Proverbs 28:11
in Proverbs 28A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man with discernment sees through him.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
The rich man is wise in his own conceit; But the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.
KJV
The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.
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This verse in Proverbs 28
Commentary
4 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
He who leads the upright along the path of evil
on Proverbs 28:10-12
He who leads the upright astray "will fall into his own pit," the trap-for-the-trapper principle the Psalms use of the wicked. Verse 11 sets a poor man's discernment above a rich man's self-estimate. Verse 12 closes on the public mood rulers set, for "when the wicked rise, men hide themselves."
This site's exposition
A rich man is wise
The wealthy man's opinion of himself is the only witness to his wisdom. A poor man with discernment searches him out and sees through the claim. Real insight outranks self-regard.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
The rich man is wise in his own conceit,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Wealth blunts, poverty sharpens, the critical power of intellect.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
A rich man..but a discerning poor man Scripture speaks about a teacher and a pupil, that the pupil searches out [the understanding of the subject matter,] and through him, the teacher gains wisdom.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
person will be searched out He will be searched out with all kinds of false accusations.
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. 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| חָכָ֣ם | chakham | [is] wise | H2450 → | 138 times |
| בְּ֭עֵינָיו | beeinav | in own eyes his | H5869 → | 887 times |
| אִ֣ישׁ | ʾish | a person | H376 → | 1663 times |
| עָשִׁ֑יר | ʾashir | rich | H6223 → | 23 times |
| וְדַ֖ל | vedal | and a poor [person] | H1800 → | 47 times |
| מֵבִ֣ין | mevin | understanding | H995 → | 170 times |
| יַחְקְרֶֽנּוּ׃ | yachkerenu | he examines thoroughly him | H2713 → | 27 times |
חָכָ֣ם[is] wise
chakhamH2450 →138 times
בְּ֭עֵינָיוin own eyes his
beeinavH5869 →887 times
אִ֣ישׁa person
ʾishH376 →1663 times
עָשִׁ֑ירrich
ʾashirH6223 →23 times
וְדַ֖לand a poor [person]
vedalH1800 →47 times
מֵבִ֣יןunderstanding
mevinH995 →170 times
יַחְקְרֶֽנּוּ׃he examines thoroughly him
yachkerenuH2713 →27 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
Proverbs 18:17The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.
it leads to
- Proverbs 18:13
He who answers a matter before he hears it—this is folly and disgrace to him.
- Proverbs 18:13
Through
Proverbs 19:1Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a fool whose lips are perverse.
it leads to
- Proverbs 28:6
Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a rich man whose ways are perverse.
- Proverbs 16:8
Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice.
- Matthew 16:26
What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
- Proverbs 19:22
The desire of a man is loving devotion; better to be poor than a liar.
- Proverbs 28:6
Through
Proverbs 26:16The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
it leads to
- Proverbs 26:12
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
- 1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and…
- Proverbs 12:15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel.
- Proverbs 26:12
Where this verse is studied
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); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.