Bird's-eye view
This proverb sets before us two paths, two appetites, and two destinies. It is a sharp contrast between the man who is mastered by his desire for gain and the man who has mastered it. The central issue is the heart's orientation. One man is "greedy for gain," which is a form of idolatry. His god is his belly, and the end of that road is ruin, not just for him, but for his entire household. The other man "hates gifts," meaning he despises bribery and the crookedness that comes with it. His path is one of integrity, and the destination is life itself. This is not a simple contrast between a bad businessman and a good one; it is a contrast between two kinds of worship. One worships the creature, and the other worships the Creator.
The proverb functions as a sharp diagnostic tool. Where does your loyalty lie? What do you love, and what do you hate? The greedy man loves money and the short-term advantages it seems to offer. But this love is a destructive force that introduces a cancer into the body of his family. The righteous man hates the very instruments of corruption. This hatred is not a sour moralism, but a holy revulsion that flows from a heart that loves God and His law. The outcome is stark: the greedy man troubles his house, while the man of integrity finds life. This is a foundational principle of biblical economics and ethics, godliness is profitable for all things, and greed is a fool's bargain that costs him everything, especially his own family.
Outline
- 1. The Corrupting Nature of Greed (v. 27a)
- a. The Character of the Greedy Man
- b. The Consequence: A Troubled House
- 2. The Preserving Nature of Integrity (v. 27b)
- a. The Character of the Righteous Man
- b. The Consequence: Life
Context In Proverbs
The book of Proverbs is intensely practical, but it is not a mere collection of fortune-cookie sayings. It is grounded in "the fear of the LORD," which is the beginning of wisdom (Prov. 1:7). This verse fits squarely within that framework. The contrast between greed and integrity is not just a matter of what works better in the marketplace. It is a matter of what aligns with God's created order. Greed is a form of folly because it ignores God's design for human flourishing, which is rooted in covenant faithfulness. A man's household is his primary covenantal responsibility, the little kingdom God has given him to steward. This proverb shows that economic sin is never just economic; it is covenantal treason. It strikes at the heart of the family.
Throughout Proverbs, we see the linkage between personal righteousness and household stability (e.g., Prov. 14:1; 24:3-4). We also see consistent warnings against "unjust gain" (Prov. 1:19; 28:8). This proverb distills that wisdom into a potent antithesis. The "trouble" brought upon the house is not an unfortunate side effect; it is the direct and predictable harvest of a man's disordered loves. He thought he was feathering his nest, but he was actually filling it with thorns and scorpions.
Key Issues
- Greed as Idolatry
- The Covenantal Household
- The Nature of True Life
- Hatred as a Godly Affection
Clause-by-Clause Commentary
He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house,
The man described here is not just ambitious. The Hebrew speaks of someone who is cutting off a piece for himself, often unjustly. He is "greedy for gain." This is the man who cannot pass up an opportunity, even if it requires him to cut corners, tell a half-truth, or engage in shoddy workmanship. His mind is set on accumulation. But the Bible diagnoses this condition as a spiritual problem, not just a financial one. Paul calls covetousness idolatry (Col. 3:5). This man is a worshiper, but he is bowing at the wrong altar. He is sacrificing his family on the altar of Mammon.
And what is the result? He "troubles his own house." The word for "trouble" here is the same one used to describe Achan, who took the accursed things from Jericho and thereby "troubled" all of Israel, leading to his and his family's destruction (Joshua 7:25). The greedy man thinks he is providing for his family, making them secure. But in reality, he is importing a curse. The trouble can manifest in many ways: strife between husband and wife over dishonest dealings, children who learn the same corrupt ways, the instability that comes from ill-gotten wealth, and ultimately, the judgment of God. A family is a covenantal unit, and the head of the household is responsible for its spiritual integrity. By embracing greed, he pollutes the well from which his own family must drink.
But he who hates gifts of bribery will live.
The contrast is striking. It is not between the man who is greedy and the man who is simply "not greedy." The opposite of this destructive "love" of gain is a holy "hatred" of the tools of corruption. He "hates gifts." This refers to bribes, the quintessential instrument of unjust gain. A bribe is designed to pervert justice, to blind the eyes of the wise (Ex. 23:8). The righteous man doesn't just politely decline a bribe; he feels a visceral revulsion toward it. He hates it because he loves God, justice, and his neighbor.
This hatred is an affection that flows from a regenerate heart. It is the flip side of loving righteousness. You cannot be neutral about poison. And the result of this holy hatred is that he "will live." This is more than just physical survival. In Proverbs, "life" is shorthand for flourishing, blessing, peace, and fellowship with God. It is to be in harmony with the created order. While the greedy man was bringing trouble and death into his home, this man, by his integrity, is cultivating a garden of life for himself and his posterity. He is building his house on the rock of God's Word, and it will stand. His integrity is his family's greatest inheritance.
Application
The fundamental application is a call to examine our hearts. What do you love, and what do you hate? Our culture relentlessly preaches the gospel of more, and it is easy for that discontentment to seep into our souls. We are tempted to believe that a little more money, a slightly bigger house, or a better-paying job will solve our problems. This proverb warns us that the pursuit of gain for its own sake is a path to ruin. It troubles our homes. This trouble might be the quiet resentment of a wife who knows her husband is compromising, or the loud rebellion of children who have seen hypocrisy up close. The man who builds his financial life on a foundation of greed is building a house of sorrows.
The way of life is found in hating what God hates. We must cultivate a holy revulsion for dishonesty, for cutting corners, for the very idea of a bribe. This is not about a prissy moralism, but about a robust love for God's law and a desire for true, lasting prosperity. This means teaching our children that integrity is worth more than any paycheck. It means being content with what God has provided and trusting Him for the future. When a man hates bribery, he is free. He is not owned by the desire for more. He can make decisions for the good of his family and the glory of God, not for the sake of a few extra dollars. That is the path of life, and it is a life that blesses not only the man himself, but his entire household to a thousand generations.