Proverbs 3:27

27 ¹Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it.

Proverbs 3:27 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 3:27

Withhold not good from them to whom it is due
Honour, reverence, and tribute, to civil magistrates, ( Romans 13:7 Romans 13:8 ) ; just payment of debts to creditors, and alms to the poor, which, by what follows, seems to be chiefly intended; and the Septuagint render it,

``do not abstain to do well to the needy;''

and Aben Ezra interprets it of the poor; to them alms are due because of their wants, and by the appointment; of God; hence called "righteousness", in some copies of ( Matthew 6:1 ) ; so money kept from the poor "mammon of unrighteousness", ( Luke 16:9 ) . They are, as the word in the Hebrew text signifies, "the owners thereof" ^F8: rich men are not so much proprietors of good things as they are God's alms givers or stewards to distribute to the poor; and, as often as men have opportunity, they should do good in this way to all, especially to the household of faith, ( Galatians 6:10 ) ; this will hold true, as of temporal good things, so of spiritual; as good advice, exhortation, and doctrine. The Vulgate Latin version is, "do not forbid him to do well that can"; which sense is favoured by Jarchi: and as we should not abstain from doing good ourselves, so neither should we forbid, hinder, or discourage others; but the former sense is best; when it is in the power of thine hand to do [it];
not to hinder others, as Jarchi, but to do good; when a man has a sufficiency in his hands to do good with; has not only enough for himself and his family, but something to spare; when he has both opportunity and ability; and when he can do it at once and without delay, as follows.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F8 (wylebm) "a dominis suis", Vatablus, Mercerus, Gejerus, Michaelis.

Proverbs 3:27 In-Context

25 Do not be afraid of sudden fear Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes;

26 For the LORD will be your confidence And will keep your foot from being caught.

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it.

28 Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it," When you have it with you.

29 Do not devise harm against your neighbor, While he lives securely beside you.

Cross References

• 1. Romans 13:7; Galatians 6:10

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "its owners"