Proverbs 29:13

13 The poor and the oppressor have this in common: the Lord gives light to the eyes of both.

Proverbs 29:13 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 29:13

The poor and the deceitful man meet together
Or "the usurer" F17; who by usury, by fraud and deception, is possessed of the mammon of unrighteousness, and is become rich; he and the poor man meet together; and so the sense is the same as in ( Proverbs 22:2 ) ; (See Gill on Proverbs 22:2); the Lord lighteneth both their eyes;
with the light of natural life, and with the light of natural reason, ( John 1:4 John 1:9 ) ; and so is the same as being "the Maker of them all", in the above place; or he bestows his providential favours on both; causes his sun to shine upon the rich and poor, the wicked and the righteous, ( Matthew 5:45 ) . Or it may be understood of the light of grace; for though, for the most part, God chooses and calls the poor of the world, and lightens their eyes with the light of his grace, when not many wise and noble are called and enlightened; yet this is not restrained wholly to men of one and the same condition of life; yea, God sometimes calls and enlightens publicans, tax gatherers, and extortioners, as Matthew and Zacchaeus.


FOOTNOTES:

F17 (Mybkt vya) "vir usurarum", Mercerus; "foenerator", Piscator, Tigurine version; "usurarius", Munster.

Proverbs 29:13 In-Context

11 A fool gives full vent to anger, but the wise quietly holds it back.
12 If a ruler listens to falsehood, all his officials will be wicked.
13 The poor and the oppressor have this in common: the Lord gives light to the eyes of both.
14 If a king judges the poor with equity, his throne will be established forever.
15 The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a mother is disgraced by a neglected child.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.