The ransom of a man’s life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.
Parallel translations
- WEB The ransom of a man’s life is his riches, but the poor hear no threats.
- BSB Riches may ransom a man’s life, but a poor man hears no threat.
- NKJV The ransom of a man’s life is his riches, But the poor does not hear rebuke.
- NASB The ransom of a person’s life is his wealth, But the poor hears no rebuke.
- NLT The rich can pay a ransom for their lives, but the poor won’t even get threatened.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Riches can ransom a wealthy man's life, but the poor face no such threats. Wealth carries hidden burdens as well as benefits.
Overview
The proverb observes a sober irony: a rich man's money may buy his safety, yet it also makes him a target, while the poor escape extortion and threats. It tempers any envy of wealth by noting its anxieties and dangers. No earthly ransom can buy eternal life, however; only Christ's blood ransoms the soul (Mark 10:45; 1 Peter 1:18-19).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Matt 16:26For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
- 1 Pet 1:18–19Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
- 2 Kgs 24:14And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land.
- Ps 49:6–10They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
- Jer 39:10But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left of the poor of the people, which had nothing, in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.
- Job 2:4And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
- Zeph 3:12I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.
- 2 Kgs 25:12But the captain of the guard left of the poor of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen.
- Jer 41:8But ten men were found among them that said unto Ishmael, Slay us not: for we have treasures in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey. So he forbare, and slew them not among their brethren.
- Exod 21:30If there be laid on him a sum of money, then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatsoever is laid upon him.
- Prov 6:35He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 13:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.