Proverbs 28 · Verse 3

Proverbs 28:3

A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

Proverbs 28:3, King James Version

Proverbs 28:3 in other translations

BSB	A destitute leader who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no food.
WEB	A needy man who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain which leaves no crops.
ASV	A needy man that oppresseth the poor Is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.
YLT	A man--poor and oppressing the weak, Is a sweeping rain, and there is no bread.
DARBY	A poor man who oppresseth the helpless is a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.
BBE	A man of wealth who is cruel to the poor is like a violent rain causing destruction of food.
Webster	A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

What does Proverbs 28:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

3. A poor man, &c.--Such, in power, exact more severely, and so leave subjects bare.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 3 A poor man that oppresseth the poor - Our Lord illustrates this proverb most beautifully, by the parable of the two debtors, Mat 18:23. One owed ten thousand talents, was insolvent, begged for time, was forgiven. A fellow servant owed this one a hundred pence: he was insolvent; but prayed his fellow servant to give him a little time, and he would pay it all. He would not, took him by the throat, and cast him into prison till he should pay that debt. Here the poor oppressed the poor; and what was the consequence? The oppressing poor was delivered to the tormentors; and the forgiven debt charged to his amount, because he showed no mercy. The comparatively poor are often shockingly uncharitable and unfeeling towards the real poor. Like a sweeping rain - These are frequent in the East; and sometimes carry flocks, crops, and houses, away with them.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

If needy persons get opportunities of oppressing, their extortion will be more severe than that of the more wealthy.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 28:3 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.

גֶּ֣בֶרGe.vera manH1397

רָ֭שׁrashpoorH7326

וְעֹשֵׁ֣קve.'o.Shekand [who] oppressesH6231

דַּלִּ֑יםda.Limpoor [people]H1800

מָטָ֥רma.TarrainH4306

סֹ֝חֵ֗ףso.Chef[which] washes awayH5502

וְאֵ֣יןve.'Einand there notH369

לָֽחֶם\׃La.chem[is] foodH3899

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

Cross references for Proverbs 28:3

Matthew 18:28-30
But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

poor man.
Mt 18:28-30
which leaveth no food. Heb. without food.

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

Context

Proverbs 28:2
For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.
Proverbs 28:3
A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.
Proverbs 28:4
They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.

Read all of Proverbs 28

Proverbs 28:3 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	El hombre pobre y robador de los pobres, es lluvia de avenida y sin pan.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	L’homme pauvre qui opprime les misérables est une pluie violente qui ne laisse point de pain.
German Elberfelder 1871	Ein armer Mann, der Geringe bedrückt, ist ein Regen, der hinwegschwemmt und kein Brot bringt.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Vir pauper calumnians pauperes similis est imbri vehementi in quo paratur fames.