Proverbs 10:15

KJV

¶ The rich man's wealth [is] his strong city: the destruction of the poor [is] their poverty.

KJV (with Strong's)

The rich man's {H6223} wealth {H1952} is his strong {H5797} city {H7151}: the destruction {H4288} of the poor {H1800} is their poverty {H7389}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The wealth of the rich is his fortified city; the ruin of the poor is their poverty.

Berean Standard Bible

The wealth of the rich man is his fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.

American Standard Version

The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: The destruction of the poor is their poverty.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Proverbs 10:15 presents a stark, antithetical observation about the contrasting realities of wealth and poverty. It asserts that a rich person's wealth functions as a fortified city, providing a sense of security, protection, and stability against life's adversities. Conversely, it declares that poverty itself is the destructive force that brings ruin and vulnerability upon the poor, leaving them exposed and without defense against hardship and despair. This proverb highlights the tangible, though often superficial, advantages of material prosperity and the profound, often devastating, disadvantages of destitution in the ancient world and beyond.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Proverbs 10 marks a significant transition in the book, initiating the "Proverbs of Solomon" (beginning at [Proverbs 10:1](/proverbs/10-1 "Proverbs 10:1 - The Proverbs of Solomon")). This section, extending through [Proverbs 22:16](/proverbs/22-16 "Proverbs 22:16 - Sayings of the Wise"), is characterized by individual, often antithetical, proverbs. These short, pithy sayings frequently juxtapose two contrasting ideas—wisdom versus folly, righteousness versus wickedness, diligence versus laziness—and their respective outcomes. Proverbs 10:15 fits this pattern perfectly by setting the perceived security of the rich against the stark vulnerability of the poor, illustrating the practical consequences of their differing socio-economic statuses. It is a pragmatic observation within a collection that aims to instruct on the realities of life under God's moral order.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, a "strong city" (like Jerusalem or Megiddo) was the ultimate symbol of security, refuge, and power, offering protection from enemies, famine, and natural disasters. Walls, gates, and internal resources made a city a bastion of safety. Wealth, in this context, provided similar practical advantages: access to food during scarcity, ability to pay for medical care, legal protection, and a buffer against economic downturns or natural calamities. Conversely, the poor in ancient societies lacked social safety nets; they were highly vulnerable to exploitation, debt slavery, famine, disease, and the whims of the powerful. Their lack of resources meant they had no "walls" or "defenses" against life's hardships, making poverty itself a relentless, destructive force that often led to their ruin, as depicted in the laments and legal codes concerning the poor found throughout the Old Testament, such as in [Deuteronomy 15:7-11](/deuteronomy/15-7 "Deuteronomy 15:7-11 - Lending to the Poor").
* **Key Themes:** This proverb contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Proverbs. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Consequences of Actions and Circumstances**, showing that both wealth and poverty have profound, tangible effects on one's life experience. Secondly, it touches upon the theme of **Security and Trust**, implicitly critiquing the ultimate reliability of earthly resources. While wealth offers a *perceived* strong city, the wisdom literature often points to God as the true and ultimate refuge, as seen in [Psalm 46:1](/psalm/46-1 "Psalm 46:1 - God Our Refuge and Strength"). Thirdly, it underscores the **Reality of Socio-Economic Disparity**, acknowledging the harsh truth of the poor's precarious existence, a theme that resonates with the broader biblical emphasis on justice and care for the vulnerable, as frequently addressed in prophetic books like [Amos 2:6-7](/amos/2-6 "Amos 2:6-7 - Oppression of the Poor").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **wealth (Hebrew, _hôwn'_):** From the same root as a word meaning "strength" or "ability," this term refers to material possessions, riches, or substance. It implies having "enough" and often more, signifying financial abundance and the resources that come with it. In this context, it represents the tangible assets that provide a sense of security.
* **strong (Hebrew, _ʻôz'_):** This word denotes strength, might, power, and security. When applied to a city, it suggests impregnability, a place of refuge and defense. It emphasizes the perceived robustness and protective capacity of the rich man's possessions, making them seem unassailable.
* **city (Hebrew, _qiryâh'_):** Literally meaning a "city" or "building," this term evokes the imagery of a fortified urban center. In ancient times, cities were built with walls and defenses to protect their inhabitants from external threats, making them symbols of safety and stability. The metaphor here suggests wealth functions as such a protective enclosure.
* **destruction (Hebrew, _mᵉchittâh'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to break down" or "to dismay," this word signifies a dissolution, ruin, or consternation. It conveys a sense of being utterly broken, shattered, or overwhelmed. Here, it is not merely a lack but an active, devastating force that brings about collapse and terror.
* **poor (Hebrew, _dal'_):** From a root meaning "to dangle" or "to be weak," this term describes someone who is weak, thin, needy, or impoverished. It emphasizes their physical and social vulnerability, their lack of resources, and their dependent state, making them susceptible to hardship.
* **poverty (Hebrew, _rêysh'_):** This term specifically means "poverty" or "destitution." It denotes the state of being without sufficient means, signifying a condition of material deprivation. In the proverb, it is presented as the direct cause of the poor's undoing, an inherent vulnerability that leads to ruin.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The rich man's wealth is his strong city:"** This clause employs a powerful **metaphor**, likening the rich man's accumulated possessions to a fortified urban center. Just as a city with strong walls and defenses provided security, resources, and refuge in the ancient world, so too does wealth offer the rich a sense of protection, stability, and influence. It suggests that material abundance acts as a buffer against life's misfortunes, providing options, resources, and a perceived invulnerability to hardship. This is an observation of a societal reality, where wealth often translates into practical advantages and a feeling of being secure.
* **"the destruction of the poor is their poverty."** This second clause stands in stark **antithetical parallelism** to the first, presenting the grim reality for the impoverished. Here, poverty is not merely a lack of resources but is personified as an active, destructive force. It implies that the very state of destitution leads directly to ruin, collapse, and vulnerability. Without the "walls" of wealth, the poor are exposed to exploitation, sickness, famine, and despair, making their lack of means the direct cause of their undoing and perpetual struggle.

#### Literary Devices
Proverbs 10:15 is a masterful example of **Antithetical Parallelism**, a hallmark of Hebrew wisdom literature. The proverb presents two contrasting ideas in parallel clauses, highlighting their opposing natures and outcomes: the security of the rich versus the destruction of the poor. This structural device sharpens the distinction and emphasizes the dramatic difference in their respective experiences. The first clause employs a vivid **Metaphor**, where "wealth" is directly equated with a "strong city," effectively conveying the sense of protection and impregnability that riches afford. The second clause uses **Personification**, attributing an active, destructive agency to "poverty" itself, implying that poverty is not just a state of being but an active force that brings ruin. This rhetorical choice underscores the profound and often devastating impact of destitution, making it a dynamic threat rather than a passive condition.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
While Proverbs 10:15 primarily functions as a pragmatic observation of socio-economic realities, it carries profound theological implications within the broader biblical narrative. It subtly critiques the human tendency to place ultimate trust in material possessions, reminding us that earthly "strong cities" are ultimately finite and cannot protect against all forms of ruin, especially spiritual or eternal ones. The Bible consistently warns against the dangers of trusting in uncertain riches rather than the living God, who is the true source of security and provision. Furthermore, this proverb highlights the plight of the poor, echoing God's consistent concern for the vulnerable and His call for His people to exercise justice and compassion towards those in need. It serves as a reminder that while wealth may offer temporary defenses, true security and lasting hope are found not in possessions, but in the steadfast character and promises of God.

* [1 Timothy 6:17](/1_timothy/6-17 "1 Timothy 6:17 - Do Not Trust in Riches")
* [Psalm 49:6-7](/psalm/49-6 "Psalm 49:6-7 - Riches Cannot Redeem")
* [James 2:5-7](/james/2-5 "James 2:5-7 - God Chooses the Poor")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Proverbs 10:15 compels us to confront the stark realities of wealth and poverty in our own world and within our own hearts. For those with financial security, it serves as a crucial reminder that while money offers practical advantages, it is a false god if it becomes the ultimate source of our trust, identity, or security. Our "strong cities" of wealth, career, or reputation are ultimately temporary and vulnerable to the ravages of time, misfortune, and death. True, enduring security is found only in a relationship with God, who is our eternal refuge and strength. For those who experience the weight of poverty, this proverb acknowledges the devastating reality of their struggle, validating their hardship and the destructive forces they face. This should cultivate deep empathy and stir us to action, recognizing that the "destruction" of poverty is a societal ill that believers are called to address through acts of justice, mercy, and advocacy. Ultimately, the proverb challenges us to examine where our true security lies and to align our hearts with God's concern for the vulnerable, ensuring our compassion extends beyond mere sentiment to tangible support for those facing the destructive forces of destitution.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What are my perceived "strong cities" or sources of security in life? How does this proverb challenge my reliance on them?**
* **How does this proverb shape my understanding of the challenges faced by those experiencing poverty in my community or globally?**
* **In what ways might I be tempted to trust in wealth rather than in God? What practical steps can I take to reorient my trust?**
* **How can I, individually or as part of a community, contribute to alleviating the "destruction" that poverty brings upon others?**

### FAQ

**Is this proverb a condemnation of wealth?**

Answer: Not directly. Proverbs 10:15 is primarily an observation of a socio-economic reality rather than an explicit moral judgment or condemnation of wealth itself. It pragmatically notes the practical advantages and security that wealth provides in the world. However, within the broader wisdom tradition, there are many implicit warnings against the dangers of trusting in riches (e.g., [Proverbs 11:28](/proverbs/11-28 "Proverbs 11:28 - Trust in Riches Will Fall")) or acquiring it unjustly. The proverb highlights the *perceived* security wealth offers, leaving room for the theological understanding that ultimate security is found in God alone.

**Does this proverb imply that all poor people are destroyed?**

Answer: The proverb uses "destruction" (Hebrew: *mᵉchittâh*) to emphasize the profound vulnerability and ruinous impact that poverty can have. It describes poverty as an active force that leads to hardship, despair, and often physical or social undoing. It doesn't mean every poor person literally perishes, but rather that their state of poverty leaves them exposed to forces that can utterly break them down, whether through lack of resources, exploitation, or systemic injustice. It underscores the precariousness of their existence and the severe challenges they face, which can feel like a constant state of ruin.

**What is the ultimate message for believers regarding this proverb?**

Answer: For believers, Proverbs 10:15 serves as a dual call to discernment and compassion. Firstly, it challenges us to recognize the fleeting nature of earthly security, reminding us that our ultimate "strong city" is God Himself, not our material possessions (as seen in [Psalm 91:2](/psalm/91-2 "Psalm 91:2 - God My Refuge and Fortress")). It warns against the spiritual danger of idolatry, where wealth supplants God in our trust. Secondly, it compels us to cultivate empathy and actively work towards alleviating the "destruction" that poverty inflicts. The Bible consistently calls God's people to care for the poor and vulnerable, reflecting God's own heart for justice and mercy (e.g., [Proverbs 14:31](/proverbs/14-31 "Proverbs 14:31 - Oppressing the Poor")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Proverbs 10:15 finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment not in a direct prophecy, but in the person and work of Jesus, who radically redefines true security and addresses the ultimate "destruction." While the proverb observes the earthly advantage of wealth as a "strong city," Jesus Himself lived a life of profound humility and material poverty, famously stating that "the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head" ([Matthew 8:20](/matthew/8-20 "Matthew 8:20 - The Son of Man Has Nowhere to Lay His Head")). He demonstrated that true security is not found in earthly possessions but in absolute reliance on God the Father. Furthermore, Jesus directly confronted the "destruction" of humanity's deepest poverty: sin and spiritual death. He came not to build a physical "strong city" of wealth, but to establish the unshakeable Kingdom of God, offering eternal life and true security to all who believe, regardless of their material status. Through His sacrifice, Christ became "poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich" ([2 Corinthians 8:9](/2_corinthians/8-9 "2 Corinthians 8:9 - Christ Became Poor for Us")), redeeming us from the ultimate ruin of sin and offering a spiritual wealth that transcends any earthly "strong city." He is the true refuge and fortress, the foundation upon which believers can build a life that will never be destroyed ([Matthew 7:24-27](/matthew/7-24 "Matthew 7:24-27 - The Wise and Foolish Builders")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Proverbs 18:11

¶ The rich man's wealth [is] his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.

Proverbs 19:7

All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth [them with] words, [yet] they [are] wanting [to him].

Psalms 52:7

Lo, [this is] the man [that] made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, [and] strengthened himself in his wickedness.

Proverbs 14:20

¶ The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich [hath] many friends.

Proverbs 22:22

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

Proverbs 22:23

For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

Ecclesiastes 7:12

For wisdom [is] a defence, [and] money [is] a defence: but the excellency of knowledge [is, that] wisdom giveth life to them that have it.