Proverbs 11:26

“He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him, etc.] That hoards it up for a better price, in hopes of a better market; and does not bring it out, and expose it to sale, when there is a scarcity of it; so the Targum adds, “in famine”; or, “in straits”, as the Syriac version; in a time of distress through, famine: this will bring the curse of the poor upon him, who will imprecate the most dreadful things on him and his family. Jarchi interprets it of the law, and of withholding the teaching of it; but it may be better applied to the Gospel, and the withholding the ministration of that, and so causing a famine, not of bread and of water, but of hearing the word of the Lord; which is…”

“Another example of the truth of Pro 11:23; the miser loses reputation, though he saves corn. selleth it--that is, at a fair price.”

“In the early stages of commerce there seems no way of making money rapidly so sure as that of buying up grain in time of famine, waiting until the dearth presses heavily, and then selling at famine prices. Men hate this selfishness, and pour blessings upon him who sells at a moderate profit. return to 'Top of Page'”

“With - holdeth corn - In a time of scarcity. Selleth - Upon reasonable terms. Proverbs 11:27”

“that withholdeth: Amo 8:4-6 blessing: Job 29:13 Proverbs 11:27”

“26 Whoso withholdeth corn, him the people curse; But blessing is on the head of him that selleth it. This proverb is directed against the corn-usurer, whose covetousness and deceitful conduct is described in Amo 8:4-8. But whilst it is there said that they cannot wait till the burdensome interruption of their usurious conduct on account of the sacred days come to an end, the figure here is of a different aspect of their character: they hold back their stores of corn in the times of scarcity, for they speculate on receiving yet higher prices for it. בּר (from בּרר, to purify, to be pure) is thrashed grain, cf. Arab. burr, wheat, and naḳḳy of the cleaning of the grain by the separation from…”