y no tienen nada: y hay quienes se hacen pobres, y tienen muchas riquezas.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Tel fait le riche et n’a rien du tout; et tel se fait pauvre et a de grands biens.
German Elberfelder 1871	Da ist einer, der sich reich stellt und hat gar nichts, und einer, der sich arm stellt und hat viel Vermögen.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Est quasi dives, cum nihil habeat, et est quasi pauper, cum in multis divitiis sit.