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Selected Verse: Psalms 37:16 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ps 37:16	Strong Concordance	A little [04592] that a righteous man [06662] hath is better [02896] than the riches [01995] of many [07227] wicked [07563].
	King James	A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
riches--literally, "noise and tumult," as incidental to much wealth (compare Psa 39:6). Thus the contrast with the "little" of one man is more vivid.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

riches--literally, "noise and tumult," as incidental to much wealth (compare Psa 39:6). Thus the contrast with the "little" of one man is more vivid.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
A little that a righteous man hath - literally, "Good is a little to the righteous, more than," etc. Our translation, however, has expressed the sense with sufficient accuracy. There are two things implied here: (a) that it happens not unfrequently that the righteous have little of the wealth of this world; and (b) that this little is to them of more real value, accompanied, as it is, with higher blessings, than the more abundant wealth which the wicked often possess. It is better to have but little of this world's goods with righteousness, than it is to have the riches of many wicked men - or the wealth which is often found in the possession of wicked men - with their ungodliness. It is not always true, indeed, that the righteous are poor; but if they are poor, their lot is more to be desired than that of the wicked man, though he is rich. Compare Luk 16:19-31. Is better than the riches of many wicked - Of many wicked people. The small property of one truly good man, with his character and hopes, is of more value than would be the aggregate wealth of many rich wicked men with their character and prospects. The word rendered "riches" here - המון hâmôn - means properly noise, sound, as of rain or of a multitude of people; then, a multitude, a crowd of people; and then, a "multitude" of possessions; that is, riches or wealth. The allusion here is not, as Prof. Alexander supposes, to the tumult or bustle which often attends the acquisition of property, or to the disorder and disquiet which attends its possession, but simply to the "amount" considered as large, or as accumulated or brought together. It is true that its acquisition is often attended with bustle and noise; it is true that its possessor has not often the peace and calmness of mind which the man has who has a mere competence; but the simple thought here is that, in reference to the amount, or the actual possession, it is better, on the whole, to have what the poor, pious man has, than to have what many wicked men have, if it were all gathered together. It does more to make a man happy on earth; it furnishes a better prospect for the life to come.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

A little that a righteous man hath - literally, "Good is a little to the righteous, more than," etc. Our translation, however, has expressed the sense with sufficient accuracy. There are two things implied here:

(a) that it happens not unfrequently that the righteous have little of the wealth of this world; and

(b) that this little is to them of more real value, accompanied, as it is, with higher blessings, than the more abundant wealth which the wicked often possess.

It is better to have but little of this world's goods with righteousness, than it is to have the riches of many wicked men - or the wealth which is often found in the possession of wicked men - with their ungodliness. It is not always true, indeed, that the righteous are poor; but if they are poor, their lot is more to be desired than that of the wicked man, though he is rich. Compare Luk 16:19-31.

Is better than the riches of many wicked - Of many wicked people. The small property of one truly good man, with his character and hopes, is of more value than would be the aggregate wealth of many rich wicked men with their character and prospects. The word rendered "riches" here - המון hâmôn - means properly noise, sound, as of rain or of a multitude of people; then, a multitude, a crowd of people; and then, a "multitude" of possessions; that is, riches or wealth. The allusion here is not, as Prof. Alexander supposes, to the tumult or bustle which often attends the acquisition of property, or to the disorder and disquiet which attends its possession, but simply to the "amount" considered as large, or as accumulated or brought together. It is true that its acquisition is often attended with bustle and noise; it is true that its possessor has not often the peace and calmness of mind which the man has who has a mere competence; but the simple thought here is that, in reference to the amount, or the actual possession, it is better, on the whole, to have what the poor, pious man has, than to have what many wicked men have, if it were all gathered together. It does more to make a man happy on earth; it furnishes a better prospect for the life to come.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
With Psa 37:16 accord Pro 15:16; Pro 16:8, cf. Tobit 12:8. The ל of לצּדּיק is a periphrastic indication of the genitive (Ges. 115). המון is a noisy multitude, here used of earthly possessions. רבּים is not per attract. (cf. Psa 38:11, הם for הוּא) equivalent to רב, but the one righteous man is contrasted with many unrighteous. The arms are here named instead of the bow in Psa 37:15. He whose arms are broken can neither injure others nor help himself. Whereas Jahve does for the righteous what earthly wealth and human power cannot do: He Himself upholds them.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
A little that a righteous man hath - This is a solid maxim. Whatever a good man has, has God's blessing in it; even the blessings of the wicked are cursed.

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⁶ Surely every man [0376] walketh [01980] in a vain shew [06754]: surely they are disquieted [01993] in vain [01892]: he heapeth up [06651] riches, and knoweth [03045] not who shall gather [0622] them.

¹⁹ [1161] There was [2258] a certain [5100] rich [4145] man [444], which [2532] was clothed [1737] in purple [4209] and [2532] fine linen [1040], and fared [2165] sumptuously [2988] every [2596] day [2250]:
²⁰ And [1161] there was [2258] a certain [5100] beggar [4434] named [3686] Lazarus [2976], which [3739] was laid [906] at [4314] his [846] gate [4440], full of sores [1669],
²¹ And [2532] desiring [1937] to be fed [5526] with [575] the crumbs [5589] which [3588] fell [4098] from [575] the rich man's [4145] table [5132]: moreover [235] [2532] the dogs [2965] came [2064] and licked [621] his [846] sores [1668].
²² And [1161] it came to pass [1096], that the beggar [4434] died [599], and [2532] was carried [667] by [5259] the angels [32] into [1519] Abraham's [11] bosom [2859]: the rich man [4145] also [1161] [2532] died [599], and [2532] was buried [2290];
²³ And [2532] in [1722] hell [86] he lift up [1869] his [846] eyes [3788], being [5225] in [1722] torments [931], and seeth [3708] Abraham [11] afar [3113] off [575], and [2532] Lazarus [2976] in [1722] his [846] bosom [2859].
²⁴ And [2532] [846] he cried [5455] and said [2036], Father [3962] Abraham [11], have mercy [1653] on me [3165], and [2532] send [3992] Lazarus [2976], that [2443] he may dip [911] the tip [206] of his [846] finger [1147] in water [5204], and [2532] cool [2711] my [3450] tongue [1100]; for [3754] I am tormented [3600] in [1722] this [5026] flame [5395].
²⁵ But [1161] Abraham [11] said [2036], Son [5043], remember [3415] that [3754] thou [4771] in [1722] thy [4675] lifetime [2222] receivedst [618] thy [4675] good things [18], and [2532] likewise [3668] Lazarus [2976] evil things [2556]: but [1161] now [3568] [3592] he is comforted [3870], and [1161] thou [4771] art tormented [3600].
²⁶ And [2532] beside [1909] all [3956] this [5125], between [3342] us [2257] and [2532] you [5216] there is [4741] a great [3173] gulf [5490] fixed [4741]: so that [3704] they which would [2309] pass [1224] from hence [1782] to [4314] you [5209] cannot [3361] [1410]; neither [3366] can they pass [1276] to [4314] us [2248], that would come from thence [1564].
²⁷ Then [1161] he said [2036], I pray [2065] thee [4571] therefore [3767], father [3962], that [2443] thou wouldest send [3992] him [846] to [1519] my [3450] father's [3962] house [3624]:
²⁸ For [1063] I have [2192] five [4002] brethren [80]; that [3704] he may testify [1263] unto them [846], lest [3363] they [846] also [2532] come [2064] into [1519] this [5126] place [5117] of torment [931].
²⁹ Abraham [11] saith [3004] unto him [846], They have [2192] Moses [3475] and [2532] the prophets [4396]; let them hear [191] them [846].
³⁰ And [1161] he said [2036], Nay [3780], father [3962] Abraham [11]: but [235] if [1437] one [5100] went [4198] unto [4314] them [846] from [575] the dead [3498], they will repent [3340].
³¹ And [1161] he said [2036] unto him [846], If [1487] they hear [191] not [3756] Moses [3475] and [2532] the prophets [4396], neither [3761] will they be persuaded [3982], though [1437] one [5100] rose [450] from [1537] the dead [3498].

¹⁵ Their sword [02719] shall enter [0935] into their own heart [03820], and their bows [07198] shall be broken [07665].

¹¹ My lovers [0157] and my friends [07453] stand [05975] aloof from [05048] my sore [05061]; and my kinsmen [07138] stand [05975] afar off [07350].

⁸ Better [02896] is a little [04592] with righteousness [06666] than great [07230] revenues [08393] without right [04941].

¹⁶ Better [02896] is little [04592] with the fear [03374] of the LORD [03068] than great [07227] treasure [0214] and trouble [04103] therewith.

¹⁶ A little [04592] that a righteous man [06662] hath is better [02896] than the riches [01995] of many [07227] wicked [07563].