The Meaning of Proverbs 13:11 Explained

Proverbs 13:11

KJV: Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

YLT: Wealth from vanity becometh little, And whoso is gathering by the hand becometh great.

Darby: Wealth gotten by vanity diminisheth; but he that gathereth by manual-labour shall increase it.

ASV: Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished; But he that gathereth by labor shall have increase.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Wealth  [gotten] by vanity  shall be diminished:  but he that gathereth  by labour  shall increase. 

What does Proverbs 13:11 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Wealth obtained by fraud would be money gotten by not working for it. This kind of income dwindles, in that: though it is "easy come," it is also "easy go."
"This is a warning against wild speculation." [1]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 13

1  a scoffer does not listen to rebuke

What do the individual words in Proverbs 13:11 mean?

Wealth [gained] by] dishonesty will be diminished but he who gathers by labor will increase
ה֭וֹן מֵהֶ֣בֶל יִמְעָ֑ט וְקֹבֵ֖ץ עַל־ יָ֣ד יַרְבֶּֽה

ה֭וֹן  Wealth  [gained] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: הֹון  
Sense: wealth, riches, substance.
מֵהֶ֣בֶל  by]  dishonesty 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: הֶבֶל  
Sense: vapour, breath.
יִמְעָ֑ט  will  be  diminished 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָעַט  
Sense: to be or become small, be few, be diminished.
וְקֹבֵ֖ץ  but  he  who  gathers 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: קָבַץ  
Sense: to gather, assemble.
יָ֣ד  labor 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
יַרְבֶּֽה  will  increase 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: הַרְבָּה 
Sense: be or become great, be or become many, be or become much, be or become numerous.