Proverbs 18:11 kjv

The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.

Proverbs 18:11 nkjv

The rich man's wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own esteem.

Proverbs 18:11 niv

The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale.

Proverbs 18:11 esv

A rich man's wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination.

Proverbs 18:11 nlt

The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense;
they imagine it to be a high wall of safety.

Proverbs 18 verses

Proverbs 18 11 Meaning

Proverbs 18:11 communicates that a wealthy person perceives their riches as an impregnable fortress—a "strong city" and an "unassailable high wall." However, this perception of security is portrayed as a profound delusion, existing merely "in their own imagination" or "conceit." The verse thus cautions against the spiritual peril of placing ultimate trust and confidence in material possessions rather than in the divine.

Proverbs 18 11 Context

Proverbs 18 belongs to the "Proverbs of Solomon," a significant collection emphasizing wisdom for righteous living. Verse 11 appears within a section that frequently contrasts wise and foolish behaviors and their outcomes. Importantly, it stands in immediate juxtaposition to Proverbs 18:10: "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe." This deliberate pairing highlights two contrasting forms of perceived security: one genuine and divine, the other illusory and materialistic. In the ancient world, fortifications like strong cities and high walls were vital for protection, and wealth provided the means to construct and maintain them. The proverb critiques the human tendency, amplified by riches, to place ultimate, spiritual confidence in these tangible forms of security, mistakenly believing they can withstand all adversities, including those of divine judgment.

Proverbs 18 11 Word analysis

• The rich man's wealth (עֹשֶׁר, `ōšer):
  • Significance: This Hebrew term denotes material prosperity, abundance, or riches. The Bible is nuanced regarding wealth; it's not inherently evil, but the love of it, the trust in it, or the pride associated with it are spiritual dangers. Here, it is the object of the rich man's trust.
• is his strong city (עִיר עֹז, îrōz):
  • Significance: Literally translating to "city of strength" or "fortified city." In ancient Near Eastern culture, a city with strong defenses was the ultimate symbol of security and invulnerability against external threats. This metaphor underscores how deeply the rich man relies on his wealth as his primary defense and refuge in life.
• and as a high wall (וּכְחוֹמָה רָמָה, ûḵəḥôma rāmâ):
  • Significance: The conjunction "and" further intensifies the imagery of defense. A "high wall" explicitly emphasizes a formidable, impenetrable barrier. Ancient city walls, particularly those of significant height, were considered insurmountable, reinforcing the idea of supreme security that the rich person attaches to their wealth.
• in his own conceit / imagination (בְמַשְׂכִּיתוֹ, bəmaśkîtô):
  • Significance: This is the critical element. Maśkît (מַשְׂכִּית) is a multifaceted Hebrew word, meaning "image," "figure," "imagination," "device," or "conceit." It denotes something conceptual or subjective, existing in one's mind or perception, rather than as an objective truth. The phrase reveals that the security the rich man experiences is not actual, robust security from all spiritual and life's ultimate threats, but rather a deceptive mental construct or delusion of his own making, often stemming from pride and self-reliance. This internal "picture" of invulnerability is born out of arrogance and a lack of humility before God.

Proverbs 18 11 Bonus section

The stark contrast between Proverbs 18:10 and 18:11 ("The name of the Lord is a strong tower... The rich man's wealth is his strong city...") is intentional and highlights a central biblical truth about true versus false security. This juxtaposition underscores that a rich person's perceived security in wealth is not merely an inadequate substitute for divine refuge but an opposing, delusory alternative. The very word "maśkît" (conceit/imagination) can carry artistic or pictorial connotations, suggesting that the rich person is creating an elaborate mental picture of their invincibility that is ultimately detached from spiritual reality. This means the problem isn't wealth itself, but the idolatry of it, making it one's god and source of ultimate strength, instead of the true God.

Proverbs 18 11 Commentary

Proverbs 18:11 offers a penetrating critique of a common human folly: misplacing one's ultimate confidence. While wealth can undeniably provide practical benefits and a degree of earthly security, this proverb specifically addresses the spiritual hazard of seeing it as an absolute and impenetrable defense against life's myriad uncertainties, including mortality and divine judgment. The rich individual, ensnared by self-deception and pride, conjures an illusory fortress in their mind, equating their material abundance with inviolable safety. This "imagination" exposes a spiritual blindness, a profound error in judgment that stems from exalting created things over the Creator. Unlike the enduring, absolute security found in the Lord (Prov 18:10), wealth offers a brittle, temporal, and ultimately false sense of protection, leaving the soul vulnerable and exposed in the face of true adversity. It serves as a stark reminder that true security lies not in what one possesses, but in whom one trusts.