The Meaning of Proverbs 28:11 Explained

Proverbs 28:11

KJV: The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.

YLT: A rich man is wise in his own eyes, And the intelligent poor searcheth him.

Darby: A rich man is wise in his own eyes; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.

ASV: The rich man is wise in his own conceit; But the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The rich  man  [is] wise  in his own conceit;  but the poor  that hath understanding  searcheth him out. 

What does Proverbs 28:11 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Sometimes rich people think they are wise because they have accumulated much money (cf. 1 Timothy 6:17). However a wise person, even a poor wise Prayer of Manasseh , can see that that is not the ultimate reason he is rich.

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 28

1  general observations of impiety and integrity

What do the individual words in Proverbs 28:11 mean?

Wise in his own eyes the man [is] rich but the poor who has understanding searches him out
חָכָ֣ם בְּ֭עֵינָיו אִ֣ישׁ עָשִׁ֑יר וְדַ֖ל מֵבִ֣ין יַחְקְרֶֽנּוּ

חָכָ֣ם  Wise 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: חָכָם  
Sense: wise, wise (man).
בְּ֭עֵינָיו  in  his  own  eyes 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, cdc, third person masculine singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
אִ֣ישׁ  the  man  [is] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
עָשִׁ֑יר  rich 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: עָשִׁיר  
Sense: rich, wealthy n.
וְדַ֖ל  but  the  poor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: דַּל  
Sense: low, poor, weak, thin, one who is low.
מֵבִ֣ין  who  has  understanding 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בִּין  
Sense: to discern, understand, consider.
יַחְקְרֶֽנּוּ  searches  him  out 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: חָקַר  
Sense: to search, search for, search out, examine, investigate.