Proverbs 13:8
The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.
Original Language Analysis
כֹּ֣פֶר
The ransom
H3724
כֹּ֣פֶר
The ransom
Strong's:
H3724
Word #:
1 of 8
properly, a cover, i.e., (literally) a village (as covered in)
נֶֽפֶשׁ
life
H5315
נֶֽפֶשׁ
life
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
2 of 8
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
אִ֣ישׁ
of a man's
H376
אִ֣ישׁ
of a man's
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
3 of 8
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
לֹא
H3808
לֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
6 of 8
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern societies experienced kidnapping for ransom, political hostage-taking, and legal fines. Wealthy individuals were targets because they could pay. Exodus 21:30 allowed paying ransom (kofer) for accidental death. Numbers 35:31 prohibited ransom for murderers. The poor, having no resources, weren't worth kidnapping or extorting. This proverb reflects these realities without romanticizing either wealth or poverty.
Questions for Reflection
- In what ways does wealth create vulnerabilities and threats that poverty avoids?
- How can we maintain proper perspective on wealth—neither trusting it for security nor despising it as evil?
- How does Christ's ransom (Mark 10:45) provide what no amount of money can purchase—redemption from sin and death?
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Analysis & Commentary
This proverb addresses wealth's relative power to rescue or protect. "The ransom of a man's life are his riches" observes that wealthy people can sometimes buy their way out of danger. Kofer nefesh-ish oshro (כֹּפֶר נֶפֶשׁ־אִישׁ עָשְׁרוֹ, the ransom of a man's life—his riches). Kofer (כֹּפֶר) means ransom price, bribe, atonement. Wealth can pay kidnappers, satisfy extortionists, or legally settle disputes.
"But the poor heareth not rebuke" presents an ironic benefit of poverty. The Hebrew is terse: rash lo-shama ge'arah (רָשׁ לֹא־שָׁמַע גְּעָרָה, the poor does not hear rebuke/threat). Because the poor have nothing, they're not targets for extortion or kidnapping. They don't hear threats demanding ransom because they have no ransom to give.
The proverb offers sociological observation without moral judgment. Wealth provides certain advantages (protection through ransom), but poverty provides others (immunity from wealth-based threats). Neither condition guarantees security. Proverbs elsewhere warns against trusting riches (11:28, 23:4-5). Job 36:18-19 warns: "Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee." Ultimate security comes not from wealth or poverty but from God. Jesus warned about deceitfulness of riches (Mark 4:19) and told the rich young ruler to sell all and follow Him (Mark 10:21). Christ is our ransom (Mark 10:45, 1 Peter 1:18-19).