Proverbs - 28:27



27 One who gives to the poor has no lack; but one who closes his eyes will have many curses.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Proverbs 28:27.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
He that giveth to the poor, shall not want: he that despiseth his entreaty, shall suffer indigence.
He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack; but he that withdraweth his eyes shall have many a curse.
He that giveth to the poor shall not want: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
Whoso is giving to the poor hath no lack, And whoso is hiding his eyes multiplied curses.
He that gives to the poor shall not lack: but he that hides his eyes shall have many a curse.
He who gives to the poor will never be in need, but great curses will be on him who gives no attention to them.
Whoever gives to the poor shall not be in need. Whoever despises his petition will suffer scarcity.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

Hideth his eyes - i. e., Turns away from, disregards, the poor. Compare Isaiah 1:15.

Be that giveth unto the poor - See the notes on Deuteronomy 15:7 (note), Detueronomy Deuteronomy 19:17 (note), Deuteronomy 22:9 (note).

He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack,.... That gives alms unto them, relieves them in their distress, supplies them with money, food, or clothes, and does it cheerfully, largely, and liberally, as the case requires; such an one shall not want any good thing; he shall not be the poorer for what he gives; he shall not miss it, nor his substance be diminished; he shall not come to poverty and want, yea, he shall be enriched, and his substance increased, for more is intended than is expressed. Jarchi interprets this of a wise man not restraining doctrine from a disciple, but giving it to him liberally;
but he that hideth his eyes; that is, from the poor, as the Targum and Syriac version add; that does not care to see his person, to behold his miseries, or know his case, lest his heart should be moved with compassion, and should draw out anything from him; see Isaiah 58:7. Such an one
shall have many a curse; not only from the poor he hardens himself against, but from other persons, who observe his miserable and covetous disposition; and from the Lord himself, who abhors such persons, and curses their very blessings now, and will bid them depart from him as accursed persons hereafter.

A selfish man not only will not look out for objects of compassion, but will look off from those that call for his attention.

(Compare Proverbs 11:24-26).
hideth his eyes--as the face (Psalm 27:9; Psalm 69:17), denotes inattention.

27 He that giveth to the poor suffereth no want;
But he that covereth his eyes meeteth many curses.
In the first line the pronoun לּו, referring back to the subject noun, is to be supplied, as at Proverbs 27:7 להּ. He who gives to the poor has no want (מחסּור), for God's blessing reimburses him richly for what he bestows. He, on the other hand, who veils (מעלּים( sl, cf. the Hithpa., Isaiah 58:7) his eyes so as not to see the misery which calls forth compassion, or as if he did not see the misery which has a claim on his compassion; he is (becomes) rich in curses, i.e., is laden with the curses of those whose wants he cared not for; curses which, because they are deserved, change by virtue of a divine requital (vid., Sir. 4:5f.; Tob. 4:7) into all kinds of misfortunes (opp. רב־בּרכות, 20a). מארה is constructed after the form מגרה, מקרה from ארר.

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