Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse doesn't just tell us to give to others, but calls them the "owners" of what we have to spare. This reframes our wealth not as ours alone, but as a trust from God, meant to be shared with those in genuine need. It’s a powerful reminder that true ownership lies with the Creator, and we are simply stewards.
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse is part of a larger section of Proverbs that contrasts the paths of wisdom and folly, focusing on practical righteousness and kindness. Following instructions on trusting God and living with integrity, this passage shifts to active benevolence, urging readers not to delay acts of good, whether it's paying debts, offering wise counsel, or helping those in need. The context emphasizes that God sees our actions (or inactions) towards others as a direct reflection of our relationship with Him.
Ever feel like your resources aren't truly 'yours'? This verse suggests a radical idea about ownership.
The proverb speaks of withholding good from 'them to whom it is due,' literally from 'the lords' or 'owners' of it.
Who Are These 'Owners'?
This isn't just about paying back a loan. The commentators point to a deeper truth:
Delaying help can be just as harmful as denying it. This verse has a message for the procrastinators among us.
The proverb doesn't just say what to do, but also when. It's paired with an implied warning against putting it off.
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No Room for 'Tomorrow'
Understand the original words
tob · Hebrew Noun
Actions, resources, or moral integrity that are beneficial, useful, or righteous. In this context, it refers to fulfilling obligations or showing kindness to others as part of living in obedience to God.
This passage directly speaks to accountability based on what one has been given, echoing the Proverbs' call to share good when it's in your power.
Galatians 6:10Paul urges believers to 'do good to all people' especially to those in the family of faith, aligning with the proverb's call to act when the opportunity (and ability) is present.
1 Timothy 6:17-19This passage instructs the wealthy not to be arrogant but to be generous and ready to share, framing wealth as a tool for good works, similar to Proverbs 3:27's emphasis on wielding your power for good.
James 2:15-16James questions the genuineness of faith if one hoards resources and doesn't help those in need, highlighting the ethical obligation to share when you have the means, just as Proverbs advises.
bensonProverbs 3:27: "Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it."
Proverbs 3:27-28 . Withhold not good — Do not deny it, but readily and cheerfully impart it; from them to whom it is due — Hebrew, מבעליו , literally, from the lords, or owners of it: which some refer to the restitution of goods gained unjustly; but the connection requires that we understand the clause in a more extensive sense. The good here spoken of must be considered as being appl…
clarkeProverbs 3:27: "Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it."
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due - מבעליו mibbealaiv, from the lords of it. But who are they? The poor. And what art thou, O rich man? Why, thou art a steward, to whom God has given substance that thou mayest divide with the poor. They are the right owners of every farthing thou hast to spare from thy own support, and that of thy family; and God has given the surplus for…
The verse doesn't just tell us to give to others, but calls them the "owners" of what we have to spare. This reframes our wealth not as ours alone, but as a trust from God, meant to be shared with those in genuine need. It’s a powerful reminder that true ownership lies with the Creator, and we are simply stewards.
This verse is part of a larger section of Proverbs that contrasts the paths of wisdom and folly, focusing on practical righteousness and kindness. Following instructions on trusting God and living with integrity, this passage shifts to active benevolence, urging readers not to delay acts of good, whether it's paying debts, offering wise counsel, or helping those in need. The context emphasizes that God sees our actions (or inactions) towards others as a direct reflection of our relationship with Him.
This verse is part of a larger section of Proverbs that contrasts the paths of wisdom and folly, focusing on practical righteousness and kindness. Following instructions on trusting God and living with integrity, this passage shifts to active benevolence, urging readers not to delay acts of good, whether it's paying debts, offering wise counsel, or helping those in need. The context emphasizes that God sees our actions (or inactions) towards others as a direct reflection of our relationship with Him.
"Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it." — The verse doesn't just tell us to give to others, but calls them the "owners" of what we have to spare. This reframes our wealth not as ours alone, but as a trust from God, meant to be shared with th…
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Last reviewed October 2026