Proverbs 22:1 kjv
A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
Proverbs 22:1 nkjv
A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold.
Proverbs 22:1 niv
A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.
Proverbs 22:1 esv
A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.
Proverbs 22:1 nlt
Choose a good reputation over great riches;
being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.
Proverbs 22 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ecc 7:1 | A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth. | Echoes the value of a good name/reputation. |
| Php 2:9-11 | Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name... | Highlights the ultimate value of Christ's name/authority. |
| Heb 11:2 | By faith the ancients obtained a good report. | Acknowledges the "good name" of faith heroes. |
| Prov 3:13-16 | Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who obtains understanding... Her ways are pleasant ways... | Wisdom (which leads to a good name) valued over riches. |
| Prov 8:10-11 | Choose my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies... | Wisdom's superior value to material wealth. |
| Prov 8:19 | My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. | Wisdom's intrinsic value surpasses all riches. |
| Prov 15:16 | Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure with turmoil. | Prioritizes spiritual well-being over riches. |
| Prov 16:16 | How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. | Direct comparison of wisdom's superiority to gold/silver. |
| Prov 28:6 | Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways. | Integrity valued above wealth. |
| Ps 37:16 | Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked. | Righteousness with little is superior to wicked wealth. |
| Mt 6:19-21 | Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal... | Warnings against the futility of earthly treasures. |
| Lk 12:15 | Then He said to them, "Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not about having a lot of possessions." | Life's true value isn't tied to possessions. |
| Lk 12:21 | So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. | Focus on heavenly, not earthly, riches. |
| 1 Tim 6:6-10 | But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it... | Godliness is true wealth; love of money is dangerous. |
| 1 Tim 6:17-19 | Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches... | Richness in good deeds rather than uncertain riches. |
| Heb 13:5 | Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have... | Contentment over money; God's provision. |
| Mk 10:23-25 | Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" | The difficulty riches pose to kingdom entry. |
| Jer 9:23-24 | Thus says the Lord: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, nor let the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches... but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me..." | True glory found in knowing God, not material possessions. |
| Ps 84:11 | For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. | God grants favor and honor, linking to esteem. |
| Lk 2:52 | And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. | Jesus exemplifies growing in favor. |
| Acts 2:47 | praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. | Early church found favor among people. |
| Deut 30:19 | I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life... | Emphasizes the choice of values leading to life. |
| Jos 24:15 | But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. | The foundational choice of allegiance and values. |
| Ps 49:6-7 | Those who trust in their wealth and boast in the multitude of their riches— None of them can by any means redeem his brother... | Riches cannot redeem a soul. |
Proverbs 22 verses
Proverbs 22 1 Meaning
Proverbs 22:1 proclaims that an upright character and the respect derived from it are inherently more valuable and enduring than vast material wealth. It establishes a divine priority: genuine integrity and favor, whether from God or humanity, hold superior worth to silver or gold, which are merely temporary and external possessions.
Proverbs 22 1 Context
Proverbs 22:1 marks the beginning of a section traditionally known as "The Sayings of the Wise" (22:17-24:34). While earlier sections of Proverbs often focused on the direct admonitions of a father to a son, this part broadens to more general instructions for upright living within the community. The historical and cultural context values a person's "name" or reputation above all else, as it represented their character, legacy, and social standing within a tribal and community-centric society. Unlike mere accumulation, a good name meant trust, respect, and enduring influence. The pursuit of wealth was understood, but this verse grounds the entire following discourse in the principle that moral integrity and the favor of others, born out of wisdom, are fundamentally superior to any fleeting material gain, setting the ethical framework for the practical advice that follows.
Proverbs 22 1 Word analysis
- A good name: שֵׁם טוֹב (shem tov). This is far more profound than simply one's designation. In Hebrew thought, a "name" encapsulates one's entire character, identity, reputation, legacy, and the perception of one's actions. Tov means good, pleasant, beneficial. A shem tov signifies integrity, trustworthiness, and righteousness in conduct, bringing honor to oneself and one's family. It’s a reflection of lived wisdom.
- is more desirable: נִבְחָר (nivchar). A passive participle from bachar, meaning "to choose" or "to select." It denotes something highly esteemed, preferred, or chosen out of many options, implying conscious valuation. It conveys a strong sense of deliberate selection and priority.
- than great riches: עֹשֶׁר רָב (osher rav). Osher is wealth, riches, and rav means much, great, abundant. This refers to significant material accumulation. The phrase specifies a large quantity, emphasizing that even vast wealth cannot compare. Riches are physical, transferable, and impermanent.
- to be esteemed: חֵן (chen). This term carries various meanings, including favor, grace, charm, acceptance, or goodwill. In this context, it speaks to the esteem or respect one receives from others and potentially from God. It’s the positive regard and influence a person has due to their character and actions, the outcome of having a good name.
- is better: טוֹב (tov). Here, used in a comparative sense (implied 'min' or 'than' from the previous line), asserting superior value.
- than silver or gold: כֶּסֶף וְזָהָב (kesef v'zahav). The quintessential ancient symbols of wealth, prestige, and financial security. This phrase represents the most valuable material assets known. The specific mention emphasizes the highest standard of worldly possessions.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "A good name is more desirable than great riches": This half-verse establishes the foundational premise. It contrasts the intangible, character-based asset ("good name") with tangible, material abundance ("great riches"). The choice implies an eternal-versus-temporal perspective, elevating enduring reputation over transient wealth. This is a core Proverbial value, highlighting moral integrity as life's true treasure.
- "to be esteemed is better than silver or gold": This second parallel line reinforces and expands upon the first. "To be esteemed" (חֵן - chen) describes the positive outcome and social currency that a "good name" yields—favor and respect. "Silver or gold" represents the purest and highest form of material wealth, solidifying the qualitative distinction: genuine human respect and divine favor (implied by chen) derived from virtuous living far outweigh even the most precious material assets. It presents a divine valuation system against a worldly one.
Proverbs 22 1 Bonus section
The enduring nature of a "good name" contrasts sharply with the impermanence of riches, which can be lost or diminished. This proverb reminds believers that legacy is built on character, not accumulation. It aligns with God's own desire for a people who reflect His "good name" through their righteous conduct. In a world often valuing net worth over true worth, Proverbs 22:1 offers a vital corrective, advocating for the pursuit of internal virtues over external prosperity, recognizing that true flourishing is rooted in a right standing before God and man.
Proverbs 22 1 Commentary
Proverbs 22:1 stands as a powerful declaration in wisdom literature, asserting an eternal truth that transcends fleeting cultural norms: one's moral character and the favor it garners are immeasurably more valuable than any amount of material wealth. This verse isn't a condemnation of wealth itself—the Bible acknowledges wealth as a blessing—but a reordering of priorities. It confronts the inherent human temptation to prioritize possessions and accumulation over integrity and spiritual values. A "good name" is not merely public opinion, but a reputation built upon consistent righteous living, reflecting God's own character. The esteem (chen) that accompanies such a life signifies respect from both God and humanity, a true and lasting treasure that silver and gold cannot buy nor replace. It teaches that lasting influence, security, and blessing flow from virtuous character, rather than the precariousness of earthly riches, which are transient and can corrupt.