Commentary - Proverbs 22:7

Bird's-eye view

Proverbs 22:7 lays down a hard-headed observation about the way the world works. It is not a complaint, nor is it a celebration. It is a statement of fact, a description of a fundamental economic reality that flows from the created order. The book of Proverbs is given to us to equip us for wise living in the world that God actually made, not a utopian fantasy world that we might wish He had made. This verse is divided into two parallel clauses, both of which describe a hierarchy of authority based on economic condition. The first deals with the general relationship between the rich and the poor, and the second provides a specific and potent illustration of that relationship: the bondage that comes with debt.

The central lesson is one of cause and effect. Certain actions lead to poverty and subjugation, while other actions lead to wealth and influence. The proverb forces us to confront the consequences of our financial decisions. It serves as a stark warning against the folly of indebtedness and a motivation to pursue the wisdom of diligence, foresight, and godly stewardship. Ultimately, it directs us to understand that the structures of this world, including economic hierarchies, are not arbitrary. They are governed by principles that God has woven into the fabric of reality. To ignore them is to court disaster; to understand and heed them is a key part of walking in wisdom.

Outline

Context In Proverbs

This proverb sits within a collection of "sayings of the wise" (Prov. 22:17) that provide practical, moral, and spiritual instruction. The surrounding verses deal with a range of topics including the training of children (22:6), the consequences of sowing injustice (22:8), and the blessings of generosity (22:9). This context is crucial. Our verse is not an isolated statement about economics but is part of a holistic worldview. It is balanced by the repeated scriptural commands to care for the poor and not to oppress them. The Bible recognizes that wealth brings power, and this proverb states that reality plainly. But other passages immediately qualify this by teaching that this power must be wielded with justice and mercy. The fact that the rich rule is a description; the command of God is that they rule righteously.

Key Issues

Beginning: A World of Consequence

Before we dive into the clauses, we must get our bearings. The modern mind, soaked as it is in egalitarianism, often recoils from verses like this. We are taught to resent all hierarchies. But Scripture is not egalitarian. It teaches that God has established a world of order, authority, and consequence. Fathers have authority in the home, elders in the church, and magistrates in the civil realm. And in the economic realm, as this proverb states, wealth itself carries a form of authority. This is not inherently sinful; it is simply how the world is structured.

The issue is not the existence of the hierarchy, but the moral character of those within it. A rich man can rule righteously, as a blessing to the poor, or he can rule as an oppressor. A borrower can be a responsible steward working his way out of a temporary necessity, or he can be a fool sinking deeper into the mire. The proverb is a call to wisdom, urging us to navigate the world as it is, not as we might wish it to be. It is a call to strive, by God's grace, to be in a position of lending rather than borrowing, of giving rather than needing.

The rich rules over the poor,

This is a straightforward observation. Wealth provides leverage, influence, and power. The man with capital can create opportunities for others, hiring them for his enterprise. In this sense, he "rules" by setting the terms of employment. The man with resources has a greater say in community affairs. He can fund projects, support causes, and generally make his voice heard more loudly than the man who is struggling to feed his family. This is not a Marxist critique of power structures; it is a simple statement of fact. The Bible is relentlessly realistic about human nature and the dynamics of society. To pretend that the rich and the poor have the same level of influence in the world is to be willfully blind. The wise man acknowledges this reality and acts accordingly. The righteous rich man recognizes his rule is a stewardship from God and uses his influence for the good of his community and the glory of God. The poor man, seeking wisdom, understands his position and labors diligently to improve his lot, trusting in God's provision.

And the borrower is the slave of the lender.

This second clause sharpens the point of the first. If the first is a general observation, this is a specific, cutting application. The word "slave" here is not to be taken lightly. While it may not mean chattel slavery in the fullest sense, it certainly describes a condition of severe bondage and loss of freedom. When you borrow, you surrender a portion of your future. Your future labor is no longer entirely your own; a portion of it is already promised to your creditor. You are not free to dispose of your income as you see fit, because the lender has the first claim. Your decisions are constrained, your options are limited, and your life is beholden to the one who holds your note.

This is a profound spiritual principle with a direct economic application. Debt is a form of servitude. It creates anxiety, restricts generosity, and can lead to a cycle of ever-deepening obligation. The Bible does not absolutely forbid all borrowing, but it consistently warns against it and presents it as a curse rather than a blessing (Deut. 28:12, 44). The wise man avoids debt whenever possible, understanding that true freedom includes financial freedom. He lives within his means, saves for the future, and trusts God rather than credit. The fool, on the other hand, sees only his immediate desires and borrows heedlessly, selling his birthright of freedom for a mess of pottage.

Key Words

Rules (mashal)

The Hebrew word mashal means to rule, to have dominion, or to govern. It is the same word used for rulers and kings. It does not necessarily have a negative connotation. Adam was told to have dominion over the earth. Husbands are to rule their households. The question is never whether there will be rule, but whether that rule will be righteous or wicked. In this context, it refers to the practical, de facto authority and influence that wealth confers upon an individual in society.

Slave (ebed)

The word ebed is the standard Hebrew word for a servant or slave. It describes a person who is in service to another, whose labor is not his own. By using such a strong word, the proverb intends to shock us into seeing the true nature of debt. The borrower has entered into a relationship of subservience. He is obligated, bound, and not fully his own master. This is a powerful deterrent to casual borrowing.

Application

The application of this proverb is intensely practical. First, it is a call to financial diligence and wisdom. We are to work hard, avoid waste, and plan for the future so that, by God's grace, we are not in a position of being ruled over or enslaved by debt. This is a matter of basic Christian stewardship. Your money is not your own; it is God's, and you are to manage it for His glory.

Second, it is a warning against the covetousness that drives so much consumer debt. Our culture screams that we must have it all now. The proverb teaches the wisdom of patience, contentment, and deferred gratification. The fool borrows to fund a lifestyle he cannot afford. The wise man builds slowly and steadily on a foundation of hard work and thrift.

Third, for those who are blessed with wealth, it is a summons to righteous rule. If you are a lender, you are not to be a predatory one. If you are an employer, you are to be just and fair. Your wealth gives you power; you will give an account to God for how you use that power. You are to use your resources to bless others, to create opportunity, and to further the kingdom of God, not to oppress the poor.

Finally, this verse points us to the gospel. We were all born debtors to God's law, slaves to sin. We owed a debt we could never pay. But Christ, the richest of all, became poor for our sakes. He paid our debt in full on the cross. He is the merciful lender who forgave an infinite debt. Having been freed from that ultimate slavery, we should now walk in wisdom, hating all lesser forms of bondage, especially the foolish, self-imposed bondage of debt.