Translation commentary on Proverbs 22:7

There are two parallel lines in this verse, each expressing similar meaning. The verse states what is a natural law of society, that people who are poor and who have to borrow are dependent on those who have the wealth.

“The rich rules over the poor”: “The rich” and “the poor” are the same common terms as in verse 2. “Rules over” means to have power or authority over someone. Many versions have “rule,” but alternatives in English are “dominates” (Scott) and “lords it over” (New Jerusalem Bible). Some translations restructure the first line to match the second line, and say, for example, “The poor are ruled by the rich” (Contemporary English Version) or “Poor people are slaves of the rich” (Good News Translation).

“And the borrower is the slave of the lender”: The terms “borrower” and “lender” are both forms of the verb “to borrow” in Hebrew; the “lender” is literally “one who causes to borrow.” The strong term “slave” can have the sense of either “slave” or “servant”; but it probably has a figurative rather than a literal meaning here; that is, the person who borrows money has an obligation to the lender and does not literally become the lender’s slave. Some translations render the figure of speech as a simile; for example, “and people who take loans are like slaves to those who lend.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

complete verse (Proverbs 22:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 22:7:

  • Kupsabiny: “A rich/powerful person rules over a poor person,
    and a person in debt is slave to the one who lent to (him).” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The poor will be servants of the rich.
    The borrower will be the slave of his lender.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The poor are-ruled-over by the rich, and the ones-who-borrow are slaves of the ones-who-lends.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The rich-(person) rules-over the poor, and the one who borrows also becomes a slave of the one who lends.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Rich people rule over poor people harshly,
    and those who borrow money become like slaves of the people who lend money to them.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 22:7

22:7

Notice that the parallel parts are arranged in the form of a chiasm:

7a
The rich rule over the poor,

7b and the borrower is slave to the lender.

The relationship between the rich and the poor is similar to the relationship between the lender and the borrower. In some languages, this relationship may be clearer if the order of the parallel pairs in one line is changed. For example:

7a
The poor are ruled by the rich,

7b and those who borrow are slaves of moneylenders. (Contemporary English Version)

The parallel lines of this proverb may refer to different situations. However, it is also possible that the rich rule over the poor. They make them their slaves by lending them money. For example:

Poor people are slaves of the rich. Borrow money and you are the lender’s slave. (Good News Translation)

22:7a

The rich rule over the poor: This clause means that rich people have power and authority over poor people. It is usually the rich who are government leaders and make the rules that other people have to follow. It is also the rich who hire poor people as laborers and tell them what to do.

22:7b

and the borrower is slave to the lender: This clause may refer literally to a situation in which the borrower cannot repay the loan, so he has to become the lender’s slave. It may also refer figuratively to the obligation that a borrower feels toward the person who loaned him money. Another way to translate this clause is:

the borrower becomes the lender’s slave (Revised English Bible)

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