The big picture
Proverbs 22 opens in verse 1 with “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 15 with “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it…”, and closes in verse 29 with “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, poor, words, heart, knowledge. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Proverbs · King James Version · 29Proverbs 22:1-8
1–8: A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour…
Proverbs 22:1–8 opens with “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and…” and reaches “He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 22 develops its own movement around LORD, poor, words, heart, knowledge, with particular weight carried by LORD, poor, rich.
Context that brings the passage to life
“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.” The line’s distinctive content terms include chosen, favour, gold. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.
Proverbs 22:1-8
King James Version1A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
2The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.
3A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
4By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
5Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
6Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
7The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
8He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
Proverbs 22:9-16
9–16: He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his…
Proverbs 22:9–16 opens with “He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.” and reaches “He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 22 develops its own movement around LORD, poor, words, heart, knowledge, with particular weight carried by giveth, heart, LORD.
Context that brings the passage to life
“He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Proverbs 22:9-16
King James Version9He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
10Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
11He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
12The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
13The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
14The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.
15Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
16He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
Proverbs 22:17-24
17–24: Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine…
Proverbs 22:17–24 opens with “Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.” and reaches “Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 22 develops its own movement around LORD, poor, words, heart, knowledge, with particular weight carried by words, knowledge, LORD.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.” Naming Bow keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Proverbs 22:17-24
King James Version17Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
18For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
19That thy trust may be in the LORD , I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.
20Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
21That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?
22Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
23For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
24Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
Proverbs 22:25-29
25–29: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
Proverbs 22:25–29 opens with “Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.” and reaches “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 22 develops its own movement around LORD, poor, words, heart, knowledge, with particular weight carried by stand, ancient, business.
Proverbs 22:25-29
King James Version25Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
26Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.
27If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
28Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
29Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Proverbs 22:1 begins with “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.”
Where the chapter turns
Proverbs 22:21 forms a natural hinge: “That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?”
The final note
Proverbs 22:29 leaves the reader with “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, poor, words, heart, knowledge, rich help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What does the reader know that Isaac is not told?
The opening identifies a test. That framing matters for the entire account.
What is actually offered?
A ram provided in place of Isaac. Preserve the difference between the threatened act and the outcome.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.