Proverbs 28:22 Meaning and Explanation
“He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The person eager to get rich is obsessed with gain and blind to impending loss.
The Context of Proverbs 28:22
A proverb about how greed blinds a person to the consequences of their own desperation.
What Does Proverbs 28:22 Mean?
To hasten to be rich is to be possessed by an evil eye—a greedy, envious, obsessive gaze fixed on wealth. Such a person is consumed by acquisition and cannot see beyond the immediate desire for gain. He is captured by his own appetite.
What such a person fails to consider is that this very desperation often leads to loss. His schemes unravel, his shortcuts fail, and poverty comes upon him—not in the distant future but as the natural consequence of his own reckless pursuit. He sows wind and reaps whirlwind.
Proverbs 28:22 in the Original Language
ra' (רַע), 'evil eye' — a technical term in Hebrew wisdom for greed, envy, or miserliness; the eye that sees only what it wants and cannot see what is good.
Frequently Asked Questions About Proverbs 28:22
What does Proverbs 28:22 mean?
The person eager to get rich is obsessed with gain and blind to impending loss.
What is the context of Proverbs 28:22?
A proverb about how greed blinds a person to the consequences of their own desperation.