What Does Proverbs 22:22 Mean in the King James?

Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

Proverbs 22:22 · KJV

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

What English calls “oppression” is crushing, and this verse places that force at the public gate where judgment should protect the poor.

THE MEANING

At the gate where claims are weighed, poverty does not make you fair game, and affliction does not cancel your standing. The verse names the second harm as crushing, making its weight visible even when it happens through a public process.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

Poverty itself does not make a person fair game for theft or abuse.

THE ROOT

תְּדַכֵּא

tedakke

GROWS FROM

דכא

d-k-ʾ

To crush, break down, or bring low.

“oppress” in this verse is tedakke. The verb carries the force of crushing, so the harm is more than unfair treatment: it presses down on a person. The same root describes the one “bruised” in Isaiah 53:5 and the “contrite” in Psalm 34:18, linking public abuse with bodily and inward injury.

ALSO GROWS

medukka: Bruised, crushed

מְדֻכָּא

Isaiah 53:5 uses this form, showing the physical force contained in the root.

dakkei: Crushed, contrite ones

דַּכְּאֵי

Psalm 34:18 uses this form for those whose inward brokenness is met with nearness.

תִּגְזָל

tigzal

GROWS FROM

גזל

g-z-l

To seize or take away by force.

“rob” in this verse is tigzal. The word points to forceful taking, and the verse names the poor person’s poverty as the very condition being used against them. “Because he is poor” closes that excuse: need is not permission to seize what belongs to someone.

ALSO GROWS

gazal: To seize or take by force

גָּזַל

This verb makes clear that the action is taking, not simply withholding help.

gezelah: Robbery, stolen property

גְּזֵלָה

The related noun names both the act and what has been taken, keeping the harm concrete.

THE PATTERN

Justice is measured by whether public power protects the vulnerable instead of taking advantage of them.

Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause.

Exodus 23:6 · KJVThe poor person’s case remains entitled to a fair judgment, even when they have little power.

And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.

Zechariah 7:10 · KJVThe vulnerable are named as people whose standing must not be pressed down.

But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

James 2:6 · KJVThe verse exposes the same abuse when wealth turns public judgment against the poor.

THE THREAD

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5 · KJV

The word translated “oppress” comes from ⁨דכא⁩ (daka, “crush”), the same root behind ⁨מְדֻכָּא⁩ (medukka, “bruised, crushed”) in Isaiah 53:5. The shared root makes the force of injustice concrete: it presses into a human life.

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