Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Proverbs 22:16
What does Proverbs 22:16 mean?
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Proverbs 22:16
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This verse isn't just about two separate bad actions; it's showing how greed operates in two seemingly opposite ways, both driven by selfishness and both leading to ruin. Whether you're crushing the poor to get rich or showering the wealthy with gifts to gain their favor, you're ultimately on a path that depletes everything you have.
Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This proverb stands in a section of Proverbs focusing on the wise use of wealth and the dangers of greed. It contrasts two actions—exploiting the vulnerable for personal gain and showering favors on those already well-off—and declares they both lead to ruin, underscoring God's concern for justice and the poor.
Ever feel like taking advantage of someone makes you win? This proverb flips that idea on its head, showing how true wealth isn't built on exploiting others.
The first part of the verse warns against oppressing the poor to get richer.
The Illusion of Profit
It seems straightforward: if you take from someone who has little, you have more, right? But this proverb points out a spiritual and practical truth: such 'gains' are hollow. Exploiting the vulnerable doesn't create real abundance; it's like hoarding dust. True prosperity comes from righteous practices, not from causing hardship to others.
Divine Accounting
God sees these actions. The accumulation of wealth through injustice is ultimately fleeting. It’s a form of self-deception, pursuing riches that will ultimately lead to spiritual and often material poverty.
What happens when you try to 'help' those who already have plenty? This proverb reveals that this isn't generosity, but a misguided path to your own ruin.
The second part of the verse addresses the act of 'giving to the rich'.
Misplaced Generosity
This isn't about helping a wealthy friend in need. Instead, it speaks to several possibilities:
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The End Result: Poverty
Whether through waste, corrupt deals, or enabling laziness, the end result is the same: the giver ultimately comes to want. This act, disguised as strategy or generosity, is a road to personal poverty, both materially and spiritually. It's a loss disguised as a gain or a gift.
This proverb isn't just about finances; it's a profound statement about God's moral order. What seems like a worldly maxim is actually a spiritual reality.
The verse presents a striking balance: actions that seem to promise gain actually lead to loss, and actions that seem like loss or folly lead to ruin.
Retributive Justice
Many scholars suggest the verse implies a form of divine retribution or natural consequence. Oppressing the poor to gain wealth might result in being oppressed by someone richer and more powerful, leading you to lose what you gained. Giving to the rich, perhaps to secure their favor, might leave you with nothing when they fail to deliver or when your resources are depleted.
The Moral Compass of Proverbs
Proverbs consistently reveals that there is a moral order to the universe. God’s justice ensures that actions have consequences, especially those that violate His principles of fairness and compassion. The righteous path, even if it appears to involve less immediate gain or even perceived loss, is the path that ultimately leads to true prosperity and security.
A Warning and a Promise
This verse serves as a stark warning against unethical practices and misplaced priorities. It simultaneously implies a promise: that those who act justly and wisely will, in the end, not come to want. God’s favor rests on righteousness.
Understand the original words
ʿāšaq · Hebrew Verb
To treat someone unjustly, unfairly, or cruelly, often by taking advantage of their vulnerability or lack of power. Throughout Scripture, God strongly condemns those who exploit the defenseless, warning of divine judgment for such behavior.
dāl · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Those who lack material resources, social standing, or influence. The Bible frequently speaks of God's special concern for the poor, commanding His people to protect and provide for them rather than ignore or mistreat them.
hôn · Hebrew Noun
Material possessions, abundance, or prosperity. While wealth itself is often viewed as a blessing from God, the Bible warns heavily against the love of money, dishonest gain, and relying on material success rather than on God.
This passage echoes the principle that faithfulness with what is entrusted to us, even in seemingly small matters, is key. Oppressing the poor for personal gain is a gross misuse of resources, showing a lack of faithfulness that will ultimately lead to ruin.
Proverbs 28:8This verse directly parallels Proverbs 22:16, stating that riches gained through usury and injustice will be scattered and given to the poor, reinforcing the idea that ill-gotten wealth is temporary and ultimately leads to want.
James 5:1-6James provides a stark warning to the rich who have oppressed the poor, emphasizing that their hoarded wealth is corrupted and will cry out against them. This vividly illustrates the divine judgment awaiting those who exploit the vulnerable for personal gain.
Amos 8:4-6The prophet Amos condemns those who trample the needy and exploit the poor for profit, showing how God sees and will judge such injustice. This passage highlights the ethical responsibility to care for the poor, not to exploit them.
jfbProverbs 22:16: "He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want."
- These two vices pertain to the same selfish feeling. Both are deservedly odious to God and incur punishment.
bensonProverbs 22:16: "He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want."
Proverbs 22:16 . He that oppresseth the poor — That extorts what is not due to him from his poor tenants and neighbours, invades their rights, and takes advantage of their ignorance, or want of experience, or necessity, to increase his riches; and he that giveth to the rich — That vainly and prodigally casts away his estate on those who do not need it, or gives it to…
This verse isn't just about two separate bad actions; it's showing how greed operates in two seemingly opposite ways, both driven by selfishness and both leading to ruin. Whether you're crushing the poor to get rich or showering the wealthy with gifts to gain their favor, you're ultimately on a path that depletes everything you have.
This proverb stands in a section of Proverbs focusing on the wise use of wealth and the dangers of greed. It contrasts two actions—exploiting the vulnerable for personal gain and showering favors on those already well-off—and declares they both lead to ruin, underscoring God's concern for justice and the poor.
This proverb stands in a section of Proverbs focusing on the wise use of wealth and the dangers of greed. It contrasts two actions—exploiting the vulnerable for personal gain and showering favors on those already well-off—and declares they both lead to ruin, underscoring God's concern for justice and the poor.
"Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty." — This verse isn't just about two separate bad actions; it's showing how greed operates in two seemingly opposite ways, both driven by selfishness and both leading to ruin. Whether you're crushing the…
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Last reviewed October 2026