Proverbs 14:20The poor person is shunned even by his own neighbor, but the rich person has many friends.
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~950 BC. Solomon observing the royal court where wealthy merchants mingled while poor petitioners waited alone, Jerusalem, Israel.
The emotion here: sad recognition of human nature's selfishness
The original word
rush (רוּשׁ) — to be destitute, lacking basic necessities for survival
Why it matters
In ancient Near East, friendship was often a business relationship involving mutual benefit and protection
Read with care
What most readers miss in Proverbs 14:20
This isn't condemnation — it's Solomon stating a painful reality he witnessed daily in his court
Common misconceptionPeople think this justifies avoiding the poor, but Solomon is diagnosing a problem, not prescribing behavior. The next verse commands the opposite response.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Proverbs 14:20
Bible Genome reading
Proverbs 14:20 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Proverbs 14:20 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 lonely, with a comfort power of 40% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include poverty, social dynamics. Notable phrases: poor person shunned; rich has friends.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same lonely
“At the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is, being interpreted, "My God, my God, why h…”
— Mark 15:34
“Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and in his own house."”
— Mark 6:4
“About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lima sabachthani?" That is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me…”
— Matthew 27:46
“Yahweh God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him."”
— Genesis 2:18
“I am a brother to jackals, and a companion to ostriches.”
— Job 30:29
Your reflection
What does Proverbs 14:20 mean to you, today?
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