Verse
The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it – Proverbs 10:22
Meaning of Proverbs 10:22
The meaning of the verse, “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it” is that one who receives riches as God’s blessing will suffer or be sad but gain riches in material and spiritual things. The author believes that wealth brings more trouble than good, but anything that comes with God will be safe and secure and bring happiness. Hence, the verse implies that riches that come from God are far better and superior to riches that are gained by worldly means. God wants his children to wait for his blessings rather than try to get them through their deeds.
Interpretations of Proverbs 10:22
The verse of Proverbs 10:22 is not widely quoted but can is interpreted in different ways and is often misleading. Here are some examples of interpretations of the verse.
Interpretation #1 God offers prosperity to His children
The first interpretation of the verse, “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it” is that God likes to offer prosperity only to His children. God is called the father in the Bible, and every parent likes to pass on their riches and wealth to their children. Hence, the reader comes to the conclusion that God wants His children or followers to be happy and prosperous. Therefore, He provides riches for them to flourish and never be lacking. Additionally, God is known to own everything that belongs in the world, so He wants His children to have a part of it.
Interpretation #2 A devoted believer doesn’t face sorrow
God likes to bless His children abundantly, and the Bible states so repeatedly. The reader can interpret that a true believer doesn’t face sorrow because he/she has God’s protection, including His promise of help and wealth to depend on. Hence, the meaning of the verse, “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich” is that a devoted believer is protected in times of sorrow or trouble. They either experience a quick solution or complete protection while their surrounding is in chaos. As a child of God, the reader assumes they will be escaping from struggles of daily life like sadness or ill health, etc.
Interpretation #3 A true believer doesn’t have to work
Another interpretation of the verse, “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it” is that a true believer in God does not have to toil or work hard. A person who is called to be a child of God is blessed with many things promised in the Bible, that includes riches or money with which the reader or believer can purchase their needs. These promises are stated in verse. Thus, he or she might not want to work or do a job because they believe God will routinely bless him or her so that they can spend the rest of their life in leisure.
Interpretation #4 God wants His children to wait
In the version, the reader believes that God is the father almighty and might want His children to learn the virtue of patience and waiting. He wants His children not to rush or run after other people as He promised to provide riches to them. In other words, the readers must not try to gain them by worldly means. He knows that the wealth gained through illegal means will result in sorrow. Hence, in this interpretation, God wants His children to learn to wait for them to be happier while enjoying prosperity through His blessings.
Interpretation #5 God’s blessings bring peace and joy
The final interpretation of the verse, “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it” is that God’s blessings are accompanied by peace and joy. The wealth that one earns in the world is often accompanied by greed, fear, guilt, labor, pride, worry, vanity, or hoarding. However, the verse says that the riches that come from God are never accompanied by sorrow or grief. The verse encourages the readers to do honest work and be patient as they will receive peace and blessings that are better than material blessings such as money and property. Here the reader understands that material blessings are added when he or she is honest in their work. He also gives him or her happiness, peace, and contentment it, which can be called a double blessing.
Historical background of Proverbs 10:22
The book of Proverbs was started by King Solomon, son of David, as he was considered one of the wisest people in the Bible. It is believed that although he was the primary author of the book, the book was not finished until 200 years after his death. It is speculated that it might have been completed by the time of Babylonian exile. The tenth chapter of Proverbs is a part of the second collection of the book. The 22nd verse talks about the riches that come from God versus riches gained through worldly means. It also talks about the need to forego riches that are gained in different ways, which is believed to result in sorrow.
Literary Devices of Proverbs 10:22
Proverbs 10:22 is a proverb with hidden meaning and carries some noteworthy literary devices. Here are a few examples.
Theme – The verse has major themes such as peace, prosperity, and faith. As most people with riches are miserable except when the reader earns them sincerely.
Symbolism – The verse is a good example of symbolism as it signifies prosperity and diligence.
Assonance – The verse has good use of assonance. For example, the sound of /o/ and /i/ in ‘it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.‘
Metaphor – The verse is also a good metaphor as ‘he addeth no sorrow with it’ means happiness or joy.’
Didactic – As the verse describes and teaches a moral to be patient and honest while earning money, it makes a good example of a didactic proverb.