Proverbs 13:23 Meaning and Explanation
“Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The poor's land produces abundance; others starve from lack of wisdom.
The Context of Proverbs 13:23
Shows that diligence can overcome poverty while poor judgment brings ruin regardless of advantage.
What Does Proverbs 13:23 Mean?
A poor person's field, worked with diligence and care, yields much food. The poorest laborer can become self-sufficient through earnest cultivation. This is not about extreme poverty but about the reality that work and effort create sustenance regardless of starting condition. The soil is generous to those who tend it.
Yet there exists one 'destroyed for want of judgment'—someone who may have resources or opportunity but lacks the wisdom to use them well. Poor judgment wastes abundance, squanders inheritance, or mismanages land. Wisdom matters more than circumstance; the foolish can starve amid plenty.
Frequently Asked Questions About Proverbs 13:23
What does Proverbs 13:23 mean?
The poor's land produces abundance; others starve from lack of wisdom.
What is the context of Proverbs 13:23?
Shows that diligence can overcome poverty while poor judgment brings ruin regardless of advantage.