Proverbs 22 · Verse 7

Proverbs 22:7

The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
Proverbs 22:7, King James Version

Proverbs 22:7 in other translations

BSBThe rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
WEBThe rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.
ASVThe rich ruleth over the poor; And the borrower is servant to the lender.
YLTThe rich over the poor ruleth, And a servant is the borrower to the lender.
DARBYThe rich ruleth over the poor; and the borrower is servant to the lender.
BBEThe man of wealth has rule over the poor, and he who gets into debt is a servant to his creditor.
WebsterThe rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

What does Proverbs 22:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
7. The influence of wealth sets aside moral distinctions is implied, and, of course, disapproved (compare Pr 19:6; 21:14, &c.).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 7 The rich ruieth over the poor - So it is in the order of God, and may be a blessing to both.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
This shows how important it is for every man to keep out of debt. As to the things of this life, there is a difference between the rich and the poor; but let the poor remember, it is the Lord that made the difference.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 22:7 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.

עָ֭שִׁיר'A.shira rich [person]H6223
בְּרָשִׁ֣יםbe.ra.Shimover poor [people]H7326
יִמְשׁ֑וֹלyim.Sholhe rulesH4910
וְעֶ֥בֶדve.'E.vedand [is] a servantH5650
לֹ֝וֶ֗הlo.Veha borrowerH3867
לְאִ֣ישׁle.'Ishof a personH376
מַלְוֶֽה\׃mal.Veha lenderH3867

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

Cross references for Proverbs 22:7

  • 2 Kings 4:1

    Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.

  • Matthew 18:25

    But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

  • Proverbs 22:16

    He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.

  • Proverbs 18:23

    The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.

  • Proverbs 14:31

    He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.

  • James 2:6

    But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

  • Proverbs 22:22

    Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

  • James 5:1

    Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.

  • Amos 5:11-12

    Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them. For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.

  • Nehemiah 5:4-5

    There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards. Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.

  • Isaiah 24:2

    And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him.

  • Amos 8:6

    That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat?

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
rich.
16,22; 14:31; 18:23; Am 2:6; 4:1; 5:11,12; 8:4,6; Jas 2:6; 5:1,4
the borrower.
2Ki 4:1; Ne 5:4,5; Isa 24:2; Mt 18:25
lender. Heb. man that lendeth.

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

Context

  • Proverbs 22:6

    Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

  • Proverbs 22:7

    The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

  • Proverbs 22:8

    He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.

Read all of Proverbs 22

Proverbs 22:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El rico se enseñoreará de los pobres; y el que toma prestado, siervo es del que empresta.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Le riche gouverne les pauvres, et celui qui emprunte est serviteur de l’homme qui prête.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Der Reiche herrscht über den Armen, und der Borgende ist ein Knecht des Leihenden.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dives pauperibus imperat, et qui accipit mutuum servus est fœnerantis.