Proverbs 15:16
Proverbs 15:16 in Multiple Translations
Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil.
Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
Better is little, with the fear of Jehovah, Than great treasure and trouble therewith.
Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great wealth together with trouble.
It's better to respect the Lord and only have a little than to have plenty of money and the trouble that comes with it.
Better is a litle with the feare of the Lord, then great treasure, and trouble therewith.
Better [is] a little with the fear of Jehovah, Than much treasure, and tumult with it.
Better is little, with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure with trouble.
Better is little with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure and trouble with it.
Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasures without content,
Being poor and revering Yahweh is better than being rich and having a lot of troubles.
Berean Amplified Bible — Proverbs 15:16
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Proverbs 15:16 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
טוֹב
מְ֭עַט
בְּ/יִרְאַ֣ת
יְהוָ֑ה
מֵ/אוֹצָ֥ר
רָ֝֗ב
וּ/מְה֥וּמָה
בֽ/וֹ
טוֹב
ṭôwb
H2896
pleasant
Adj
מְ֭עַט
mᵉʻaṭ
H4592
little
N-ms
בְּ/יִרְאַ֣ת
yirʼâh
H3374
fear
Prep | N-fs
יְהוָ֑ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
N-proper
מֵ/אוֹצָ֥ר
ʼôwtsâr
H214
treasure
Prep | N-ms
רָ֝֗ב
rab
H7227
many
Adj
וּ/מְה֥וּמָה
mᵉhûwmâh
H4103
tumult
Conj | N-fs
בֽ/וֹ
Prep | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Proverbs 15:16
טוֹב
ṭôwb
H2896
"pleasant"
Adj
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means good or welfare, describing something that is beneficial or pleasing, like a good deed or a happy time. It is used in many contexts, including Genesis and Psalms. This word is often translated as 'good' or 'beautiful'.
Definition: adj 1) good, pleasant, agreeable 1a) pleasant, agreeable (to the senses) 1b) pleasant (to the higher nature) 1c) good, excellent (of its kind) 1d) good, rich, valuable in estimation 1e) good, appropriate, becoming 1f) better (comparative) 1g) glad, happy, prosperous (of man's sensuous nature) 1h) good understanding (of man's intellectual nature) 1i) good, kind, benign 1j) good, right (ethical) Aramaic equivalent: tav (טָב "fine" H2869)
Usage: Occurs in 521 OT verses. KJV: beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, [idiom] fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, [idiom] most, pleasant, [phrase] pleaseth, pleasure, precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well(-favoured). See also: Genesis 1:4; Ruth 2:22; 2 Chronicles 3:8.
מְ֭עַט
mᵉʻaṭ
H4592
"little"
N-ms
This Hebrew word means something is small or little in amount, like a few people or a short time. It appears in various Bible translations as almost, few, or small. In the Bible, it often describes something that is limited or lacking.
Definition: 1) littleness, few, a little, fewness 1a) little, small, littleness, fewness, too little, yet a little 1b) like a little, within a little, almost, just, hardly, shortly, little worth
Usage: Occurs in 92 OT verses. KJV: almost (some, very) few(-er, -est), lightly, little (while), (very) small (matter, thing), some, soon, [idiom] very. See also: Genesis 18:4; Job 15:11; Psalms 2:12.
בְּ/יִרְאַ֣ת
yirʼâh
H3374
"fear"
Prep | N-fs
This Hebrew word for fear can also mean reverence or respect, especially when it comes to God. It's used to describe a feeling of awe or terror, and is often translated as 'fear' or 'dreadful' in the KJV.
Definition: 1) fear, terror, fearing 1a) fear, terror 1b) awesome or terrifying thing (object causing fear) 1c) fear (of God), respect, reverence, piety 1d) revered
Usage: Occurs in 42 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] dreadful, [idiom] exceedingly, fear(-fulness). See also: Genesis 20:11; Proverbs 1:29; Psalms 2:11.
יְהוָ֑ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
"The Lord"
N-proper
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
מֵ/אוֹצָ֥ר
ʼôwtsâr
H214
"treasure"
Prep | N-ms
The Hebrew word for treasure refers to a storehouse or depository, like a treasure house or armory, as seen in 1 Kings 7:51.
Definition: 1) treasure, storehouse 1a) treasure (gold, silver, etc) 1b) store, supplies of food or drink 1c) treasure-house, treasury 1c1) treasure-house 1c2) storehouse, magazine 1c3) treasury 1c4) magazine of weapons (fig. of God's armoury) 1c5) storehouses (of God for rain, snow, hail, wind, sea)
Usage: Occurs in 70 OT verses. KJV: armory, cellar, garner, store(-house), treasure(-house) (-y). See also: Deuteronomy 28:12; Nehemiah 10:39; Psalms 33:7.
רָ֝֗ב
rab
H7227
"many"
Adj
This Hebrew word means a chief or captain, someone in charge. It is used in 2 Samuel 23:19 to describe a great and powerful man. The idea is one of leadership and authority.
Definition: adj 1) much, many, great 1a) much 1b) many 1c) abounding in 1d) more numerous than 1e) abundant, enough 1f) great 1g) strong 1h) greater than adv 1i) much, exceedingly
Usage: Occurs in 443 OT verses. KJV: (in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly), captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man, one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold, things, a time), (ship-)master, mighty, more, (too, very) much, multiply(-tude), officer, often(-times), plenteous, populous, prince, process (of time), suffice(-lent). See also: Genesis 6:5; 1 Kings 11:1; Psalms 3:2.
וּ/מְה֥וּמָה
mᵉhûwmâh
H4103
"tumult"
Conj | N-fs
This word means tumult or confusion, often describing a state of chaos or disquietude, like in Exodus 14:24 when God throws the Egyptian army into a state of panic. It can also mean trouble or vexation, and is used in various contexts. It appears in KJV translations as destruction or discomfiture.
Definition: 1) tumult, confusion, disquietude, discomfiture, destruction, trouble, vexed, vexation 1a) tumult, confusion, disturbance, turmoil, disquietude, panic 1b) discomfiture
Usage: Occurs in 12 OT verses. KJV: destruction, discomfiture, trouble, tumult, vexation, vexed. See also: Deuteronomy 7:23; Proverbs 15:16; Isaiah 22:5.
בֽ/וֹ
""
Prep | Suff
Study Notes — Proverbs 15:16
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Proverbs 15:16 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 15:16
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 15:16
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 15:16
- Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 15:16
- Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 15:16
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 15:16
- Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 15:16
- Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 15:16
- Sermons on Proverbs 15:16
Context — A Gentle Answer Turns Away Wrath
14A discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
15All the days of the oppressed are bad, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
16Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil.
17Better a dish of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox with hatred. 18A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 16:8 | Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice. |
| 2 | Psalms 37:16 | Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many who are wicked. |
| 3 | Ecclesiastes 5:10–12 | He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile. When good things increase, so do those who consume them; what then is the profit to the owner, except to behold them with his eyes? The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich man permits him no sleep. |
| 4 | 1 Timothy 6:6 | Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain. |
| 5 | Proverbs 28:6 | Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a rich man whose ways are perverse. |
| 6 | Proverbs 10:22 | The blessing of the LORD enriches, and He adds no sorrow to it. |
| 7 | Ecclesiastes 2:18–23 | I hated all for which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me. And who knows whether that man will be wise or foolish? Yet he will take over all the labor at which I have worked skillfully under the sun. This too is futile. So my heart began to despair over all the labor that I had done under the sun. When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and he must give his portion to a man who has not worked for it, this too is futile and a great evil. For what does a man get for all the toil and striving with which he labors under the sun? Indeed, all his days are filled with grief, and his task is sorrowful; even at night, his mind does not rest. This too is futile. |
| 8 | Ecclesiastes 2:10–11 | Anything my eyes desired, I did not deny myself. I refused my heart no pleasure. For my heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I considered all the works that my hands had accomplished and what I had toiled to achieve, I found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind; there was nothing to be gained under the sun. |
Proverbs 15:16 Summary
[This verse is saying that it's better to have a little bit of something and be happy and at peace with God, than to have a lot of something and be stressed and worried. As Psalm 37:16 says, it's better to have a little with righteousness than much with injustice. It's not about how much we have, but about our relationship with God and our trust in Him, as seen in Matthew 6:33, where Jesus teaches us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. By prioritizing God and seeking contentment in Him, we can experience peace and joy, regardless of our circumstances.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to have the fear of the LORD?
The fear of the LORD is a reverence and respect for God that leads to obedience and trust, as seen in Psalm 111:10 and Proverbs 1:7, where it is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom.
Is this verse saying that having a lot of money is bad?
No, this verse is not condemning wealth, but rather warning against the turmoil and troubles that can come with it, as also seen in 1 Timothy 6:10, where the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.
How does this verse apply to my everyday life?
This verse encourages us to prioritize our relationship with God over material possessions, and to seek contentment and peace in Him, as Philippians 4:11-12 teaches us to be content in all circumstances.
What kind of turmoil is associated with great treasure?
The turmoil associated with great treasure can include anxiety, stress, and conflict, as seen in Luke 12:15, where Jesus warns against greed and the dangers of riches.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I am prioritizing wealth or material possessions over my relationship with God?
- How can I cultivate a deeper fear of the LORD in my own life, and what would be the benefits of doing so?
- What are some ways that I can seek contentment and peace in God, rather than in wealth or possessions?
- How can I apply the principles of this verse to my decisions about money and possessions, and what would be the long-term benefits of doing so?
Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 15:16
Better [is] little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 15:16
Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith. Better (is) little with fear of the Lord, than great treasure, and trouble therewith - the usual accompaniment of "great treasure" (cf.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 15:16
The fear of the Lord, which gives a man tranquillity and comfort in what he hath. Trouble; tumultuous lusts and passions, vexatious cares and fears, horrors of conscience, and expectation of God’ s curse and judgment, which riches gotten without God’ s fear do commonly produce.
Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 15:16
Proverbs 15:16 Better [is] little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.Ver. 16. Better is a little with the fear of the Lord.] This is one special consideration that keeps up the good heart in continual comfort. Contented godliness is great riches; Misera est magni custodia census. Great treasures bring great troubles. It is not the great cage that makes the bird sing. It is not the great estate that brings alway the inward joy, the cordial contentment. The little lark with a wing sees further than the ox with a bigger eye but without a wing. Birds use not to sing when they are on the ground, but when got into the air, or upon the top of trees. If saints be sad, it is because they are too busy here below, and, Martha-like, troubled about many things, with neglect of that one thing necessary. They that will be rich pierce themselves through with many sorrows.
If the bramble bear rule, fire will rise out of it that will consume the cedars; the lean kine will soon eat up the fat, and it shall not be seen by them. It is hard to handle these thorns hard and not to prick one’ s fingers. Riches, though well got, are but as manna, those that gathered less had no want, and those that gathered more, it was but a trouble and annoyance to them. Juvenal.
Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 15:16
(16) Trouble.—The “disquiet” (Psalms 39:6) which attends the pursuit and care of riches, in contrast to the “peace which they have who love God’s law. (Psalms 119:165.)
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 15:16
Verse 16. Better is little with the fear of the Lord] Because where the fear of God is, there are moderation and contentment of spirit.
Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 15:16
This proverb has its completion in the teaching of Mat 6:33.
Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 15:16
16. Trouble — Torment, confusion. It refers to that anxiety, vexation, and solicitude which usually accompany the possession of riches. Piety with little is better than wealth with trouble. Psalms 39:6; Matthew 6:33.
Sermons on Proverbs 15:16
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Tragedies of Life by David Hocking | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the tragedies of life as described in Ecclesiastes chapter 4. He highlights the oppression and lack of comfort experienced by the oppressed, |
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The Primacy of Self by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon on Fear, the preacher delves into the various uses of 'phobos' in the Bible, highlighting how it can describe both positive and negative senses of fear. While fear c |
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God's People Will Never Be Ashamed by David Wilkerson | This sermon emphasizes the importance of trusting in God during times of fear and calamity. It highlights the need to commit to God's promises, believe in His ability to work mirac |
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God's People Will Never Be Ashamed in the Time of Calamity by David Wilkerson | This sermon emphasizes the importance of trusting in God during times of fear and calamity, highlighting the need to commit to God's promises and believe in His ability to work mir |
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The Great Divide by Chuck Smith | This sermon focuses on the great divide between those who serve God faithfully and those who have forsaken Him, as depicted in Matthew 25. It emphasizes the importance of worshipin |
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(How to Understand the Kjv Bible) 45 Psalm 37 by Keith Simons | Keith Simons teaches on Psalm 37, emphasizing David's reflections on the fate of the righteous versus the wicked. He encourages believers not to fret over evildoers, as their prosp |
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True Poverty of Spirit by A.W. Tozer | A.W. Tozer emphasizes the concept of true poverty of spirit, illustrating how the human heart is ensnared by a fierce desire for material possessions, which distracts from a genuin |