The Meaning of Proverbs 14:31 Explained

Proverbs 14:31

KJV: He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.

YLT: An oppressor of the poor reproacheth his Maker, And whoso is honouring Him Is favouring the needy.

Darby: He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker; but he that honoureth Him is gracious to the needy.

ASV: He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker; But he that hath mercy on the needy honoreth him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He that oppresseth  the poor  reproacheth  his Maker:  but he that honoureth  him hath mercy  on the poor. 

What does Proverbs 14:31 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 14

1  A wise woman builds her house

What do the individual words in Proverbs 14:31 mean?

He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker but he who honors Him has mercy on the needy
עֹ֣שֵֽׁק דָּ֭ל חֵרֵ֣ף עֹשֵׂ֑הוּ וּ֝מְכַבְּד֗וֹ חֹנֵ֥ן אֶבְיֽוֹן

עֹ֣שֵֽׁק  He  who  oppresses 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: עָשַׁק  
Sense: to press upon, oppress, violate, defraud, do violence, get deceitfully, wrong, extort.
דָּ֭ל  the  poor 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular construct
Root: דַּל  
Sense: low, poor, weak, thin, one who is low.
חֵרֵ֣ף  reproaches 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָרַף 
Sense: to reproach, taunt, blaspheme, defy, jeopardise, rail, upbraid.
עֹשֵׂ֑הוּ  his  Maker 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
וּ֝מְכַבְּד֗וֹ  but  he  who  honors  Him 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּבֵד  
Sense: to be heavy, be weighty, be grievous, be hard, be rich, be honourable, be glorious, be burdensome, be honoured.
חֹנֵ֥ן  has  mercy 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: חָנַן 
Sense: to be gracious, show favour, pity.
אֶבְיֽוֹן  on  the  needy 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: אֶבְיׄון  
Sense: in want, needy, chiefly poor, needy person.