Proverbs 13:7There are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing. There are some who pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~950 BC. Solomon's kingdom where merchants, nobles, and common people all lived with financial deceptions...
The emotion here: weary observation of human vanity and deception
The original word
mitrosesh (מִתְרוֹשֵׁשׁ) — pretending to be poor, from 'rosh' meaning to be in want
Why it matters
Wealthy ancients often dressed as commoners to avoid bandits and taxation
Read with care
What most readers miss in Proverbs 13:7
Both deceptions are equally condemned - faking wealth AND faking poverty are character flaws
Common misconceptionPeople focus only on those pretending to be rich, but Solomon equally condemns those who hide their blessings and play victim.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Proverbs 13:7
Bible Genome reading
Proverbs 13:7 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Proverbs 13:7 comes from the book of Proverbs, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Solomon. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 30% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include appearances, deception, wealth. Notable phrases: pretend to be rich; pretend to be poor.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same deciding
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7
“"You shall not murder.”
— Exodus 20:13
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:12
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
“But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"”
— Acts 3:6
Your reflection
What does Proverbs 13:7 mean to you, today?
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