Proverbs 19:7

7 All the brothers of the poor, [if] they hate him, how much more will his friends keep away from him. He pursues [them with] words, [and] they are gone.

Proverbs 19:7 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 19:7

All the brethren of the poor do hate him
They despise him on account of his poverty; they neglect him, and do not take care of him; they reckon him a reproach unto them, and do not choose to own him; all which may be interpreted an hatred of him; how much more do his friends go far from him?
or "his friend", every one of his friends; or "his neighbour" ^F12: for if his brethren, who are his own flesh and blood, show so much disrespect unto him; much more will those who are only his neighbours, or were in friendship with him while in prosperity; these wilt stand at a distance from him, and not come near him, now he is poor and in distress; see ( Job 19:13 Job 19:14 ) ; he pursueth [them with] words; [yet] they are wanting [to him];
or, "they [are] not" ^F13; he presses them with earnest entreaties to relieve him; he urges their own words and promises, and fetches arguments from them, and uses them as far as they will go; but all signifies nothing; his own words and petitions are to no purpose; and their words and promises are all smoke and vapour, vain and empty. Some understand this, as Gersom, not of the poor man that follows vain words

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FOOTNOTES:

F14 and empty promises, and buoys himself up with them that such an one and such an one has promised to be his friend, of which nothing comes; but of the friend that separates from the poor man, and pursues him with words of accusation, charging it on him as hit own fault that he is poor; which accusations are not true. This is one of the fifteen places observed by the Masoretes, in which it is written (al) , "not", and read (wl) , "to him": both may be retained, and read, "they [are] not to him" ^F15; not profitable to him; either his own words, his petitions; or the words of others, their promises.
F12 (wherm) "amicus ejus", Vatablus; "ominis amicus", Cocceius; i.e. "quisque amicorum ejus", Michaelis.
F13 (hmh al) "non sunt ii", Junius & Tremillius; "et non sunt, Mercerus.
F14 "Nihil illa", Cocceius, Schultens.
F15 Vid. Amamae Antibarb. Bibl. l. 3. p. 742.

Proverbs 19:7 In-Context

5 A witness of falsehood will not go unpunished, and he who breathes lies will not escape.

6 Many will seek favor before the generous, and everyone [is] the friend of a man of gifts.

7 All the brothers of the poor, [if] they hate him, how much more will his friends keep away from him. He pursues [them with] words, [and] they are gone.

8 He who acquires wisdom loves himself; he who guards understanding [loves] to find good.

9 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes lies will perish.

Footnotes

• [a] Or "[when] he pursues words [and] not them"