Proverbs 22

Proverbs 22 is commonly divided into two parts. The collection of "the proverbs of Solomon," which began at 10:1, ends at verse 16, and a new section, "the words of the wise," begins at verse 17. As in Proverbs 21, the first part consists of short, self-contained sayings of one verse each, while the second part takes the form of exhortation addressed directly to the listener as "you."

Outline

• Verses 1–5 A good name and loving favor are better than riches. The LORD is the maker of both rich and poor. The prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, and humility and the fear of the LORD bring riches, honor, and life.
• Verses 6–16 These verses contain the instruction to train up a child in the way he should go, the saying that the borrower is servant to the lender, and the warning that whoever sows iniquity will reap calamity. They go on to speak of the blessing of one who gives his bread to the poor, the ceasing of strife when the scorner is cast out, the slothful man who makes excuses by saying "There is a lion without," the mouth of strange women, the foolishness of a child and its correction, and the end of those who oppress the poor.
• Verses 17–21 A prologue urges the hearer to incline his ear to the words of the wise. It states that these words were written so that the hearer may trust in the LORD and may answer with words of truth.
• Verses 22–29 The hearer is exhorted not to oppress the afflicted in the gate (for the LORD will plead their cause), not to make friendship with an angry man, not to become surety for another's debts, and not to remove the ancient landmark (a stone marking the boundary of a property) set by the fathers. Finally, the chapter declares that a man diligent in his business shall stand before kings.

Key Verses

• Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go" — the verse most widely cited as a basis for religious instruction and child rearing.
• Proverbs 22:9 "He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed" — this verse links generous giving with blessing. It is discussed in detail in the article Proverbs 22:9.
• Proverbs 22:22–23 "Rob not the poor, because he is poor" — a teaching on social justice declaring that the LORD himself pleads the cause of the poor.

People and Places

• No specific individuals or place names appear in this chapter. The speaker is a wisdom teacher, and the listener is a young person addressed as "you."
• The gate: In ancient Israel, the open area at the city entrance where legal cases were heard and public transactions took place (v. 22).
• The king: Mentioned as the friend of one who loves pureness of heart (v. 11) and as the one before whom the diligent man will stand (v. 29).

Points for Reflection

• Some read verse 6 as a promise that will certainly be fulfilled, while others, given the nature of the book of Proverbs, read it as a maxim describing a general tendency. Some interpreters also understand "the way he should go" as a path suited to each child's individual disposition.
• Regarding "the rod of correction" in verse 15 (Proverbs 22:15), one view takes it literally as a basis for corporal punishment, while another understands it as discipline in a broader sense. In the New Testament, Ephesians 6:4 and Colossians 3:21 add the instruction not to provoke children, and Hebrews 12:6–11 presents discipline as an expression of God's love.
• Some interpreters emphasize the "riches, and honour, and life" of verse 4 as material rewards that accompany faith. Others hold that the verse should be read within the context of wisdom literature as a whole so as not to lean toward prosperity theology.
• Scholars have noted that the section beginning at verse 17 shares similar expressions with the ancient Egyptian wisdom text The Instruction of Amenemope. In verse 20, some translations (such as the Revised New Korean Standard Version) render "excellent things" as "thirty (sayings)."
• Near verse 9, the Septuagint alone contains an additional line, "God blesses a cheerful giver." Many see a connection between this line and the wording of 2 Corinthians 9:6–8.
• The landmark provision of verse 28 parallels Deuteronomy 19:14 and Proverbs 23:10.

In the Korean Church

• Verse 6 is known to be frequently cited in sermons for Children's Sunday and at dedication services for Sunday school teachers.
• Verse 7 and verses 26–27 are often used in sermons on practical Christian living as warnings against debt and becoming surety.