Proverbs 28:22 · Bible study
Proverbs 28:22 Commentary: The Stingy Man Who Hurries After Riches
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Examines the evil eye, hasty pursuit of wealth, and the certainty of poverty in this proverb.
Research Summary
- Meaning: A stingy, envious person rushes after wealth but ends in poverty because of his corrupt character and methods.
- Key words: “Evil eye” (רַע עַיִן), idiom for stinginess, envy; “hurries” (נִבְהָל), panicked haste; “poverty” (חֶסֶר), want, lack.
- Main debate: Whether the “evil eye” primarily denotes envy of others or a general miserly disposition; commentators accept both aspects.
- Theological theme: God’s moral order ensures that greed, haste, and dishonest gain lead to loss; generosity and patience lead to blessing.
- Best use: A caution against covetousness and a call to examine motives in financial decisions; useful in sermons on contentment and stewardship.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty awaits him.
WEB World English Bible 2000
A stingy man hurries after riches, and doesn’t know that poverty waits for him.
KJV King James Version 1769
He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
He that hath an evil eye hasteth after riches, And knoweth not that want shall come upon him.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Troubled for wealth is the man with an evil eye, And he knoweth not that want doth meet him.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
He that hath an evil eye hasteth after wealth, and knoweth not that poverty shall come upon him.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
A man that maketh haste to be rich, and envieth others, is ignorant that poverty shall come upon him.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Apresúrase á ser rico el hombre de mal ojo; y no conoce que le ha de venir pobreza.
Quem tem pressa para ter riquezas é um homem de olho mau; e ele não sabe que a miséria virá sobre ele.
Un homme envieux a hâte de s’ enrichir,
Wer eilt zum Reichtum und ist neidisch, der weiß nicht, daß Mangel ihm begegnen wird.
Die zich haast naar goed, is een man van een boos oog; maar hij weet niet, dat het gebrek hem overkomen zal.
L’uomo invidioso ha fretta d’arricchire, e non sa che gli piomberà addosso la miseria.
Prędko chce człowiek zazdrościwy zbogatnieć, a nie wie, iż nać niedostatek przyjdzie.
Спешит к богатству завистливый человек, и не думает, что нищета постигнет его.
人 有惡 眼 想要急速 發財，卻不 知 窮乏 必臨到他身。
He who is ever desiring wealth goes running after money, and does not see that need will come on him.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Proverbs 28:22
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators broadly agree that this verse exposes a self-destructive cycle: a person consumed by envy and stinginess (the “evil eye”) rushes after wealth, only to end in poverty. Barnes notes that the covetous temper leads not only to dishonesty but to the “evil eye” of envy, a grudging, anxious care that itself drives a person toward poverty. Gill and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown connect the “evil eye” directly to covetousness, citing Proverbs 23:6 and Matthew 20:15. The irony is sharp: the very haste that grabs for riches actually guarantees their loss. Cambridge Bible observes that the verse belongs to a cluster (Proverbs 28:20-22) condemning the untrustworthy, partial, and grudging character. Poverty comes, as Keil and Delitzsch put it, because no blessing rests on such impure striving; discontent loses even what God has given. The proverb thus warns that the path of greedy haste is not just morally wrong but practically foolish, it misses its own goal.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The proverb warns that a stingy, envious heart combined with hasty pursuit of wealth leads to poverty; the ‘evil eye’ is a character flaw opposed to biblical generosity.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'evil eye' | All commentators identify it as a negative disposition, stinginess, envy, grudging, or covetousness. | Some emphasize envy (Barnes, Wesley) while others stress a general miserly heart (Gill, Keil & Delitzsch); both readings are supported by the Hebrew idiom and context. |
| Why poverty comes | Poverty is a direct consequence, either through divine providence (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown) or through natural outworking of dishonest and hasty methods (Gill). | The mechanism is not spelled out: some see it as God’s judgment on greed, others as the inevitable fruit of foolish business practices. |
| The role of haste | Haste in acquiring wealth is condemned as unwise and morally dangerous. | Whether the primary sin is the haste itself or the evil-eye motive behind the haste; most fuse both. |
| Interpretation of 'poverty' (חֶסֶר) | It denotes material lack, not spiritual poverty. | The LXX reading in some manuscripts suggests 'shame' (חֶסֶד?) instead of 'poverty,' but the Hebrew text is securely 'want' as in WEB, BSB, ASV. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The phrase “evil eye” (רַע עַיִן, ra‘ ayin) is a fixed idiom in biblical Hebrew. It describes the stingy, envious person who begrudges giving to others and covets what they have. Its opposite, the “good eye” (21:9 in some versions), means generosity. This idiom appears in Proverbs 23:6 (“Don’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye”) and Deuteronomy 15:9, where it’s linked to refusing to help the poor. The proverb sits within a collection (Proverbs 25, 29) that mixes courtly wisdom with practical ethics. Surrounding verses (28:20-21) condemn eagerness for riches and partiality; 28:22 intensifies the warning by naming the interior motive, the evil eye, behind the outward haste.
Ancient readers would have recognised the “evil eye” not as magical, but as a character flaw: the greedy person resents others’ success and hoards his own resources. The wisdom tradition consistently teaches that such a disposition backfires. Proverbs 11:25 promises that a generous soul will be enriched, while 22:9 connects a “bountiful eye” with blessing. In the ancient world, where community survival depended on mutual aid, the evil eye was a social poison. The proverb’s force lies in its irony: the one who fastens his gaze on wealth is blind to the poverty rushing toward him.
Textual Notes
The Hebrew text of Proverbs 28:22 is well established. The main textual question involves the verb form in the first clause: some manuscripts read נִבְהָל (nivhal, “is hastening”) while others have נִבְחָל (nivhal with different pointing); the Masoretic tradition supports the first. The reading “poverty” (חֶסֶר, cheser) is confirmed by the Syriac, Symmachus, and Jerome. The Septuagint departs significantly, reading something like “shame” (from חֶסֶד or חֶסֶר?), but the consulted sources note that this is a translation variation rather than a Hebrew textual variant. No significant textual debate affects the meaning of the verse.
Reception History
The verse has been cited in Christian moral teaching as a warning against covetousness and stinginess. Early church writers such as John Chrysostom and Augustine referenced the “evil eye” as a root of many sins, linking it to envy and avarice. In medieval commentaries, it was often paired with Matthew 6:19-21 to teach about treasure in heaven. Protestant reformers like Martin Luther and John Calvin used the proverb to argue that haste and greed undermine faith and community. Wesley’s and Matthew Henry’s commentaries apply it to daily life, urging contentment and generosity. Across traditions, it has served as a practical admonition: the greedy person’s true poverty is not only material but spiritual, a lack of trust in God’s provision.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The evil eye defined. The person described has an “evil eye”, Hebrew idiom for stinginess, envy, and grudging. He cannot celebrate others’ success and resents every expense. His heart is set on accumulating, not on enjoying or sharing.
- The haste that destroys. He “hurries after riches” (נִבְהָל לַהוֹן). The verb suggests panic, anxiety, a frantic rush. He will not wait for honest, patient labour. This haste leads to dishonest shortcuts and reckless schemes.
- The blindness to consequence. “He doesn’t know that poverty waits for him.” The irony is complete: in chasing wealth, he guarantees poverty. The very greed that drives him also blinds him to the disaster ahead.
Five-point outline
- The character: a person defined by an evil eye, envious, stingy, covetous.
- The action: hurrying after wealth, in haste, without patience or integrity.
- The ignorance: he does not know (יֵדַע, perceive or consider) the outcome.
- The outcome: poverty (חֶסֶר, want) will overtake him.
- The warning: The pursuit of wealth with a wrong heart is self-defeating; God’s order ensures it does not prosper.
Illustration hooks
- A person who takes a second job to afford a luxury car, but the extra hours and stress ruin his health and his marriage, he ends up with the car and the bills, plus loneliness.
- The investor who chases a high-return scheme, ignoring warnings, and loses everything. The “poverty” is not just financial but relational and spiritual.
- Someone who resents a neighbour’s promotion and begins to cut corners at work to get ahead, only to be discovered and fired.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Is it wrong to be ambitious or to want to provide for my family?
- How do I know if I have an “evil eye”? What are the warning signs in my heart?
- This proverb sounds like karma, does God really cause greedy people to become poor?
Leading a Discussion
This proverb cuts to the heart of our motives. It is not about money itself, but about the desperate, envious pursuit of it. The group should explore both the inner attitude (the evil eye) and the outer behaviour (hasty pursuit). The goal is not guilt but honest self-examination and trust in God’s slower, surer provision.
Discussion questions
- Read Proverbs 28:22 in two or three translations. What words or phrases stand out to you?
- The phrase “evil eye” appears also in Proverbs 23:6 and Matthew 20:15. What does this idiom mean in each context? How does it help you understand this proverb?
- Why is “hurrying” after riches singled out? What dangers come from financial haste?
- The proverb says the person “does not know” that poverty is coming. What blinds us to the consequences of our greed? Can you think of a modern example?
- How does this verse challenge our culture’s messages about wealth, success, and speed?
- In what ways can a person be “rich” in character (the opposite of the evil eye) while having modest means?
- How does trusting in God (Proverbs 28:25) protect us from the frantic pursuit of riches?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 13:10 | Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the plain of the Jordan, that it was well-watered everywhere, before Yahweh destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, like the garden of Yahweh, like the land of Egypt, as you go to Zoar. |
| Genesis 13:13 | Now the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinners against Yahweh. |
| Genesis 19:17 | It came to pass, when they had taken them out, that he said, “Escape for your life! Don’t look behind you, and don’t stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be consumed!” |
| Job 20:18 | He will restore that for which he labored, and will not swallow it down. He will not rejoice according to the substance that he has gotten. |
| Job 20:22 | In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress will overtake him. The hand of everyone who is in misery will come on him. |
| Job 27:16 | Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare clothing as the clay; |
| Job 27:17 | he may prepare it, but the just will put it on, and the innocent will divide the silver. |
| Proverbs 23:6 | Don’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and don’t crave his delicacies, |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes draws a direct link between a covetous disposition and two outcomes: dishonesty and envy, which he calls the evil eye. He further warns that a grudging, anxious mindset ultimately brings a person to poverty, not wealth.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges notes that a greedy person has an evil eye and therefore rushes to get rich. Such people are untrustworthy and mean, which leads to poverty.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Note points out the self-deception in a greedy person: he rushes headlong after wealth, blind to the fact that poverty will overtake him instead. The "wicked eye" marks a stingy heart, and such a person does not see that his own haste leads to ruin.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that those who rush to become rich desire it instantly and lack patience for normal ways (z). They envy others and are unwilling to help them, causing them to lose their wealth quickly.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
Jamieson Fausset Brown notes that envy for another person’s possessions is the specific kind of evil eye mentioned here. He also says poverty can come to someone through God’s providence.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch explain that the "evil eye" describes a person who is jealous, grudging, and covetous. Envy drives such a person to frantically chase wealth, but the pursuit is self-defeating because no blessing rests on it. The greedy person blinds himself to the fact that this path leads to poverty, not gain.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry pinpoints the "evil eye" of the greedy: a constant envy of others' wealth and stinginess in their own spending, leaving them perpetually uneasy. He adds that in their haste to get
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley defines "evil eye" as a two-sided sin: being uncharitable toward people in need while also resenting anyone who acquires something good. This attitude, he notes, leads to the very poverty it despises, since it cuts off the help and pity such a person will eventually require.