What Does Proverbs 18:23 Mean in the King James?
The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The poor ask for favor, while the rich answer with the force of strength.
THE MEANING
Poverty speaks in appeals; wealth can answer bluntly. The verse names how unequal standing shapes the tone and power of an encounter.
THE ROOT
תַּחֲנוּנִים
taḥanunim
GROWS FROM
חנן
to show favor
“intreaties” in this verse is taḥanunim. The word for entreaties grows from the same root as favor: the poor person’s speech is an appeal for favor. English keeps the pleading but hides that shared seed.
ALSO GROWS
ḥēn: favor
חֵן
This branch makes the appeal in “intreaties” an explicit request for favor.
ḥānan: to show favor
חָנַן
The verb names the favor that the entreaty seeks.
teḥinnah: supplication
תְּחִנָּה
This related noun shows the same root forming another word for a plea.
עַזּוֹת
ʿazzôt
GROWS FROM
עזז
to be strong or fierce
The word translated “roughly” belongs to a family of strength and fierceness. The reply carries force in its very wording, adding a sharper edge to the contrast with the poor person’s appeal.
ALSO GROWS
ʿaz: strong, fierce, or bold
עַז
This adjective shares the forceful quality heard in the rich person’s answer.
ʿoz: strength or might
עֹז
This noun reveals the strength beneath the harshness of the reply.
THE PATTERN
Material power changes whose speech can plead and whose speech can command.
The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?THE THREAD
Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.The word translated “intreaties” shares the root חנן (ḥānan), “to show favor,” with the repeated plea translated “Have mercy.” The poor person’s speech is thus voiced as an appeal for favor, linking this proverb’s encounter to a direct cry for it.
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