Proverbs 30:22 kjv

For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;

Proverbs 30:22 nkjv

For a servant when he reigns, A fool when he is filled with food,

Proverbs 30:22 niv

a servant who becomes king, a godless fool who gets plenty to eat,

Proverbs 30:22 esv

a slave when he becomes king, and a fool when he is filled with food;

Proverbs 30:22 nlt

a slave who becomes a king,
an overbearing fool who prospers,

Proverbs 30 verses

Proverbs 30 22 Meaning

Proverbs 30:22 highlights two societal situations deemed "unbearable" or profoundly disruptive: an enslaved person ascending to kingship, and a fool prospering with abundance. The core meaning points to the chaos, instability, and injustice that arise when individuals fundamentally unsuited by character, wisdom, or preparation are granted ultimate power or overflowing prosperity. Such reversals of fortune, when paired with an intrinsic lack of virtuous qualities, lead to profound disorder rather than betterment.

Proverbs 30 22 Context

Proverbs 30 is unique, attributed to Agur son of Jakeh, presenting itself as wisdom gained through profound contemplation and divine revelation. It includes various forms of numerical proverbs and observational wisdom. Verses 21-23 specifically present a quatrain of "four things that are unendurable for the earth, and four it cannot bear." This sets the context for Proverbs 30:22: these are not mere inconveniences, but deep societal maladies that disturb order and invite divine displeasure due to gross misplacements of power and privilege. The verse contrasts proper order and just rule, implying that certain individuals are inherently unfit for positions of influence and prosperity.

Proverbs 30 22 Word analysis

• a servant (עֶבֶד - eved): A person of low social standing, possibly enslaved or a bondservant, without inherent rights, status, or preparation for governance. The problem isn't their origin per se, but their potential unsuitability due to a lack of training, a character warped by previous conditions, or a newly acquired pride that contrasts sharply with the humility often associated with this station. Such an individual, lacking the requisite wisdom or virtue, can be dangerously incompetent or oppressive as a ruler.
• when he becomes king (כִּי־יִמְלֹוֹךְ - ki-yimloch): Denotes the dramatic and absolute shift in power and authority. This emphasizes the accession to the highest position of influence. The transformation of a person from subservience to ultimate rule can lead to profound instability if character and wisdom are absent, resulting in a ruler who may be vindictive, tyrannical, or simply unprepared for the immense responsibilities.
• and a fool (וְנָבָל - v'naval): A person lacking moral and spiritual discernment; one who despises wisdom and lives by impulse or corrupt principles. Naval suggests more than just intellectual deficiency; it implies moral depravity, arrogance, and a spiritual obtuseness that rejects the Lord (cf. Ps 14:1).
• when he is filled with food (כִּי־יִשְׂבַּע לָחֶם - ki-yisba' lachem): Indicates an abundance of provision, wealth, or satiety, representing a state of prosperity or even gluttony. For a naval, this signifies a misuse of blessings; instead of leading to gratitude, generosity, or wise stewardship, it fuels their folly, arrogance, self-indulgence, and possibly oppression. It highlights the dangerous amplification of foolishness when material comfort removes all restraint.

Words-group analysis:

• a servant when he becomes king: This phrase encapsulates the danger of unqualified leadership. A ruler who lacks the necessary wisdom, training, and moral foundation, despite their low origin, often governs through impulse, insecurity, or a newly found sense of power, leading to tyranny, injustice, and instability within the kingdom. The unexpected elevation highlights the deep societal unease with authority that is not justly or competently exercised.
• and a fool when he is filled with food: This group illustrates the detrimental effect of prosperity on a morally bankrupt person. Rather than encouraging a disciplined life or wise stewardship, abundance allows the naval to amplify their inherent vices, becoming more arrogant, self-indulgent, and indifferent to divine and human order, demonstrating that wealth can empower sin when divorced from wisdom and virtue.

Proverbs 30 22 Bonus section

• This proverb is part of a series (30:21-23) depicting "four things that are unendurable" or that the "earth trembles because of." The other two are "an unloved woman when she gets a husband, and a maidservant who displaces her mistress." All four highlight scenarios of profound status reversal or inappropriate promotion, which, without corresponding character, lead to chaos and disruption of societal or household order.
• The emphasis is on the character of the individual, not merely their social status. While the verse describes someone starting as a eved (servant), it doesn't condemn all upward mobility (as exemplified by figures like Joseph or David, who were elevated by God). It is specifically about the "servant" who is naval in character or entirely unfit for the task.
• The "unbearable" nature of these situations suggests that they provoke instability and a sense of profound injustice within society, mirroring divine disapproval. They are anti-patterns to God's intended order and righteous governance.

Proverbs 30 22 Commentary

Proverbs 30:22 points to deeply disturbing societal imbalances stemming from a profound misplacement of power and resources. The "servant when he becomes king" is problematic not because of their low origin (as the Bible often extols elevation of the humble by God), but because this specific "servant" embodies traits unsuited for leadership, likely including a lack of wisdom, humility, or prior preparation for the immense responsibility of governance. Their rule becomes unbearable, leading to potential tyranny, ineptitude, or personal vindictiveness that oppresses the populace and destabilizes the kingdom. The narrative of Saul, Israel's first king, who began humbly but ended in disobedience and folly, serves as a poignant example.

Similarly, "a fool when he is filled with food" signifies the dangerous consequence of prosperity in the hands of one morally and spiritually devoid. Abundance for a "fool" (a naval - one who scorns wisdom and God) does not lead to benevolent action or humble gratitude but to heightened arrogance, self-indulgence, gluttony, and an amplification of their destructive tendencies. Instead of using their wealth for good, they likely waste it, grow complacent in their sin, or become more oppressive, making their situation a burden to society and a demonstration of divine disregard for their conduct.

Both scenarios underscore the core biblical principle that character, wisdom, and righteousness are paramount for both leadership and handling prosperity. The verse implies that divine order is disturbed when those without the spiritual and moral prerequisites occupy positions of power or are given significant blessings, turning potential good into something "unbearable." It warns against elevating characterless individuals and against the dangers of unearned or unwisely used wealth.