Proverbs 13 23

Proverbs 13:23 kjv

Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.

Proverbs 13:23 nkjv

Much food is in the fallow ground of the poor, And for lack of justice there is waste.

Proverbs 13:23 niv

An unplowed field produces food for the poor, but injustice sweeps it away.

Proverbs 13:23 esv

The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food, but it is swept away through injustice.

Proverbs 13:23 nlt

A poor person's farm may produce much food,
but injustice sweeps it all away.

Proverbs 13 verses

Proverbs 13 23 Meaning

Proverbs 13:23 conveys that while there is significant potential for prosperity or provision available even in the modest resources or lands belonging to the poor, this potential often goes unrealized or is lost due to a pervasive lack of justice. It highlights the inherent resourcefulness that can exist among the impoverished, but points to systemic injustice, rather than mere scarcity, as the reason for their continued suffering or inability to flourish. The verse underscores how oppression, corruption, or biased legal systems strip away the meager provisions that could sustain them, emphasizing a failure of societal and governmental responsibility.

Proverbs 13 23 Context

Proverbs 13 generally contrasts the wise and the foolish, and the righteous and the wicked, outlining their behaviors and the resulting consequences. Within this chapter, several verses touch on wealth, poverty, labor, and justice (e.g., v. 7, 11, 15, 18, 20-22). Verse 23 specifically addresses the economic and social plight of the poor, positioning their struggle not primarily as a result of their own laziness or lack of resources, but as a consequence of societal failures, particularly the absence of fair legal and social structures. Historically, ancient Israelite society, like many others, had significant wealth disparities. However, Mosaic Law provided protections and provisions for the poor, advocating for a just society where vulnerable groups were cared for, and exploitation was condemned. Proverbs 13:23 stands as a reminder of the often-broken reality that contrasted with God's ideal for a just society, lamenting the systematic removal of resources from the poor through injustice.

Proverbs 13 23 Word analysis

• Much food (רֹב אֹכֶל - rov okhel):
  • Rov (רֹב): Signifies abundance, plenty, multitude. It's not just "some" food, but a significant quantity.
  • Okhel (אֹכֶל): Refers to food, provision, nourishment.
  • Analysis: This phrase emphasizes that the potential for sustenance is substantial. It counters the idea that poverty is solely due to insufficient resources in the land or among the people themselves. It points to a systemic issue, not a natural scarcity.
• is in the fallow ground (נִיר - nir):
  • Nir (נִיר): "Fallow ground," or "newly tilled ground." It suggests land that is ready for cultivation, having been plowed but not yet sown, implying great potential for future harvest. Some translations render it as "field," but "fallow ground" or "cultivated land" emphasizes its potential.
  • Analysis: This word choice is highly significant. "Fallow ground of the poor" can imply:
    1. Untapped potential: The poor do possess resources or capabilities that could yield much, if properly developed or protected. It's not about being barren.
    2. Productive labor: Even humble efforts or meager possessions of the poor have the capacity to produce abundance.
    3. Basic necessity: Even simple plots of land, often belonging to the poor, could theoretically yield enough.
    4. Literally fertile land: The poor often resided on, or were given access to, potentially fertile land, but they were hindered from benefitting.
• of the poor (רָשׁ - rash):
  • Rash (רָשׁ): Describes someone who is poor, needy, indigent. This often implies vulnerability and lack of social power.
  • Analysis: Explicitly identifies the beneficiaries or owners of this potential. It points to their disadvantaged position, which makes them susceptible to the "swept away" part of the verse.
• but it is swept away (וְיֵשׁ נִסְפֶּה - v'yesh nispah):
  • V'yesh: "And there is," or "but there is," signaling a contrast or counter-reality.
  • Nispah (נִסְפֶּה): This is the Niphal participle of the verb saphah (סָפָה), meaning "to sweep away," "gather up," "perish," "be consumed" or "destroyed." The Niphal form often indicates something happening to the subject, or a passive voice, suggesting it's being swept away by an external force, rather than merely disappearing.
  • Analysis: This is a critical verb. It signifies not a natural decay or mere idleness, but an active, often forceful removal or destruction. The abundance isn't lost accidentally; it is actively taken, consumed, or made to perish, implying theft, exploitation, or confiscation. This strong word choice underscores the violence or force involved.
• for lack of justice (בְּלֹא מִשְׁפָּט - b'lo mishpat):
  • B'lo: "Without," "for lack of."
  • Mishpat (מִשְׁפָּט): A rich Hebrew term that means justice, judgment, right, custom, due process, ethical conduct, or righteous administration. It encompasses legal decisions, social order, and adherence to divine law concerning fairness.
  • Analysis: This phrase explicitly states the cause of the problem. It is not poor agricultural skills, natural disaster, or insufficient land. The "swept away" occurs "without mishpat," indicating a failure of the social, legal, and ethical order. This could manifest as:
    • Corrupt legal systems: Court decisions favoring the powerful.
    • Exploitation: The strong oppressing the weak.
    • Neglect: Those in authority failing to uphold the rights and protections due to the poor.
    • Lack of enforcement: Even if laws exist, their absence in practice allows abuse.
    • Absence of ethical governance: Leaders or wealthy individuals acting unjustly without accountability.

Proverbs 13 23 Bonus section

• Polemics against contemporary beliefs: In the ancient Near East, some societal structures, especially those dominated by powerful kings or landowners, could prioritize the elite's prosperity over the common person's well-being. This proverb implicitly challenges such systems that might permit or encourage exploitation of the vulnerable, advocating for a divine standard of justice over human systems that often perpetuate inequality. It implicitly critiques any system that would see the poor as mere resources to be exploited, rather than individuals with inherent rights and productive capacity.
• Significance of "swept away": The active nature of nispeh highlights that this loss isn't a natural process. It's not a crop failure due to drought; it's wealth that has been diverted, stolen, or destroyed by human action, or inaction, specifically the failure to administer justice. This distinguishes the cause from natural calamities or personal indolence.

Proverbs 13 23 Commentary

Proverbs 13:23 offers a profound insight into the economic realities and ethical responsibilities within a society. It fundamentally challenges the notion that poverty is solely due to the poor's lack of effort or resources. Instead, it asserts that inherent capacity and potential "food" exist even within their seemingly humble "fallow ground." This "fallow ground" represents not just land, but their labor, their ingenuity, and their inherent value. The stark truth revealed is that this potential "abundance" is frequently "swept away"—forcibly or systematically lost—due to a "lack of justice" within the governing and social structures.

The verse condemns systemic injustice—corruption in legal proceedings, exploitation by the powerful, and the failure of those in authority to protect the rights of the vulnerable—as the root cause of ongoing poverty and suffering. It's a lament over how righteous principles are subverted, leading to the deprivation of those who, by God's design, should also prosper. This proverb calls for active implementation of mishpat—righteous justice and governance—as essential for the flourishing of all, especially the marginalized. It serves as a perennial warning to nations and communities: neglect of justice leads inevitably to the suffering of the poor, negating the inherent potential for widespread blessing.