The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: Yahweh gives sight to the eyes of both.
Parallel Translations
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The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: Yahweh gives sight to the eyes of both.
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The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the LORD lighteneth both their eyes.
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The poor man and the oppressor meet together; the LORD giveth light to the eyes of them both.
Cross-references (9)
Passages linked to Proverbs 29:13 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Matthew 5:45 that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.
- Proverbs 22:2 The rich and the poor have this in common: Yahweh is the maker of them all.
- Psalms 13:3 Behold, and answer me, Yahweh, my God. Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death;
- Ephesians 2:1 You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins,
- Exodus 22:25-26 “If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be to him as a creditor. You shall not charge him interest. If you take your neighbor’s garment as collateral, you shall restore it to him before the sun goes down,
- Leviticus 25:35-37 “ ‘If your brother has become poor, and his hand can’t support himself among you, then you shall uphold him. He shall live with you like an alien and a temporary resident. Take no interest from him or profit; but fear your God, that your brother may live among you. You shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him your food for profit.
- Nehemiah 5:5-7 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children as their children. Behold, we bring our sons and our daughters into bondage to be servants, and some of our daughters have been brought into bondage. It is also not in our power to help it, because other men have our fields and our vineyards.” I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, “You exact usury, everyone of his brother.” I held a great assembly against them.
- Matthew 9:9 As Jesus passed by from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax collection office. He said to him, “Follow me.” He got up and followed him.
- 1 Corinthians 6:10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortionists, will inherit God’s Kingdom.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (16 sources)
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John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Pro 29:13 The poor and the deceitful man meet…
Pro 29:13 The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the LORD lighteneth both their eyes.
Ver. 13. The poor and the usurer meet together.] That is, The poor and the rich, as Pro 22:2; because commonly usurers are rich men, and many rich men usurers. "The Lord lighteneth both their eyes"; that is, he gives them the light of life, {Job 1:8} and the comforts of life, {Mat 5:45} so that their eyes are lightened, as Jonathan’s were after he had tasted of the wild honey. {1Sa 14:25-30} Others read it thus: "The poor and the deceived," or crushed by the usurer, "meet together" - that is, condole or comfort one another; because they are both in the dark, as it were, of poverty and misery; they can do one another but little help, more than by commending their cases to God, who thereupon "enlighteneth them both" - that is, either he supplies their wants, and so their eyes are opened, as Jonathan’s were; or else gives them patience, as he did those believing Hebrews. {Pro 10:32} But "call to remembrance the former days in which after ye were illuminated" - viz., to see the glory that shall be revealed, whereof all the sufferings of this life are not worthy {Rom 8:18} - ye endured a great fight of affliction. If we read it, "The poor and the usurer meet together: the Lord enlighteneth both their eyes," understand it thus: The poor man he enlighteneth by patience, the usurer by repentance, and grace to "break off his sins by righteousness, and his iniquity by showing mercy to the poor," as Zaccheus, Matthew, and those usurious Jews did. {Neh 5:10-11}
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain The deceitful man, Heb. the man of deceits, or…
The deceitful man, Heb. the man of deceits, or of usuries, i.e. who hath enriched himself by such practices,
meet together; converse together, and one needeth the other, as Pro 22:2.
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The Lord lighteneth both their eyes; either their bodily eyes with the light of the sun, which promiscuously shines upon both; or the eyes of their minds with the light of reason and grace, which he indifferently gives to them; and therefore the one should not envy nor despise the other, but be ready to do good one to another, as God doth good to both.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain This shows how wisely the great God serves the…
This shows how wisely the great God serves the designs of his providence by persons of very different tempers, capacities, and conditions in the world, even, 1. By those that are contrary the one to the other. Some are poor and forced to borrow; others are rich, have a great deal of the mammon of unrighteousness (deceitful riches they are called), and they are creditors, or usurers, as it is in the margin. Some are poor, and honest, and laborious; others are rich, slothful, and deceitful. They meet together in the business of this world, and have dealings with one another, and the Lord enlightens both their eyes; he causes his sun to shine upon both and gives them both the comforts of this life. To some of both sorts he gives his grace. He enlightens the eyes of the poor by giving them patience, and of the deceitful by giving them repentance, as Zaccheus. 2. By those that we think could best be spared. The poor and the deceitful we are ready to look upon as blemishes of Providence, but God makes even them to display the beauty of Providence; he has wise ends not only in leaving the poor always with us, but in permitting the deceived and the deceiver, for both are his (Job 12:16) and turn to his praise.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain The poor and the deceitful man meet together,.... Or…
The poor and the deceitful man meet together,.... Or "the usurer" (q); who by usury, by fraud and deception, is possessed of the mammon of unrighteousness, and is become rich; he and the poor man meet together; and so the sense is the same as in Pro 22:2; See Gill on Pro 22:2;
the Lord lighteneth both their eyes; with the light of natural life, and with the light of natural reason, Joh 1:4; and so is the same as being "the Maker of them all", in the above place; or he bestows his providential favours on both; causes his sun to shine upon the rich and poor, the wicked and the righteous, Mat 5:45. Or it may be understood of the light of grace; for though, for the most part, God chooses and calls the poor of the world, and lightens their eyes with the light of his grace, when not many wise and noble are called and enlightened; yet this is not restrained wholly to men of one and the same condition of life; yea, God sometimes calls and enlightens publicans, tax gatherers, and extortioners, as Matthew and Zacchaeus.
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(q) "vir usurarum", Mercerus; "foenerator", Piscator, Tigurine version; "usurarius", Munster.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 13. The poor and the deceitful man] It…
Verse 13. The poor and the deceitful man] It is difficult to fix the meaning of תככים techachim, which we here render the deceitful man. The TARGUM has, "The poor and the man of LITTLE WEALTH." The SEPTUAGINT, "The usurer and the DEBTOR." The VULGATE, "The poor and CREDITOR." COVERDALE, "The poor and the LENDER." OTHERS, "The poor and the RICH;" "The poor and the OPPRESSORS." I suppose the meaning may be the same as in Pr 22:2: "The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all." Where see the note.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain Pro 29:13. The poor and the deceitful man —…
Pro 29:13. The poor and the deceitful man — Hebrew, אישׁ תככים, the man of deceits, or of usuries; that is, who hath enriched himself by such practices; meet together — Converse together, and one needeth the other; the Lord lighteneth both their eyes — Either their bodily eyes, namely, with the light of the sun, which promiscuously shines upon both; or the eyes of their minds, with the light of reason, which he indifferently gives them; and therefore the one should not envy or despise the other, but they should be ready to do good to one another, as God does good to both. The LXX. read, The usurer and debtor meet together; the Lord has the oversight of them both. “The world is made up,” says Bishop Patrick, “of several sorts of men; of poor, for instance, who are fain to borrow; and of rich, who lend them money, and, perhaps, oppress them; but these would all agree well enough when they meet together, if they would but consider that there is one Lord, who makes the sun to shine equally on all; and who intends all should live happily, though in an unequal condition.”
Pro 22:2.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain Better, The poor and the oppressor. “Usurer,” as in…
Better, The poor and the oppressor. “Usurer,” as in the margin expresses the special form of oppression from which the poor suffer most at the hands of the rich. God has made them both and bestows His light equally on both.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Charles Bridges 1846 · Public Domain The doctrine of this proverb, as of one similar…
The doctrine of this proverb, as of one similar to it (Pro 22:2 ), seems to be the real equality of the divine dispensations under apparent inequalities. The rich seem to be intended by the deceitful; so called, from the deceitfulness of riches,†1 and of the means, by which they are too often obtained.†2 The usurer†3 appears to point to the same purport; implying the oppression too often connected with riches.†4 Both these classes, so distinct in their relative condition, meet together on the same level before God. However men may differ; however one may oppress and despise, and the other envy or hate; however the poor may be tempted to murmur because of the oppressions of his richer neighbor; however the rich by usury or unjust gain may take advantage of the necessities of the poor — the LORD enlighteneth both their eyes — "He is no respecter of persons." (Act 10:34 .) Both are partakers of his providential blessings. (Mat 5:45 .) Both are the subjects of his Sovereign grace; ’members of the same body, animated by the same spirit, appointed for the same inheritance; partakers of the same "great and precious promises." There was not one prize for the soul of the poor, and another for the rich. There was not one table for the meaner guests, and another for the greater.’†5 The poor Lazarus and the usurer Zaccheus have long met together in one common home; both alike the undeserved monuments of wondrous everlasting mercy; — the eyes of both enlightened, spiritually, eternally. (Luk 16:22 ; Luk 19:9 .)
Is it not presumption to judge hastily the ways of God; or to judge them at all by the plummet of our own reason? (Eze 18:25 .) Let us wait the appointed time, and all will be clear, as all is right. How far beyond our narrow conceptions is every exercise and display of this manifold wisdom, grace and love!
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Footnotes:
†1 Pro 23:5. Mat 13:22 .
†2 1Ti 6:9 .
†3 Compare Pro 22:7 .
†4 Psa 62:9-10. Jas 5:1 . For the same reason our Lord denominates riches generally by the distinctive term of "the mammon of unrighteousness." Luk 16:9 .
†5 Bp. Reynolds’ Vanity of the Creature, Sect. 8.
Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs (1846) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain Enlightener. Septuagint, "visitor," with punishment, as they seem to…
Enlightener. Septuagint, "visitor," with punishment, as they seem to speak of palliated usury, which cannot escape God. See chap. xxii. 2.
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain (Compare Pro 22:2).
(Compare Pro 22:2).
deceitful man--literally, "man of vexations," an exactor.
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the Lord . . . their eyes--sustains their lives (Sa1 14:27; Psa 13:3); that is, both depend on Him, and He will do justice.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 13. Deceitful man — אישׁ תככים, (ish tekhakhim,) the…
13. Deceitful man — אישׁ תככים, (ish tekhakhim,) the man of oppression or exactions; the usurer, etc. These are all conjectural renderings of the word by different translators, showing that the word is obscure and its meaning uncertain. It occurs only in this place, though a form from the same root occurs in a few others, and is rendered “fraud, deceit.” Chap. Pro_14:31; Psa_10:7; Psa_55:11; Psa_72:14. Meet together — Encounter each other. The teaching is the same as in chap.
Pro_22:2. Men at opposite ends of the scale stand before God on the same footing. He made them both, and bestows his light equally upon them. They must both stand before him in judgment — rich and poor, oppressor and oppressed: a consolation to the lowly well-doer, and a warning to the unrighteous exacter — they are brothers. In accordance with these ideas were the laws against usury. Compare Exo_22:25; Lev_25:36-37; Deu_23:19-20; Psa_15:5; Pro_28:8; Isa_24:2; Jer_15:10; Eze_18:8; Eze_18:13; Eze_18:17; Eze_22:12.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 13. deceitful man] Rather, oppressor. The rendering usurer, A.V.…
13. deceitful man] Rather, oppressor. The rendering usurer, A.V. marg., which follows the LXX. δανειστής, and Vulg. creditor, restricts the reference to one form of oppression.
lighteneth both their eyes] i.e. with the light of life, Psa_13:3 [Hebrews 4]. Comp. “He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good,” Mat_5:45; and see ch. Pro_22:2.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (13) The poor and the deceitful man (rather, oppressor)…
(13) The poor and the deceitful man (rather, oppressor) meet together.—A variation of Pro_22:2, on which see note.
The Lord lighteneth both their eyes.—Enlightens the eyes of both with the light of life (Psa_13:4). To Him each owes life, so the one may remember that life with its sorrows will have an end, and the other, that He will take stern vengeance for oppression.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain A variation of Pro_22:2. The deceitful man. This makes…
A variation of Pro_22:2. The deceitful man. This makes no contrast with the poor. "The man of oppressions" (tekakim) is the usurer, from whom the poor suffer most wrong and cruelty. The needy man and the rich lender are thrown together in social life. St. Jerome calls them pauper et creditor. Septuagint, "When the creditor and debtor meet together, the Lord maketh inspection (epskophn ) of both." The Lord lighteneth both their eyes. Both rich and poor, the oppressor and the oppressed, owe their light and life to God; he makes the sun to rise on the evil and on the good; he sends rain on the just and the unjust; he is the Father, Ruler, and Judge of all. Here is comfort for the poor, that he has a tender Father who watches over him; here is a warning for the rich, that he will have to give an account of his stewardship. The former proverb spoke only generally of God being the Maker of both. (comp. Psa_13:3 Ecc_11:7)
See homily on Pro_22:2. C.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 a person who treats people harshly and makes their…
oppressor
a person who treats people harshly and makes their lives very difficult
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Yahweh gives light to the eyes of them both
This idiom means "Yahweh makes both of them alive." (See: Idiom)
his throne
The throne is a metonym for the kingdom he rules from his throne. AT: "his kingdom" (See: Metonymy)
translationWords
Yahweh
light
king
judge
true
throne
eternity
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 29:13 The oppressor should be motivated to treat the…
29:13 The oppressor should be motivated to treat the poor more humanely because God created them both (see also 3:27; 11:24; 28:27; 29:7).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.