John Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 28:8

A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.

Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.

He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, etc.] By biting and oppressing the poor; letting him have money at an exorbitant interest, and goods at an exorbitant price, and so increases his substance in this scandalous manner; hence usury is in (<032536>Leviticus 25:36), called “increase”, and by the Greeks tokov, a “birth”, because money is the birth of money, as Aristotlef776 observes; and so by the Latins “foenus”, as if it was “foetus”f777, “a birth”. The word for usury here signifies biting; and so usury, with classical writersf778, is said to bite; and while it increases the substance of the usurer, it lessens and devours that of others; he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor; not for himself, nor for his posterity; but for such, though not intentionally but eventually, as will make a good use of it, and distribute it to the necessities of the poor. The meaning is, that things should be so overruled by the providence of God, that what such an avaricious man gets in his dishonest way should not be enjoyed by him or his; but should be taken out of his hands, and put into the hands of another, that will do good with it, by showing mercy to the poor; see (<182716>Job 27:16,17).

Read Proverbs 28:8 →Read the full chapter →Jamieson, Fausset & Brown →Barnes' Notes →Tyndale Open Study Notes →Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge →Keil & Delitzsch →

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