Proverbs 13:22

¶ A good [man] leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner [is] laid up for the just.

A good {H2896} man leaveth an inheritance {H5157} to his children's {H1121} children {H1121}: and the wealth {H2428} of the sinner {H2398} is laid up {H6845} for the just {H6662}.

A good man leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren, but the wealth of a sinner is stored up for the righteous.

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is passed to the righteous.

A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children; And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous.

Proverbs 13:22 offers profound wisdom regarding the lasting impact of righteousness and the ultimate disposition of wealth. It presents a stark contrast between the legacy of a righteous individual and the eventual fate of the sinner’s possessions, highlighting God's providential justice.

Context

The book of Proverbs is a collection of ancient Israelite wisdom, providing practical instruction for living a life pleasing to God and beneficial to oneself and society. It frequently employs antithetical parallelism, contrasting the path of the wise and righteous with that of the foolish and wicked. This particular verse fits seamlessly into this framework, emphasizing the long-term, even generational, consequences of one's moral choices. It speaks to the principles of stewardship, divine sovereignty, and the ultimate futility of wealth gained through ungodly means.

Key Themes

  • Generational Legacy: The first part of the verse, "A good [man] leaveth an inheritance to his children's children," speaks to the foresight and enduring positive influence of a righteous person. This inheritance is not solely financial but encompasses moral values, spiritual instruction, a good name, and a blessed environment that extends beyond immediate offspring, creating a multi-generational blessing. It underscores the importance of living in a way that benefits future generations.
  • Divine Justice and Redistribution of Wealth: The second part, "and the wealth of the sinner [is] laid up for the just," reveals God's ultimate control over all resources. Wealth accumulated by unrighteous means, through injustice or greed, will not remain with the sinner indefinitely. In God's perfect timing and providential justice, it will ultimately be transferred to those who are righteous. This theme provides comfort and assurance to the faithful, reminding them that God sees and rectifies injustices.
  • Stewardship and Foresight: The "good man" acts with wisdom, planning not just for today but for the distant future, demonstrating responsible stewardship of resources and relationships.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "inheritance" (נַחֲלָה - nachalah) often refers to physical property or land, but in a broader sense, it signifies anything passed down, including a spiritual heritage, reputation, or blessings.
  • "Good man" (טוֹב - tov) implies moral uprightness, integrity, and alignment with God's will, not merely someone who is benevolent or financially successful.
  • "Laid up" (צָפוּן - tsaphun) suggests something reserved, hidden, or stored away, implying a divine purpose and a future transfer that is part of God's sovereign plan.

Practical Application

Proverbs 13:22 encourages believers to live with a long-term, generational perspective. It challenges us to consider what kind of legacy—spiritual, moral, and even financial—we are building for our descendants. It reminds us that true prosperity and security are not found in accumulating wealth by any means, but in living righteously before God. For those who witness the temporary prosperity of the wicked, this verse offers reassurance: God is just, and His ultimate plan involves the vindication and blessing of the righteous, even through the redistribution of resources.

This verse calls for diligent stewardship, ethical financial practices, and a steadfast faith in God's ultimate sovereignty over all things, including wealth and possessions.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ecclesiastes 2:26

    For [God] giveth to a man that [is] good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to [him that is] good before God. This also [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.

  • Job 27:16

    Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;

  • Job 27:17

    He may prepare [it], but the just shall put [it] on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.

  • Proverbs 28:8

    ¶ He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.

  • Psalms 37:25

    I have been young, and [now] am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

  • Psalms 112:2

    His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.

  • Genesis 17:7

    ¶ And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
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