The Meaning of Proverbs 22:7 Explained

Proverbs 22:7

KJV: The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

YLT: The rich over the poor ruleth, And a servant is the borrower to the lender.

Darby: The rich ruleth over the poor; and the borrower is servant to the lender.

ASV: The rich ruleth over the poor; And the borrower is servant to the lender.

Discover Proverbs 22:7

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Proverbs 22:7?

MEANING: What does Proverbs 22:7 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Proverbs 22:7 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Proverbs 22:7?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The rich  ruleth  over the poor,  and the borrower  [is] servant  to the lender. 

What does Proverbs 22:7 Mean?

Verse Meaning

This verse does not forbid borrowing. In Israel the Jews borrowed from one another. The Mosaic Law permitted this but condemned charging other Jews interest ( Exodus 22:25; Deuteronomy 23:19; Deuteronomy 28:12; Deuteronomy 28:44), though the Israelites could charge foreigners interest ( Deuteronomy 23:20). The New Testament does not forbid borrowing either, though it forbids not paying debts ( Romans 13:6-8). It may be unwise to go into debt in some situations, but it is going too far to say that the Bible condemns going into debt.
"While a certain amount of honest debt is expected in today"s world, and everybody wants to achieve a good credit rating, we must be careful not to mistake presumption for faith. As the familiar adage puts it, "When your outgo exceeds your income, then your upkeep is your downfall."" [1]
This verse warns the borrower that he puts himself in a vulnerable position by borrowing. He becomes dependent on another or others by borrowing. An unscrupulous lender might take advantage of him. Most lenders will not take unfair advantage of someone who borrows from them, but the borrower should be aware of this possibility.
"The verse may be referring to the apparently common practice of Israelites selling themselves into slavery to pay off debts (see Exodus 21:2-7). It is not appreciably different from the modern debtor who is working to pay off bills." [2]

Context Summary

Proverbs 22:1-16 - "he That Loveth Pureness Of Heart"
Great riches are not always a great blessing. When they are held in trust for God, they afford the opportunity of giving a vast amount of happiness to the benefactor as well as to those benefited. But we recall other riches, which do not consist in what a man has, but in what he is. There are four levels of human experience-to have, to do, to know, and to be-and these in their order are like iron, silver, gold, precious stones.
Some of these riches are enumerated here: a good name and loving favor, Proverbs 22:1; the faith that hides in God, Proverbs 22:3; true humility and godly fear, Proverbs 22:4; the child-heart, Proverbs 22:6; the beautiful eye and open hand, Proverbs 22:9; purity of heart and thought, Proverbs 22:11; alacrity and diligence, Proverbs 22:13. If only we would cultivate the inward graces and gifts of our soul-life, all who feel our influence would be proportionately enriched. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 22

1  A good name is more desirable than great wealth

What do the individual words in Proverbs 22:7 mean?

The rich over the poor rules and servant the borrower [is] to the lender
עָ֭שִׁיר בְּרָשִׁ֣ים יִמְשׁ֑וֹל וְעֶ֥בֶד לֹ֝וֶ֗ה לְאִ֣ישׁ מַלְוֶֽה

עָ֭שִׁיר  The  rich 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: עָשִׁיר  
Sense: rich, wealthy n.
בְּרָשִׁ֣ים  over  the  poor 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: רוּשׁ  
Sense: to be poor, be in want, lack.
יִמְשׁ֑וֹל  rules 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָשַׁל  
Sense: to rule, have dominion, reign.
וְעֶ֥בֶד  and  servant 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
לֹ֝וֶ֗ה  the  borrower  [is] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: לָוָה 
Sense: to join, be joined.
מַלְוֶֽה  the  lender 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: לָוָה 
Sense: to join, be joined.

What are the major concepts related to Proverbs 22:7?

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