Proverbs 28:25
A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the LORD will be enriched.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The original wording for "greedy man" can also be understood as "wide of soul," which suggests an insatiable desire, not just for possessions, but for self-aggrandizement. This boundless ambition is what truly fuels strife, whereas trusting in the Lord brings a different kind of "enrichment"—one of contentment and peace, not a desperate pursuit.
This verse contrasts two ways of living: one driven by personal ambition and greed, the other by humble reliance on God. It follows passages about the consequences of wickedness and the rewards of righteousness, framing this verse as a direct observation on how one's inner disposition leads to outward conflict or peace. The contrast is sharp: the self-aggrandizing person creates turmoil, while the one who trusts in the Lord finds true enrichment and well-being.
What does it mean to have a 'wide soul,' and how does it lead to conflict? This verse unpacks the root of much human discord.
Proverbs 28:25 opens with a powerful contrast. The phrase 'greedy man' in many translations actually comes from a Hebrew concept that can be rendered as 'a man of a wide soul.' This doesn't mean someone with a big heart in a good way, but rather someone with an insatiable, ever-expanding desire.
The Heart of Strife
This 'wide soul' is characterized by:
This internal disposition inevitably spills outward, 'stirring up strife.' When a person's primary focus is their own inflated self or their endless desires, they create conflict. They push, they compete, they demand, and they often end up alienated and miserable, even if they gain something in the short term.
The verse offers a profound alternative to strife: trusting in the Lord. What does this 'enrichment' truly look like beyond material wealth?
The second half of Proverbs 28:25 presents a starkly different path: 'the one who trusts in the LORD will be enriched.' This isn't about a simple transaction where God hands over riches for faith. It’s about a transformation of the inner person that leads to a life of genuine well-being.
The Blessings of Divine Trust
Trusting in the Lord means:
Understand the original words
rechab-nephesh · Hebrew Adjective phrase
A strong, often sinful, desire for more; an insatiable craving for material things that displaces trust in God.
madon · Hebrew Noun
Conflict, contention, or a quarrel; often used to describe social or interpersonal friction caused by sinful behavior.
batach · Hebrew Verb
To rely upon, lean on, or place full confidence in; the active, continuous posture of dependence on God’s character and promises.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God in the Old Testament, representing His faithfulness, holiness, and the I AM who enters into relationship with His people.
This verse echoes the sentiment that pride leads to conflict, stating that a hot-tempered person stirs up strife, directly linking a proud heart to the turmoil mentioned in Proverbs 28:25.
James 4:1James directly asks where quarrels come from, answering that they arise from selfish desires and the lusts that war within people, providing a New Testament parallel to the 'greedy' or 'proud' heart that stirs up strife.
Proverbs 16:3This verse offers a strong contrast to the greedy and proud, emphasizing that committing your works to the Lord, rather than relying on self, will establish your plans, highlighting the foundational principle of trusting God for true prosperity.
Psalm 37:3-4This Psalm encourages trusting in the Lord and delighting in Him to receive the desires of your heart, offering a more detailed picture of the 'enrichment' promised to those who trust in the Lord, as opposed to the strife caused by evildoers.
Matthew 6:33Jesus' teaching to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness directly parallels the idea of trusting in the Lord, promising that all necessary things will be provided, aligning with the 'enriched' outcome for those who prioritize God over their own greedy desires.
pooleProverbs 28:25: "He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat."
He that is of a proud heart, whose property it is to overvalue himself, and to trust to himself and his own wit, or wealth, or strength, stirreth up strife, because he makes it his great business to advance and please himself, and hateth and opposeth all that stand in his way, and despiseth other men, and is very jealous of his honour, and impatient of the least slighti…
pulpitProverbs 28:25: "He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat."
Verse 25. - He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife (Proverbs 15:18; Proverbs 29:22); literally, he that is of a wide soul. This may certainly denote pride (qui se jactat et dilatat, Vulgate), in which case the gnome says that one who thinks much of himself and despises others is the cause of quarrels and dissensions, occasioned by his struggles for pre-eminence…
The original wording for "greedy man" can also be understood as "wide of soul," which suggests an insatiable desire, not just for possessions, but for self-aggrandizement. This boundless ambition is what truly fuels strife, whereas trusting in the Lord brings a different kind of "enrichment"—one of contentment and peace, not a desperate pursuit.
This verse contrasts two ways of living: one driven by personal ambition and greed, the other by humble reliance on God. It follows passages about the consequences of wickedness and the rewards of righteousness, framing this verse as a direct observation on how one's inner disposition leads to outward conflict or peace. The contrast is sharp: the self-aggrandizing person creates turmoil, while the one who trusts in the Lord finds true enrichment and well-being.
This verse contrasts two ways of living: one driven by personal ambition and greed, the other by humble reliance on God. It follows passages about the consequences of wickedness and the rewards of righteousness, framing this verse as a direct observation on how one's inner disposition leads to outward conflict or peace. The contrast is sharp: the self-aggrandizing person creates turmoil, while the one who trusts in the Lord finds true enrichment and well-being.
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This trust leads to being 'enriched.' This enrichment isn't solely material, though God may bless His faithful with abundance. More importantly, it signifies a rich inner life: peace, comfort, security, and a deep, lasting happiness that strife-filled lives can never achieve. It's a state of being 'fat' – full, satisfied, and blessed in God's care.
"A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the LORD will be enriched." — The original wording for "greedy man" can also be understood as "wide of soul," which suggests an insatiable desire, not just for possessions, but for self-aggrandizement. This boundless ambition is…
