Proverbs 14 · Verse 21

Proverbs 14:21

He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

Proverbs 14:21, King James Version

Proverbs 14:21 in other translations

BSB	He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor.
WEB	He who despises his neighbor sins, but he who has pity on the poor is blessed.
ASV	He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth; But he that hath pity on the poor, happy is he.
YLT	Whoso is despising his neighbour sinneth, Whoso is favouring the humble, O his happiness.
DARBY	He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth; but he that is gracious to the afflicted, happy is he.
BBE	He who has no respect for his neighbour is a sinner, but he who has pity for the poor is happy.
Webster	He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

What does Proverbs 14:21 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

21. For such contempt of the poor is contrasted as sinful with the virtuous compassion of the good.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 21 He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth - To despise a man because he has some natural blemish is unjust, cruel, and wicked. He is not the author of his own imperfections; they did not occur through his fault or folly; and if he could, he would not retain them. It is, therefore, unjust and wicked to despise him for what is not his fault, but his misfortune. But he that hath mercy on the poor - Who reproaches no man for his poverty or scanty intellect, but divides his bread with the hungry - happy is he; the blessing of God, and of them that were ready to perish, shall come upon him.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

To despise a man for his employment or appearance is a sin.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 14:21 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.

בָּז\־boz-[one who] despisesH936

לְרֵעֵ֥הוּle.re.'E.hu<to> neighbor hisH7453

חוֹטֵ֑אcho.Te'[is] sinningH2398

וּמְחוֹנֵ֖ןu.me.cho.Nenand [one who] shows favor toH2603

עֲנָוִ֣יםa.na.yimhumble [people]H6035

אַשְׁרָֽיו\׃'ash.Ravhow blessed [is] heH835

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

Cross references for Proverbs 14:21

Proverbs 28:27
He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
Proverbs 11:12
He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
Proverbs 19:17
He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
Proverbs 17:5
Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
1 John 3:17-22
But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. …
Proverbs 18:3
When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
Proverbs 14:31
He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
Matthew 25:34-46
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? …
Job 35:5-6
Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou. If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?
Job 31:13-15
If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me; What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him? Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?
Psalms 112:9
He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.
Hebrews 6:12
That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

that despiseth.
11:12; 17:5; 18:3; Job 31:13-15; 35:5,6; Ps 22:24; Lu 18:9
Jas 2:5,6,14-16
he that hath.
31; 11:24,25; 19:17; 28:27; Ps 41:1,2; 112:5,9; Ec 11:1,2
Isa 58:7-12; Da 4:27; Mt 25:34-46; Lu 6:30-36; Ac 20:35; Heb 6:12
1Jo 3:17-22

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

Context

Proverbs 14:20
The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
Proverbs 14:21
He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
Proverbs 14:22
Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.

Read all of Proverbs 14

Proverbs 14:21 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Peca el que menosprecia á su prójimo: mas el que tiene misericordia de los pobres, es bienaventurado.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Qui méprise son prochain pèche, mais bienheureux celui qui use de grâce envers les malheureux!
German Elberfelder 1871	Wer seinen Nächsten verachtet, sündigt; wer aber der Elenden sich erbarmt, ist glückselig.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Qui despicit proximum suum peccat; qui autem miseretur pauperis beatus erit. Qui credit in Domino misericordiam diligit.