Proverbs Chapter 22

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry 29 Verses

What is Proverbs 22 about?

Practical wisdom for daily life, family, work, and worship, all rooted in the fear of the LORD. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1A [good] name is rather to be chosen than great riches, [And] loving favor rather than silver and gold.
2The rich and the poor meet together: Jehovah is the maker of them all.
3A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
4The reward of humility [and] the fear of Jehovah [Is] riches, and honor, and life.
5Thorns [and] snares are in the way of the perverse: He that keepeth his soul shall be far from them.
6Train up a child in the way he should go, And even when he is old he will not depart from it.
7The rich ruleth over the poor; And the borrower is servant to the lender.
8He that soweth iniquity shall reap calamity; And the rod of his wrath shall fail.
9He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; For he giveth of his bread to the poor.
10Cast out the scoffer, and contention will go out; Yea, strife and ignominy will cease.
11He that loveth pureness of heart, [For] the grace of his lips the king will be his friend.
12The eyes of Jehovah preserve [him that hath] knowledge; But he overthroweth the words of the treacherous man.
13The sluggard saith, There is a lion without: I shall be slain in the streets.
14The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: He that is abhorred of Jehovah shall fall therein.
15Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; [But] the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
16He that oppresseth the poor to increase his [gain], [And] he that giveth to the rich, [shall come] only to want.
17Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And apply thy heart unto my knowledge.
18For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee, If they be established together upon thy lips.
19That thy trust may be in Jehovah, I have made [them] known to thee this day, even to thee.
20Have not I written unto thee excellent things Of counsels and knowledge,
21To make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, That thou mayest carry back words of truth to them that send thee?
22Rob not the poor, because he is poor; Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
23For Jehovah will plead their cause, And despoil of life those that despoil them.
24Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger; And with a wrathful man thou shalt not go:
25Lest thou learn this ways, And get a snare to thy soul.
26Be thou not one of them that strike hands, [Or] of them that are sureties for debts.
27If thou hast not wherewith to pay, Why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
28Remove not the ancient landmark, Which thy fathers have set.
29Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; He shall not stand before mean men.

What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“A [good] name [is] rather to be chosen than great riches, etc.] The word “good” is not in the text, but is rightly supplied, as it is by the Targum, Septuagint, and Vulgate Latin versions; for it is not any name that is more eligible than riches; nor is it a need name among any sort of persons; for to have a good name with some turns to a man’s reproach rather than to his credit; but a good name among good men, a name in the house of God, which is better than sons and daughters; a new name, the name of the children of God, which no man knoweth but he that receiveth it; this is to be preferred to a multitude of…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“(Pro. 22:1-29) A good name-- (Job 30:8, Hebrew); "good" is supplied here from Ecc 7:1. loving favour--kind regard, that is, of the wise and good.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“Omit “good.” The word is an insertion. To the Hebrew, “name” by itself conveyed the idea of good repute, just as “men without a name” (compare Job 30:8 margin) are those sunk in ignominy. The margin gives a preferable rendering of the second clause of this verse. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“Favour - A good report among men, especially good men, and that hearty kindness which attends it. Proverbs 22:2”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“22:1 A wise person will never compromise his reputation in pursuit of money.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“name: Kg1 1:47; Ecc 7:1; Luk 10:20; Phi 4:3; Heb 11:39 loving favour rather than: or, favour is better than, etc. Act 7:10 Proverbs 22:2”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · on verse 1
“Pro 21:1 1 A good name has the preference above great riches; For more than silver and gold is grace. The proverb is constructed chiastically; the commencing word נבחר (cf. Pro 21:3), and the concluding word טוב, are the parallel predicates; rightly, none of the old translators have been misled to take together חן טוב, after the analogy of שׂכל טוב, Pro 3:14; Pro 13:15. שׁם also does not need טוב for nearer determination; the more modern idiom uses שׁם טוב, (Note: e.g., Aboth iv. 17: there are three crowns: the crown of the Tra, the crown of the priesthood, and the crown of royalty; but כתר שׁם טוב, the crown of…”
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