Proverbs 22:2 kjv

The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.

Proverbs 22:2 nkjv

The rich and the poor have this in common, The LORD is the maker of them all.

Proverbs 22:2 niv

Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all.

Proverbs 22:2 esv

The rich and the poor meet together; the LORD is the Maker of them all.

Proverbs 22:2 nlt

The rich and poor have this in common:
The LORD made them both.

Proverbs 22 verses

Proverbs 22 2 Meaning

Proverbs 22:2 states a fundamental truth about humanity and the divine: that both the rich and the poor, despite their differing earthly circumstances, meet together because the Lord is the one who made them all. This verse underscores the shared humanity and common origin of all people under God's sovereign creation, implying a profound equality and interdependence that transcends social distinctions. It emphasizes God's ultimate ownership and creative power over every individual, regardless of their economic standing.

Proverbs 22 2 Context

Proverbs 22:2 is part of a section often referred to as "the words of the wise" (Prov 22:17 - 24:22). This segment collects a series of practical teachings, ethical injunctions, and observations on life that aim to instruct the reader in righteous living and wise decision-making. Unlike earlier chapters which often presented longer discourses from father to son, this section, and indeed chapter 22, moves into more independent, pithy proverbs that offer moral guidance and insights into social dynamics. The historical context is ancient Israel, a society that, while hierarchical, was called by God to practice justice and righteousness, especially toward the poor and vulnerable, a distinctive feature often contrasting with the self-serving social stratification common in surrounding pagan cultures. The verse indirectly challenges any pride of wealth or disdain for the poor, rooted in a false sense of self-made status or perceived divine favor based purely on earthly possessions.

Proverbs 22 2 Word analysis

• Rich (ʿāshîr, עָשִׁיר): Refers to someone of material abundance, prosperous, or wealthy. In the Old Testament, wealth was often seen as a blessing from God, but it also carried a responsibility and posed potential spiritual dangers of pride, covetousness, and forgetfulness of God. The Hebrew concept recognizes that true richness goes beyond material possessions.
• and poor (vā-rāsh, וָרָשׁ): Refers to a destitute or needy person, someone lacking material possessions. This term often implies vulnerability, lack of resources, and sometimes the result of oppression or misfortune rather than idleness. It highlights their disadvantaged state.
• meet together (niphgāšū, נִפְגְּשׁוּ): The verb implies an encounter, coming together, or converging. It can be a simple interaction in daily life, but here it strongly connotes their common state of being human, their shared space on earth, and their common ultimate end. Regardless of status, they live in the same world and share the same fundamental human needs and destinies.
• The Lord (Yahweh, יְהוָה): This is the covenant name of God, indicating His personal, revealed, and sovereign nature. The use of Yahweh here is significant, distinguishing the God of Israel as the true, active Creator, not a passive or distant deity, and grounding the ethical truth in His very character and actions.
• is the maker (ʿōśēh, עֹשֵׂה): From the verb ʿāśāh (עָשָׂה), meaning "to make, to do, to create, to appoint." It denotes active formation, origination, and ultimate responsibility. This term highlights God's creative power and proprietorship over all humanity. It emphasizes that status (rich or poor) is a human distinction, but the being of rich and poor alike stems directly from divine creative act.
• of them all (kullām, כֻּלָּם): This definitive pronoun emphasizes universality and inclusiveness. It means "all of them" or "everyone." This reinforces the point that every person, without exception or distinction of social or economic standing, originates from the same divine hand. This directly challenges any social hierarchy that attributes inherent worth based on material success, asserting instead that ultimate worth derives from shared divine creation.
• Word-group analysis: "Rich and poor meet together": This phrase highlights the inescapable reality of social interaction and shared humanity. It implies a moral challenge to the rich not to despise the poor, and for both to recognize their shared status as human beings within the same divinely ordained social structure. Their meeting also foreshadows a common end and common accountability before God.
• Word-group analysis: "The Lord is the maker of them all": This core theological statement is the foundation of the ethical principle. It roots human equality in divine sovereignty. If God made both, then both bear His imprint, both are sustained by His hand, and both are ultimately accountable to Him. This provides the reason why their "meeting" or interaction must be marked by respect and justice, as they are fellow creatures under the same divine Lord.

Proverbs 22 2 Bonus section

The profound simplicity of Proverbs 22:2 highlights a core biblical truth often contrasted with pagan philosophies of the ancient world. Many contemporary societies attributed one's social status (whether wealthy or poor) to divine favor or disfavor, an unchangeable fate, or a predetermined destiny often tied to specific deities. Proverbs, however, declares a singular God, Yahweh, as the universal Creator of both, stripping away any mystical justification for human pride or class division based on economic standing. It posits that human dignity is not an earned privilege but an inherent quality bestowed by God's act of creation. This perspective served as a foundational ethic for Israel's legal codes and prophetic calls for social justice, reminding them that their unique covenant relationship with God included caring for the less fortunate because they, too, belonged to God. The Christian understanding further develops this, emphasizing that all humanity is made in God's image (Imago Dei), giving every individual inherent value, dignity, and a profound common bond.

Proverbs 22 2 Commentary

Proverbs 22:2 provides a profound theological basis for human equality and ethical conduct toward all people, especially the vulnerable. The verse's concise declaration — "The rich and the poor meet together; The Lord is the maker of them all" — moves beyond simple observation to profound theological truth. The natural "meeting" of rich and poor, whether in daily commerce, social interaction, or shared public spaces, is not arbitrary. It reflects their common status as created beings. By asserting Yahweh as the sole "maker of them all," the proverb dismantles any human-contrived hierarchy that might assign greater inherent worth to the wealthy or lesser worth to the poor.

This divine declaration demands that the wealthy not oppress or scorn the poor (as highlighted in Prov 14:31; 17:5), because to do so is to dishonor the Creator of both. It also implicitly reminds the poor that their identity and worth are not defined by their lack of possessions, but by their divine origin. The shared human experience, culminating in death and judgment, further underscores this equality, for both rich and poor stand equally before their Maker. The verse calls for humility in prosperity and dignity in poverty, fostering compassion, justice, and mutual respect.

Practical implications:

• For the affluent: A call to stewardship, generosity, and to treat all individuals, regardless of their economic status, with dignity and respect, recognizing their shared Creator. No ground for pride or contempt.
• For the struggling: A reminder that their worth is not diminished by their circumstances, and that they too are divinely created and valued. Hope can be found in God's care.
• For society: An impetus for justice, ensuring that laws and systems protect the vulnerable and promote equity, recognizing the inherent value of every life.
• For the Church: A mandate against partiality and to reflect God's own impartiality and love for all humanity in its fellowship and outreach.