Proverbs 28:8He who increases his wealth by excessive interest gathers it for one who has pity on the poor.
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~950-700 BC. A wealthy merchant charging crushing interest rates to desperate farmers in Jerusalem, modern-day Israel...
The emotion here: righteous anger at watching the wealthy devour the desperate
The original word
neshek (נֶשֶׁךְ) — interest that 'bites' like a serpent, usury that destroys
Why it matters
Israelite law forbade charging interest to fellow Israelites, making this practice doubly wrong
Read with care
What most readers miss in Proverbs 28:8
This isn't about normal business loans — it's about exploiting desperation for profit
Common misconceptionModern Christians think this prohibits all interest, but it specifically targets excessive, exploitative rates that destroy families — like modern payday loans.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Proverbs 28:8
Bible Genome reading
Proverbs 28:8 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Proverbs 28:8 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 30% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include justice, wealth, stewardship. Notable phrases: excessive interest; pity on the 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 28:8 mean to you, today?
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