The rich can pay a ransom for their lives, but the poor won’t even get threatened.
Parallel translations
- WEB The ransom of a man’s life is his riches, but the poor hear no threats.
- KJV The ransom of a man’s life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.
- 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.
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 will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?
- 1 Pet 1:18–19knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers,
- 2 Kgs 24:14He carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valor, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and the smiths. No one remained, except the poorest people of the land.
- Ps 49:6–10Those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches —
- Jer 39:10But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left of the poor of the people, who had nothing, in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.
- Job 2:4Satan answered Yahweh, and said, “Skin for skin. Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life.
- Zeph 3:12But I will leave among you an afflicted and poor people, and they will take refuge in Yahweh’s name.
- 2 Kgs 25:12But the captain of the guard left some of the poorest of the land to work the vineyards and fields.
- Jer 41:8But ten men were found among those who said to Ishmael, “Don’t kill us; for we have stores hidden in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey.” So he stopped, and didn’t kill them among their brothers.
- Exod 21:30If a ransom is laid on him, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is laid on him.
- Prov 6:35He won’t regard any ransom, neither will he rest content, though you give 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.