Proverbs 20:21 Meaning and Explanation
“An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Wealth obtained quickly through inheritance at the start of life may not remain blessed or prosperous.
The Context of Proverbs 20:21
Proverbs connects the lasting quality of blessing to the effort and wisdom required to obtain it.
What Does Proverbs 20:21 Mean?
Some receive an inheritance early in life—they gain wealth rapidly without earning it through labor or wisdom. The proverb acknowledges that such quick acquisition is possible; the beginning seems fortunate. However, this initial advantage carries a hidden cost.
The ending of such hastily-acquired wealth is not blessed. Quick inheritance often fails to sustain blessing because the recipient has not developed the discipline, wisdom, or character necessary to steward it well. What comes easily can be lost easily. Proverbs suggests that wealth accumulated through one's own growth tends to prove more stable and blessing-bearing than that which arrives without effort.
Proverbs 20:21 in the Original Language
'Hastily' (מַהֵר, maher) — quickly or with speed; without the slow process of earning.
Frequently Asked Questions About Proverbs 20:21
What does Proverbs 20:21 mean?
Wealth obtained quickly through inheritance at the start of life may not remain blessed or prosperous.
What is the context of Proverbs 20:21?
Proverbs connects the lasting quality of blessing to the effort and wisdom required to obtain it.