Proverbs 28:3

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

A needy man that oppresseth the poor Is [like] a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

גּ‪[t]‬בֶר רָ֭שׁ וְעֹשֵׁ֣ק דַּלִּ֑ים מָטָ֥ר סֹ֝חֵ֗ף וְאֵ֣ין לָֽחֶם׃

Transliteration

geḇer rāš wə-ʿōšēq dallîm māṭār sōḥēp̄ wə-'ên lāḥem

Grammar Details

*geḇer*: noun, masculine singular - man/strong man
*rāš*: adjective, masculine singular - poor/impoverished
*wə-ʿōšēq*: conjunction + Qal participle, masculine singular - and oppressing
*dallîm*: adjective, masculine plural - poor/weak ones
*māṭār*: noun, masculine singular - rain
*sōḥēp̄*: Qal participle, masculine singular - sweeping away/flooding
*wə-'ên*: conjunction + particle of negation - and there is no
*lāḥem*: noun, masculine singular - bread/food

Word Meanings

*geḇer*: man/strong man/mighty one
*rāš*: poor/impoverished/needy
*ʿōšēq*: oppressing/exploiting
*dallîm*: poor ones/weak ones/needy ones
*māṭār*: rain/downpour
*sōḥēp̄*: sweeping away/flooding/driving
*lāḥem*: bread/food/sustenance

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Matt 18:28-30 : 28 But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred shillings: and he laid hold on him, and took [him] by the throat, saying, Pay what you owe. 29 So his fellow-servant fell down and begged him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay you. 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, until he should pay that which was due.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Prov 22:16
82%
16He that oppresseth the poor to increase his [gain], [And] he that giveth to the rich, [shall come] only to want.
Prov 14:31
82%
31He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker; But he that hath mercy on the needy honoreth him.
Prov 28:15-16
2 verses
77%
15[ As] a roaring lion, and a ranging bear, [So is] a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16The prince that lacketh understanding is also a great oppressor; [But] he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.
Prov 22:22
76%
22Rob not the poor, because he is poor; Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
Prov 13:23
76%
23Much food [is in] the tillage of the poor; But there is that is destroyed by reason of injustice.
Prov 28:8
76%
8He that augmenteth his substance by interest and increase, Gathereth it for him that hath pity on the poor.
Prov 29:7
75%
7The righteous taketh knowledge of the cause of the poor; The wicked hath not understanding to know [it].
Prov 28:27
75%
27He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack; But he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
Amos 5:11
75%
11Forasmuch therefore as ye trample upon the poor, and take exactions from him of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink the wine thereof.
Amos 8:4
75%
4Hear this, O ye that would swallow up the needy, and cause the poor of the land to fail,
Prov 21:13
74%
13Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, He also shall cry, but shall not be heard.
Job 20:19
74%
19For he hath oppressed and forsaken the poor; He hath violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.
Prov 10:15
74%
15The rich man's wealth is his strong city: The destruction of the poor is their poverty.
Prov 28:6
74%
6Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, Than he that is perverse in [his] ways, though he be rich.
Prov 19:17
74%
17He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto Jehovah, And his good deed will he pay him again.
Job 22:7
73%
7Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, And thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.
Ps 82:3-4
2 verses
73%
3Judge the poor and fatherless: Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.
4Rescue the poor and needy: Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.
Prov 28:4
73%
4They that forsake the law praise the wicked; But such as keep the law contend with them.
Prov 28:11
73%
11The rich man is wise in his own conceit; But the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.
Prov 14:20-21
2 verses
73%
20The poor is hated even of his own neighbor; But the rich hath many friends.
21He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth; But he that hath pity on the poor, happy is he.
Prov 29:13-14
2 verses
73%
13The poor man and the oppressor meet together; Jehovah lighteneth the eyes of them both.
14The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, His throne shall be established for ever.
Prov 18:23
73%
23The poor useth entreaties; But the rich answereth roughly.
Isa 26:6
73%
6The foot shall tread it down; even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy.
Eccl 5:8
73%
8If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a province, marvel not at the matter: for one higher than the high regardeth; and there are higher than they.
Ps 41:1
73%
1For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Blessed is he that considereth the poor: Jehovah will deliver him in the day of evil.
Exod 23:6
73%
6Thou shalt not wrest the justice [due] to thy poor in his cause.
Job 24:4
73%
4They turn the needy out of the way: The poor of the earth all hide themselves.
Prov 22:7
72%
7The rich ruleth over the poor; And the borrower is servant to the lender.
Prov 17:5
72%
5Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; [And] he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
Jas 2:6
72%
6But ye have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and themselves drag you before the judgment-seats?
Exod 23:3
72%
3neither shalt thou favor a poor man in his cause.
Isa 10:2
72%
2to turn aside the needy from justice, and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey!
Job 5:16
72%
16So the poor hath hope, And iniquity stoppeth her mouth.
Job 24:9
72%
9There are that pluck the fatherless from the breast, And take a pledge of the poor;
Prov 28:19
72%
19He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread; But he that followeth after vain [persons] shall have poverty enough.
Prov 22:9
72%
9He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; For he giveth of his bread to the poor.
Deut 15:11
72%
11For the poor will never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt surely open thy hand unto thy brother, to thy needy, and to thy poor, in thy land.
Prov 31:9
71%
9Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And minister justice to the poor and needy.
Prov 6:11
71%
11So shall thy poverty come as a robber, And thy want as an armed man.
Job 34:28
71%
28So that they caused the cry of the poor to come unto him, And he heard the cry of the afflicted.
Deut 24:14
71%
14Thou shalt not oppress a hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy sojourners that are in thy land within thy gates:
Prov 13:8
71%
8The ransom of a man's life is his riches; But the poor heareth no threatening.
Isa 3:14
71%
14Jehovah will enter into judgment with the elders of his people, and the princes thereof: It is ye that have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses:
Ps 10:2
71%
2In the pride of the wicked the poor is hotly pursued; Let them be taken in the devices that they have conceived.
Prov 28:2
71%
2For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof; But by men of understanding [and] knowledge the state [thereof] shall be prolonged.
Job 36:15
71%
15He delivereth the afflicted by their affliction, And openeth their ear in oppression.