Proverbs 14:21He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who has pity on the poor.
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~950 BC. Solomon's court where he witnessed both cruelty toward the poor and genuine compassion, establishing moral law, Jerusalem, Israel.
The emotion here: passionate about justice for the vulnerable
The original word
chanan (חָנַן) — to show favor or mercy, especially to those who cannot repay
Why it matters
Ancient Hebrew law required leaving grain in field corners specifically for the poor to glean
Read with care
What most readers miss in Proverbs 14:21
The word 'despises' implies active contempt, not just neglect — this is about your heart attitude toward people
Common misconceptionPeople think this is just about giving money, but the key word is 'despises' — it's about not looking down on people based on their economic status.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Proverbs 14:21
Bible Genome reading
Proverbs 14:21 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Proverbs 14:21 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 grateful, with a comfort power of 60% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include compassion, blessing. Notable phrases: despises neighbor sins; blessed pity poor. This verse contains a promise of God. This verse contains a command.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same grateful
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
— John 3:16
“I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith.”
— 2 Timothy 4:7
“It will be, that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.'”
— Acts 2:21
“for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,”
— Ephesians 2:8
“So now it wasn't you who sent me here, but God, and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land o…”
— Genesis 45:8
Your reflection
What does Proverbs 14:21 mean to you, today?
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