Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About The Poor?
13 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding The Poor in the Bible
What does the Bible say about the poor? Browse 15 carefully selected verses that illuminate this biblical theme.
Top 10 Verses About The Poor
- 1Proverbs 14:21
“He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor , happy is he.”
KJV - 2Proverbs 14:31
“He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.”
KJV - 3Proverbs 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 - 4Proverbs 22:9
“He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor. He that: Heb. Good of eye”
KJV - 5Proverbs 28:27
“He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.”
KJV - 6Proverbs 29:7
“The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.”
KJV - 7Matthew 5:42
“Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.”
KJV - 8Matthew 19:21
“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.”
KJV - 9Luke 12:33
“Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.”
KJV - 10Luke 14:12
“Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.”
KJV
Subtopics of The Poor
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About The Poor? (6 Verses)
“He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor , happy is he.”
“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”
“He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor. He that: Heb. Good of eye”
“He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.”
“The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About The Poor? (7 Verses)
“Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.”
“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.”
“Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.”
“Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.”
“I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
“Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.”
“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”
How to Study What the Bible Says About The 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 the 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 the 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 the 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 the poor needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about the 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 the 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 The Poor?
You have studied 13 verses about the poor. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.