Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Proverbs 21:17
What does Proverbs 21:17 mean?
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Proverbs 21:17
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This verse isn't just about avoiding partying; it's about the deep cost of prioritizing sensual gratification. "Wine and oil" represent not just drink and food, but the expensive, even luxurious, accompaniments to feasts—the very symbol of extravagant indulgence that drains resources.
Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This proverb is part of a larger section where the wise sage offers contrasts between the righteous and the wicked, and those who are wise and those who are foolish. Just before this, Proverbs 21:16 speaks about straying from the way of understanding leading to the dead. Therefore, this verse continues the theme of consequences, directly linking a lifestyle of pursuing immediate gratification through luxury and pleasure with the predictable outcome of financial ruin.
The verse starts with a bold declaration: loving pleasure leads to poverty. What kind of 'pleasure' are we talking about here, and how does it drain our resources?
The proverb isn't condemning joy or relaxation. Instead, it targets an all-consuming pursuit of sensual gratification. This isn't just about occasional treats; it's about making 'pleasure' the driving force of your life.
The Draining Effect
When pleasure becomes the master, it demands constant feeding. This can manifest as:
It’s a slippery slope where the desire for more comfort and excitement can quickly erode one's ability to provide and thrive.
Why 'wine and oil'? These weren't just everyday items but carried significant cultural weight. What do they represent in this proverb, and why is their immoderate love a sure path away from wealth?
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In ancient Near Eastern culture, wine and oil were more than just sustenance; they were markers of prosperity and luxury.
The Luxury Factor
Understand the original words
simchah · Hebrew Noun
Self-indulgence or worldly gratification that distracts from duty, wisdom, and the pursuit of God. It is often contrasted with the discipline required for godliness.
This parable highlights the folly of accumulating possessions for selfish pleasure, warning that such a focus leads to spiritual poverty, a concept that echoes the material poverty warned against in Proverbs.
1 Timothy 6:10It states that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and Proverbs 21:17 shows how the love of pleasure and luxury can directly lead to financial ruin and a lack of true riches.
Titus 2:11-12These verses describe the grace of God that teaches us to live self-controlled, godly lives, directly contrasting with the undisciplined pursuit of pleasure and luxury condemned in Proverbs 21:17.
Matthew 6:24Jesus taught that one cannot serve both God and money, and Proverbs 21:17 illustrates how prioritizing earthly pleasures (often requiring money) distracts from serving God and achieving true, lasting wealth.
bensonProverbs 21:17: "He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich."
Proverbs 21:17 . He that loveth pleasure — That gives himself up to the pursuit and enjoyment of sensual pleasure; shall be a poor man — Takes the ready course to poverty. He that loveth wine and oil — Which were much used in feasts in those parts; that is, he that loves to feast and live delicately; shall not be rich — For the lusts of sensuality are not maintained but at a great expen…
clarkeProverbs 21:17: "He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich."
He that loveth pleasure - That follows gaming, fowling, hunting, coursing, etc., when he should be attending to the culture of the fields, shall be a poor man; and, I may safely add, shall be so deservedly poor, as to have none to pity him.
This verse isn't just about avoiding partying; it's about the deep cost of prioritizing sensual gratification. "Wine and oil" represent not just drink and food, but the expensive, even luxurious, accompaniments to feasts—the very symbol of extravagant indulgence that drains resources.
This proverb is part of a larger section where the wise sage offers contrasts between the righteous and the wicked, and those who are wise and those who are foolish. Just before this, Proverbs 21:16 speaks about straying from the way of understanding leading to the dead. Therefore, this verse continues the theme of consequences, directly linking a lifestyle of pursuing immediate gratification through luxury and pleasure with the predictable outcome of financial ruin.
This proverb is part of a larger section where the wise sage offers contrasts between the righteous and the wicked, and those who are wise and those who are foolish. Just before this, Proverbs 21:16 speaks about straying from the way of understanding leading to the dead. Therefore, this verse continues the theme of consequences, directly linking a lifestyle of pursuing immediate gratification through luxury and pleasure with the predictable outcome of financial ruin.
"Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich." — This verse isn't just about avoiding partying; it's about the deep cost of prioritizing sensual gratification. "Wine and oil" represent not just drink and food, but the expensive, even luxurious, acc…
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Last reviewed October 2026