Proverbs 28:11 kjv
The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.
Proverbs 28:11 nkjv
The rich man is wise in his own eyes, But the poor who has understanding searches him out.
Proverbs 28:11 niv
The rich are wise in their own eyes; one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.
Proverbs 28:11 esv
A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has understanding will find him out.
Proverbs 28:11 nlt
Rich people may think they are wise,
but a poor person with discernment can see right through them.
Proverbs 28 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 3:7 | Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. | Direct call against self-perceived wisdom. |
| Prov 12:15 | The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. | Connects self-wisdom to foolishness. |
| Prov 16:2 | All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit. | God discerns the heart beyond human perception. |
| Prov 26:12 | Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. | Extreme danger of self-deception. |
| Isa 5:21 | Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight! | Prophetic denouncement of intellectual arrogance. |
| Jer 9:23-24 | Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom... but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me... | True boast is in knowing God, not worldly status/wisdom. |
| Rom 12:16 | ...be not wise in your own sight. | New Testament warning against self-conceit. |
| 1 Cor 3:18-19 | Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. | Worldly wisdom contrasted with divine wisdom. |
| Prov 18:11 | A rich man's wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination. | Wealth as a source of false security/pride. |
| Prov 11:28 | Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf. | Danger of trusting in wealth over God. |
| Prov 23:4 | Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. | Warning against pursuit of riches, valuing discernment. |
| Lk 12:16-21 | The Parable of the Rich Fool. | Self-sufficiency in wealth leads to spiritual blindness. |
| Lk 6:24 | But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. | Jesus' warning about the perils of riches. |
| Jas 1:9-10 | Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. | Humility of the rich, exaltation of the poor in faith. |
| Jas 2:5 | Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom...? | God's favor for the spiritually rich, often from the poor. |
| 1 Cor 1:26-29 | For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards... But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise. | God often uses the humble and lowly to expose the proud. |
| Ps 119:130 | The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. | Source of true understanding is God's Word, not human status. |
| Phil 3:7-8 | But whatever gain I had, I count as loss for the sake of Christ... I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. | Spiritual discernment revalues worldly advantages as worthless. |
| Prov 19:22 | What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar. | Character (like steadfast love) is valued above social status. |
| Lk 18:9-14 | The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. | Humility of the tax collector is preferred over self-righteous pride. |
| John 7:48-49 | Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed. | Elite (wise in their own eyes) rejected truth, while common people considered. |
| Prov 2:6 | For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. | God is the ultimate source of all true wisdom and understanding. |
Proverbs 28 verses
Proverbs 28 11 Meaning
Proverbs 28:11 asserts that a person who possesses wealth often regards himself as possessing true wisdom and insight, confident in his own understanding due to his outward success. However, an individual of humble means, who truly possesses understanding and discernment, is able to scrutinize and expose the superficiality or inadequacy of the rich man's self-perceived wisdom. It highlights a critical distinction between apparent status and genuine spiritual insight.
Proverbs 28 11 Context
Proverbs 28 is part of the "Sayings of Solomon" found in chapters 25-29, which often deal with practical wisdom for daily life, morality, justice, and the consequences of actions, particularly focusing on the contrast between the righteous and the wicked. This chapter frequently contrasts various types of people—the wicked fleeing when no one pursues (v. 1) versus the righteous bold as a lion, the oppressor versus the discerning leader, and notably, the rich versus the poor. Verse 11 specifically continues the theme of contrasting superficial outward appearances (wealth, self-importance) with deeper internal qualities (true understanding and discernment), challenging conventional societal value systems that equate prosperity with virtue or wisdom. Historically, in ancient Israel and the wider Ancient Near East, wealth was often seen as a sign of divine blessing and thus could easily foster an inflated sense of one's own righteousness or insight. This proverb directly confronts that cultural assumption.
Proverbs 28 11 Word analysis
- The rich man (Hebrew:
ʿashir- עָשִׁיר): Refers to one possessing significant wealth or property. In Proverbs, while wealth itself isn't inherently evil, it often serves as a metaphor for self-sufficiency, pride, or a misplaced trust in material security, diverting from dependence on God. - is wise (Hebrew:
chakham- חָכָם): Typically means skilled, discerning, or truly wise. However, here it's used ironically or pejoratively in conjunction with "in his own eyes." It denotes cleverness or shrewdness in worldly affairs, often perceived as wisdom by others or oneself. - in his own eyes (Hebrew:
bəʿênâw- בְּעֵינָיו): This critical phrase signifies arrogance, self-deception, and a lack of true humility. It implies a subjective, often flawed, judgment of oneself, uncorrected by divine perspective or objective reality. Such "wisdom" is rooted in pride rather than humility before God or teachability from others. This contrasts sharply with wisdom given by God (Prov 2:6). - but (Hebrew:
wə- וְ): A strong adversative conjunction, indicating a direct contrast or antithesis, highlighting the opposition between the rich man's perception and the poor man's reality. - a poor man (Hebrew:
rash- רָשׁ): Refers to someone indigent or lacking material wealth. In biblical wisdom literature, the poor are often depicted not necessarily as virtuous by default, but frequently as being more open to relying on God and therefore potentially more receptive to true wisdom, unlike the proud rich. Their circumstances might foster humility. - who has understanding (Hebrew:
mevin- מֵבִין): Derived frombin(to discern, comprehend). This is key. It implies genuine insight, discernment, and intellectual capacity. It's not just intelligence, but the ability to grasp truth, to distinguish between appearance and reality, often stemming from spiritual insight rather than worldly accumulation. This understanding is what allows him to see beyond the rich man's facade. - searches him out (Hebrew:
yaḥqərennu- יַחְקְרֶנּוּ): From the rootḥaqar(to search, probe, examine, investigate thoroughly, plumb the depths). This isn't merely observing, but actively investigating, scrutinizing, or even "unmasking" the rich man's false wisdom. The poor man's understanding allows him to "see through" the facade of the rich man's perceived cleverness or superior insight, revealing its shallowness.
Proverbs 28 11 Bonus section
This proverb subtly functions as a critique against humanistic pride, suggesting that self-made wisdom (often associated with affluence) is ultimately limited and vulnerable to scrutiny by a humble, divinely enlightened perspective. It reinforces a pervasive biblical theme: God often uses the humble and the lowly to expose the pride and perceived wisdom of the powerful and exalted, demonstrating that His kingdom values are contrary to the world's. It also reminds us that outward success does not automatically correlate with spiritual or moral rectitude, and indeed, can be a breeding ground for self-deception that prevents true wisdom.
Proverbs 28 11 Commentary
Proverbs 28:11 lays bare the deceptive nature of self-attributed wisdom, especially when fueled by wealth or worldly success. The rich man, perhaps by virtue of his achievements or financial power, convinces himself and possibly others that he possesses profound insight. His riches might cause him to equate material gain with superior intellect or discernment. This self-assessment is rooted in pride, leading to spiritual blindness, making him unreceptive to true wisdom which begins with the fear of the LORD (Prov 9:10). His confidence stems from what he has, rather than who he truly is or who God is.
In sharp contrast stands the poor man, who, despite his lack of material status, possesses genuine "understanding." This is not merely intellectual capacity but often implies a discernment gifted by God, a humility learned through dependence, and an ability to perceive truth that transcends outward appearance. His understanding enables him to "search out" the rich man's supposed wisdom, to penetrate its superficiality and expose its underlying folly or arrogance. He uncovers the reality that true wisdom is not bought with wealth nor inherent in status, but comes from a discerning spirit. This proverb teaches that discernment can emerge from the unlikeliest of places, highlighting God's ways which often invert human valuations (1 Cor 1:27-29). It's a reminder that genuine insight often comes from a posture of humility and a reliance on God, rather than from human achievement or worldly advantage.