The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the LORD lighteneth both their eyes.

PROVERBS 29:13KJV
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Proverbs 29:13 (KJV)

What does Proverbs 29:13 mean?

Proverbs 29:13 says that both the poor person and the deceitful person come together in life, but it is the LORD who gives light to the eyes of both. This means that, despite their differences, God is the one who gives life and understanding to everyone, regardless of their status or character.

In the book of Proverbs, these sayings are collected to teach wisdom and understanding, often contrasting different types of people. Here, the verse points out that both someone who is poor and someone who is deceitful (or oppressive) share something in common: their basic life and awareness come from God. This levels the ground between people who might otherwise seem very different, reminding the reader that all depend on God for their existence.

The Hebrew behind Proverbs 29:13

  • "poor" (רָשׁ, rash, H7326): This word refers to someone who is needy or lacking in material wealth. The verse highlights the poor as one end of the social spectrum.
  • "deceitful" (תָּכִי, takhi, H8501): This word is often understood as "oppressor" or someone who is crooked or unjust, not just someone who tells lies. It points to a person who takes advantage of others.
  • "lighteneth" (יָאִיר, ya'ir, H215): This verb means "to give light" or "to illuminate." Here, it suggests that God is the one who gives both physical life (light to the eyes) and understanding to all people.
  • "eyes" (עֵינַיִם, einayim, H5869): In Hebrew thought, having light in one's eyes can mean being alive or having awareness. The phrase emphasizes that both groups are sustained by God.

Why Proverbs 29:13 matters

  • Proverbs 29:13 corrects the idea that God favors one social group over another by showing that both the poor and the deceitful depend on Him for life itself.
  • The verse draws attention to God's role as the ultimate source of life and understanding, rather than human status or behavior.
  • In the context of Proverbs, this saying reminds readers not to judge people solely by their circumstances, since all people share a basic dependence on God.

Where else these words appear

“together” Hebrew H6298 · used in 14 verses

  • Genesis 32:17 And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee?
  • 1 Samuel 25:20 And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert of the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them.
  • Proverbs 17:12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

“poor” Hebrew H7326 · used in 24 verses

  • 1 Samuel 18:23 And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?
  • Proverbs 13:7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.
  • Proverbs 19:22 The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.

“lighteneth” Hebrew H215 · used in 43 verses

  • Genesis 1:15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
  • Nehemiah 9:19 Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way wherein they should go.
  • Psalms 105:39 He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.