Proverbs 15:27He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live.
The setting
Ancient marketplace, ~950 BC. Merchants weighing coins, officials taking bribes. Jerusalem's commercial district, Israel.
The emotion here: urgent warning from experience
The original word
bōṣēaʿ (בֹּצֵעַ) — violent greed, like ripping profit from someone's hands
Why it matters
In Solomon's era, taking bribes was so common that refusing them was noteworthy
Read with care
What most readers miss in Proverbs 15:27
The word 'troubles' means he becomes his family's enemy — greed turns you against those you love
Common misconceptionPeople think this only applies to politicians taking bribes. Solomon means any compromise of values for financial gain — including cutting corners, cheating taxes, or exploiting others.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Proverbs 15:27
Bible Genome reading
Proverbs 15:27 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Proverbs 15:27 comes from the book of Proverbs, written during the United Kingdom period. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 40% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include wisdom, integrity. Notable phrases: greedy for gain; troubles his own house.
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 15:27 mean to you, today?
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