Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Being Poor?
19 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Being Poor in the Bible
Discover 20 powerful Bible verses about being poor. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential character & virtues topic.
Top 10 Verses About Being Poor
- 1Deuteronomy 15:7
“If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:”
KJV - 2Job 29:12
“Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.”
KJV - 3
- 4Psalms 34:17
“The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.”
KJV - 5Proverbs 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.”
KJV - 6Proverbs 14:31
“He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.”
KJV - 7Proverbs 19:17
“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. that which: or, his deed”
KJV - 8Proverbs 21:13
“Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.”
KJV - 9Proverbs 22:16
“He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.”
KJV - 10Ecclesiastes 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. in his: Heb. before him”
KJV
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Being Poor? (11 Verses)
“If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:”
“Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.”
“This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.”
“The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.”
“A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.”
“He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.”
“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. that which: or, his deed”
“Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.”
“He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.”
“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. in his: Heb. before him”
“Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Being Poor? (8 Verses)
“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”
“Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.”
“Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.”
“And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.”
“Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,”
“Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? of the: or, of that”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Being Poor
- 1
Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.
- 2
Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about being poor. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.
- 3
Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.
- 4
Memorise at least one key verse about being poor and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.
Practical Application
Studying what the Bible says about being poor is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:
Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on being poor needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about being poor with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.
Pray through the key verses about being poor, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.
How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Being Poor?
You have studied 19 verses about being poor. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.