Proverbs 21:17He who loves pleasure shall be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil shall not be rich.
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~950 BC. Solomon's court scribes record wisdom for training young nobles in financial discipline...
The emotion here: concerned wisdom from experience with luxury
The original word
aneg (עָנֵג) — sensual pleasure, luxury, self-indulgence beyond need
Why it matters
Wine and oil were luxury items - a day's wages could buy what we'd call a fancy dinner
Read with care
What most readers miss in Proverbs 21:17
This isn't about all pleasure - it's about LOVING pleasure more than responsibility
Common misconceptionPeople think this condemns all enjoyment, but Solomon had great wealth. It's about loving pleasure MORE than wisdom and responsibility.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Proverbs 21:17
Bible Genome reading
Proverbs 21:17 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Proverbs 21:17 comes from the book of Proverbs, written during the United Kingdom period. The setting is a royal palace. 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 commanding. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include self discipline, wealth. Notable phrases: loves pleasure; poor man; wine and oil. This verse contains a promise of God.
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 21:17 mean to you, today?
A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.
Speak your heart →Get 3 verses for "deciding"
Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.