Proverbs 21:17 Meaning: The Cost of Loving Pleasure
He who loves pleasure will be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil won’t be rich.
He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: He that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
Whoso is loving mirth is a poor man, Whoso is loving wine and oil maketh no wealth.
He that loveth mirth shall be a poor man; he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
Meaning in one sentence
Proverbs 21:17 warns that loving pleasure leads to poverty, but wine and oil are also God's gifts. How do we enjoy without overindulging?
Context
Proverbs 21 is a collection of short sayings that contrast the wise and the foolish, the righteous and the wicked. This verse sits among warnings about self-indulgence and the consequences of chasing what feels good. Just before it, verse 16 speaks of straying from understanding; just after, verse 18 talks about the wicked being a ransom for the upright. In the middle, this verse pulls no punches: loving pleasure too much will leave you empty-handed. The book of Proverbs consistently teaches that our choices shape our lives, and this proverb is a stark reminder that what we love most will either build us up or wear us down.
Key Words
The Hebrew word behind 'loves' is ahav, the same word used for deep attachment, love for a friend, for God, or for something that captures your heart. It is not a casual liking. When you love pleasure (simchah, joy or mirth) in this way, it becomes your master. The phrase 'wine and oil' points to the luxurious extras of a feast: wine for drinking and oil for anointing and cooking. These are good gifts, but the proverb warns when they become what you live for. Barnes notes that the oil alone could cost 300 days' wages. Loving these things, craving them, centering your life around them, leads to poverty, not just in money but in what lasts.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this warning in different ways. Matthew Henry calls the person who loves pleasure an 'epicure', someone who must have every delight heightened to the fullest, and who loses the taste for spiritual joys. Adam Clarke lists specific pastimes like gaming, hunting, and coursing that can distract from honest work and drain a household. In the Anglican tradition, the Cambridge Bible highlights the staggering cost of the oil used in banquets, making it a symbol of all extravagance. Each tradition agrees on the central caution: when pleasure takes the throne, something vital is lost.
A common misunderstanding
Some read this verse and think it means God is against enjoyment, that wine, oil, or a good meal are somehow sinful. In fact, the same Bible that speaks here about wine and oil also calls wine a gift that gladdens the heart (Psalm 104:15). The problem is not the gift itself but the greedy love for it. The verse does not say 'he who drinks wine will be poor,' but 'he who loves wine and oil', the attachment that consumes both your resources and your heart.
Living This Out
Before you spend money this week, ask yourself one question: Am I buying this because I need it, or because I love the feeling it gives me? The proverb is not against having nice things. It is a mirror held up to our desires. If you find yourself always craving the next meal, the next purchase, the next thrill, pause. That craving has a cost. You can enjoy a good glass of wine or a fragrant meal without letting it own you. Let wisdom set the table, not appetite.
Main takeaway: When pleasure becomes what you love most, it costs you what you need most.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
This verse says if you love having fun more than anything, you might end up without what you really need. It is okay to enjoy fun things, but do not let them be the boss of you.
For ages 9, 12
God gives us good things to enjoy: tasty food, games with friends, a favorite hobby. But this verse warns when we love those things so much that we spend all our time and money on them, we lose things that matter more, like time with family, rest, and helping others. The wise person enjoys gifts without letting them take over.
Questions People Ask
Does Proverbs 21:17 mean I can never enjoy nice things?
No. The verse warns against loving pleasure in a way that controls your life. Scripture elsewhere describes wine as a gift that gladdens the heart (Psalm 104:15). The issue is not having nice things but letting them become the center of your life.
What kind of 'pleasure' is being warned about here?
The Hebrew word simchah can mean joy or mirth, but here it is paired with costly luxuries like wine and oil. Commentators point to self-indulgent feasting, extravagant living, and pursuits that drain your resources and draw you away from wisdom and responsibility.
Does this verse promise that avoiding pleasure will make me rich?
No. The verse says the opposite: loving pleasure leads to poverty. It does not guarantee that self-denial leads to wealth, only that this kind of indulgence has a predictable result. Proverbs is about tendencies and wisdom, not absolute promises for every individual.
How does this verse relate to the prodigal son?
The prodigal son (Luke 15) loved pleasure so much that he wasted his inheritance on 'riotous living.' He ended up poor, hungry, and feeding pigs. Proverbs 21:17 describes the same downward spiral: when pleasure is your master, it strips you of what you have.
What does 'wine and oil' symbolize in the Bible?
Wine and oil were staples of daily life and signs of blessing. Oil was used for cooking, anointing, and as a luxury perfume. Together they represent the abundance of a good feast. The verse uses them as symbols of costly indulgence, the extras that can become obsessions.
For pastors & researchers
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