What does Proverbs 19:17 mean?

It means God counts kindness to a poor person as a loan made to himself, and he promises to repay it. The proverb is meant to encourage generosity by showing how seriously God takes the needs of people who have little, and how closely he identifies with them.

Does Proverbs 19:17 promise that I will get my money back?

No. Proverbs describe how God generally works and are not guarantees of a payout. The verse promises that God does not forget generosity, but it does not say how or when he repays, and it should never be treated as a way to get rich by giving.

Who are the poor in Proverbs 19:17?

The word covers people who lack what they need, such as food, shelter or the means to earn a living. In Proverbs the poor are never treated as lesser or at fault by default. They are people made by God, and how others treat them reveals how those others regard their Maker.

How is this verse connected to Matthew 25?

Matthew 25:40 is the New Testament parallel. Jesus says that what is done for the least of his brothers is done for him, which matches the proverb’s idea that kindness to the poor is given to God himself. Both passages tie care for people to our relationship with God.

How should I help the poor wisely?

Pay attention to what the person actually needs and offer that directly, often food, water or a conversation, rather than assuming. Giving through a group that does this regularly can help, and so can walking alongside someone else on an outreach before going on your own.

How can I put Proverbs 19:17 into practice with Making Heaven Crowded?

You can volunteer on an outreach in Tampa or Gainesville, donate supplies such as water or clothing, or give through the site. The ministry hands out food and water downtown and talks with people it meets, so any of these puts the proverb into action.

A table of prepared sandwiches and supplies set out by volunteers before a Making Heaven Crowded outreach

Proverbs 19:17

Proverbs 19:17 explained: kindness to the poor

One verse says that pity for the poor is a loan to the Lord. Here is what the image means and what it does not promise.

The short answer

A kindness that God treats as a loan

Proverbs 19:17 says that whoever has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and that the Lord will repay what was given. The proverb is a statement about how God regards generosity: he sees help given to a poor person as given to himself, and he does not forget it. It is an encouragement to give, and it is not a trade.

“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.” Proverbs 19:17 (KJV)

The image

Why a loan?

A loan is something a lender expects to be repaid by someone trustworthy. The proverb says God places himself in the borrower’s seat, which is a striking thing to claim. A person who is poor cannot repay, but God can, and he stands behind the debt as though it were his own.

This also explains the verse’s boldness. The poor person is not treated as a project or a problem. Helping them is lending to God, which means the dignity of the one being helped is tied to the honor of the one who made them.

Nearby verses

What the rest of the book says

Proverbs 14:31. Whoever oppresses the poor insults their Maker, and whoever is kind to the needy honors him. The same idea from the other side.
Proverbs 21:13. Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will one day cry out and not be heard. Ignoring need has a cost.
Proverbs 22:9. A generous person is blessed because they share their bread with the poor.
Matthew 25:40. Jesus says what is done for the least of these is done for him, which is the New Testament echo of this proverb.

The limits

What the verse does not promise

Proverbs are short sayings about how life generally works under God, not guarantees. The repayment in this verse is not a promise that a donor will be repaid with money or that giving is a way of getting rich. Treating it as a formula turns generosity into a transaction, which is the opposite of the pity the verse describes.

The verse also does not say how to help. Good intentions still need wisdom, which is why should you give money to someone who is homeless is worth reading beside it. For a broader look at where the Bible speaks about the poor, see what the Bible says about serving the poor.

On the street

Giving that reaches a person

Making Heaven Crowded teams carry food and water through downtown Tampa and downtown Gainesville and stop to talk with whoever is willing. What volunteers hand out is described on the donate items page, and the practical needs of water in particular are covered on the page for donating water in Gainesville.

The aim is the same as the proverb’s: to meet a real need while treating the person as a person God made. Giving money is described on ways to donate to Making Heaven Crowded, and hands-on help starts with the volunteer form.

Questions

Proverbs 19:17, answered plainly

What does Proverbs 19:17 mean?: It means God counts kindness to a poor person as a loan made to himself, and he promises to repay it. The proverb is meant to encourage generosity by showing how seriously God takes the needs of people who have little, and how closely he identifies with them.
Does Proverbs 19:17 promise that I will get my money back?: No. Proverbs describe how God generally works and are not guarantees of a payout. The verse promises that God does not forget generosity, but it does not say how or when he repays, and it should never be treated as a way to get rich by giving.
Who are the poor in Proverbs 19:17?: The word covers people who lack what they need, such as food, shelter or the means to earn a living. In Proverbs the poor are never treated as lesser or at fault by default. They are people made by God, and how others treat them reveals how those others regard their Maker.
How is this verse connected to Matthew 25?: Matthew 25:40 is the New Testament parallel. Jesus says that what is done for the least of his brothers is done for him, which matches the proverb’s idea that kindness to the poor is given to God himself. Both passages tie care for people to our relationship with God.
How should I help the poor wisely?: Pay attention to what the person actually needs and offer that directly, often food, water or a conversation, rather than assuming. Giving through a group that does this regularly can help, and so can walking alongside someone else on an outreach before going on your own.
How can I put Proverbs 19:17 into practice with Making Heaven Crowded?: You can volunteer on an outreach in Tampa or Gainesville, donate supplies such as water or clothing, or give through the site. The ministry hands out food and water downtown and talks with people it meets, so any of these puts the proverb into action.

Sources

Read the passages on Bible Gateway (King James Version): Proverbs 19:17, Proverbs 14:31, Matthew 25:31-46.

Where to go next

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Questions? Email Makingheavencrowdedtampa@gmail.com or call (941) 718-2867.