Proverbs 19:7 Meaning and Explanation
“All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The poor are abandoned even by family and friends who claim closeness.
The Context of Proverbs 19:7
Poverty results in abandonment, even by family.
What Does Proverbs 19:7 Mean?
This verse depicts the painful isolation of poverty. Even a poor man's own brothers distance themselves, as though shame were contagious. If family rejects him, how much more do those he calls 'friends' slip away? The verse adds a layer of poignancy: the poor man pursues these people with words—entreaty, perhaps appeal—but they remain unavailable to him. The 'words' he offers cannot bridge the gap that money or advantage would.
The verse is brutally honest about social dynamics. It doesn't moralize or promise that righteous poverty will be rewarded with loyalty. Instead, it names a stark reality: poverty strips away the casual relationships and reveals that many 'friendships' depend on what you can offer materially. The reader is invited to examine their own conduct: do they abandon the poor? And if you are poor, where can you truly turn?
Frequently Asked Questions About Proverbs 19:7
What does Proverbs 19:7 mean?
The poor are abandoned even by family and friends who claim closeness.
What is the context of Proverbs 19:7?
Poverty results in abandonment, even by family.