Proverbs 12:9
in Proverbs 12Better to be lightly esteemed yet have a servant, than to be self-important but lack food.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Better is he that is lightly esteemed, and hath a servant, Than he that honoreth himself, and lacketh bread.
KJV
He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.
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This verse in Proverbs 12
Commentary
7 notes on this verseBetter is the poor who is sufficient for himself, etc. Better is the simple and humble brother, who, working the good he knows, earns life in heaven, than he who is renowned for scripture learning or even performs the office of a doctor, but lacks …
This site's exposition
A man is praised according to his wisdom
on Proverbs 12:8-9
“A man is praised according to his wisdom,” and verse 9 tests that standard. It is better “to be lightly esteemed yet have a servant,” keeping a household running, “than to be self-important but lack food”. The verse sets real provision above self-regard, however the neighbors rank a man.
This site's exposition
Better to be lightly esteemed yet have a servant
A lightly esteemed man with a servant stands above poverty. Albert Barnes gives a second reading, that the lowly man is his own servant and supplies his own food. Either way he is better off than the self-important man who lacks food.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
He that is despised, and hath a servant,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Two interpretations are equally tenable; (1) as in the King James Version, He whom men despise, or who is “lowly” in his own eyes (compare 1Sa 18:23), if he has a slave, i. e., if he is one step above absolute poverty, and has some one to supply his wants, is better off than the man who boasts of rank or descent and has nothing to eat. Respectable mediocrity is better than boastful poverty. (2) he who, though despised, is a servant to himself, i. e., supplies his own wants, is better than the arrogant and helpless.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
despised--held in little repute, obscure (1Sa 18:23; Isa 3:5). hath a servant--implying some means of honest living. honoureth himself--is self-conceited.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
He that is despised, and hath a servant - I believe the Vulgate gives the true sense of this verse: Melior est pauper, et sufficiens sibi; quam gloriosus, et indigens pane. “Better is the poor man who provides for himself, than the proud who is destitute of bread.” The versions in general agree in this sense. This needs no comment. There are some who, through pride of birth, etc., would rather starve, than put their hands to menial labor. Though they may be lords, how much to be preferred is the simple peasant, who supports himself and family by the drudgery of life!
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
A righteous man has regard for the desire of his beast What his beasts and his household members need.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 2 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ט֣וֹב | tov | [is] good | H2896 → | 538 times |
| נִ֭קְלֶה | nikleh | a lightly esteemed [person] | H7034 → | |
| וְעֶ֣בֶד | veeved | and a servant | H5650 → | 799 times |
| ל֑וֹ | lo | [belongs] to him | ||
| מִ֝מְּתַכַּבֵּ֗ד | mimetakkabed | more than [one who] honors himself | H3513 → | 113 times |
| וַחֲסַר־ | vachasar- | and [one] lacking of | H2638 → | 17 times |
| לָֽחֶם׃ | lachem | food | H3899 → | 298 times |
ט֣וֹב[is] good
tovH2896 →538 times
נִ֭קְלֶהa lightly esteemed [person]
niklehH7034 →
וְעֶ֣בֶדand a servant
veevedH5650 →799 times
ל֑וֹ[belongs] to him
lo
מִ֝מְּתַכַּבֵּ֗דmore than [one who] honors himself
mimetakkabedH3513 →113 times
וַחֲסַר־and [one] lacking of
vachasar-H2638 →17 times
לָֽחֶם׃food
lachemH3899 →298 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Luke 14:11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
it leads to
- Luke 18:14
I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
- Matthew 23:12
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
- Proverbs 29:23
A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor.
- James 4:6
But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- 1 Peter 5:5
Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- Luke 18:14
Through
Proverbs 13:7One pretends to be rich, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
it leads to
- Revelation 3:17
You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.
- Luke 18:11–14
The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
- Proverbs 11:24
One gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.
- Revelation 3:17
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763).