Poor: Oppressions of
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The Bible frequently addresses the plight and oppression of the poor, emphasizing God's concern for justice and righteousness. Throughout Scripture, the poor are often depicted as victims of exploitation and injustice, and God’s people are called to defend and support them.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the oppression of the poor is a recurring theme, particularly in the prophetic literature. The Law of Moses includes numerous provisions to protect the poor from exploitation. For instance, Exodus 22:25 instructs, "If you lend money to one of My people among you who is poor, you must not be like a moneylender to him; you must not charge him interest." This command underscores the importance of compassion and fairness in dealings with the impoverished.

The prophets frequently condemned the mistreatment of the poor. Isaiah 10:1-2 warns, "Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of justice and withhold the rights of the oppressed of My people, to make widows their prey and rob the fatherless." Here, the prophet Isaiah highlights the systemic nature of oppression and God's impending judgment on those who perpetuate it.

Similarly, Amos speaks against the exploitation of the poor, declaring, "They trample the heads of the poor into the dust of the earth and block the path of the needy" (Amos 2:7). The prophet Amos calls for justice and righteousness, emphasizing that true worship of God is inseparable from ethical treatment of the vulnerable.

New Testament Insights

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ exemplifies and teaches compassion for the poor. In the Beatitudes, He states, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3). While this refers to spiritual poverty, it reflects a broader divine concern for those who are materially impoverished and oppressed.

Jesus' ministry often focused on the marginalized, and He criticized those who neglected justice and mercy. In Matthew 23:23, He rebukes the Pharisees, saying, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin, but you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness." This underscores the importance of prioritizing justice for the oppressed.

The early church also demonstrated concern for the poor. In Acts 4:34-35, it is recorded, "There were no needy ones among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property, bring the proceeds, and lay them at the apostles’ feet for distribution to anyone as he had need." This communal sharing reflects the early Christians' commitment to alleviating poverty and oppression.

A Call to Action

The Bible consistently calls believers to act justly and defend the rights of the poor. Proverbs 31:8-9 exhorts, "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." This call to advocacy is a central tenet of biblical justice.

James 2:5-6 further challenges believers, "Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?" This passage highlights the spiritual value and dignity of the poor, urging Christians to honor and support them.

Throughout Scripture, the oppression of the poor is met with divine disapproval, and believers are called to be agents of justice, mercy, and compassion, reflecting God's heart for the marginalized and oppressed.
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Nehemiah 5:1-13
And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brothers the Jews.
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Job 20:19-21
Because he has oppressed and has forsaken the poor; because he has violently taken away an house which he built not;
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Job 22:6,7,9-11
For you have taken a pledge from your brother for nothing, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
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Job 24:4,7-10
They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together.
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Psalm 10:2,8-10
The wicked in his pride does persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
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Psalm 37:14
The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
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Proverbs 14:20
The poor is hated even of his own neighbor: but the rich has many friends.
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Proverbs 17:5
Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
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Proverbs 19:7
All the brothers of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursues them with words, yet they are wanting to him.
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Proverbs 22:7,16
The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
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Proverbs 28:3,15
A poor man that oppresses the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaves no food.
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Proverbs 30:14
There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.
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Ecclesiastes 5:8
If you see the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regards; and there be higher than they.
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Isaiah 3:14,15
The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for you have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.
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Isaiah 10:1,2
Woe to them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed;
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Isaiah 32:6,7
For the vile person will speak villainy, and his heart will work iniquity, to practice hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.
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Ezekiel 18:12
Has oppressed the poor and needy, has spoiled by violence, has not restored the pledge, and has lifted up his eyes to the idols, has committed abomination,
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Ezekiel 22:29
The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yes, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.
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Amos 2:6-8
Thus said the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;
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Amos 4:1,2
Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink.
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Amos 5:11,12
For as much therefore as your treading is on the poor, and you take from him burdens of wheat: you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not dwell in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink wine of them.
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Amos 8:4,6
Hear this, O you that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail,
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Habakkuk 3:14
You did strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly.
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James 2:6
But you have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
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Library

Of Compassion
... and the manifold sufferings of human nature; seeing men hungry, thirsty, cold, naked,
sick, poor, and abject; the manifold oppressions of the poor, the grief ...
/.../john/the adornment of the spritual marriage/chapter xviii of compassion.htm

Character and Condition of the Churches to whom the Epistle was ...
... In general, however, it was the poor and lowly, pining under the oppressions of
the rich and powerful, and under the pressure of physical want, who most ...
/.../the epistle of james practically explained/ 4 character and condition.htm

How the Soul Attains Hearty Repentance and Gentle Pardon under the ...
... It is I, the sweet Eternal Wisdom, who became wretched and poor that I ... Neither
afflictions nor oppressions, neither hell nor purgatory, are such causes of ...
/.../suso/a little book of eternal wisdom/chapter v how the soul.htm

Dr. Beardsley's Address.
... had never tyrannized over her or harassed her with oppressions, and therefore ... valuable
as showing the uninviting quarters to which the poor Episcopalians were ...
/.../the sermons and addresses at the seabury centenary/dr beardsleys address.htm

The Reformation in Poland and the Consensus of Sendomir. AD 1570.
... and was elected king in 1587"there began a series of vexations and oppressions of
the Protestants which gradually reduced them to a poor remnant, except in ...
/.../ 74 the reformation in.htm

Luther Before the Diet.
... it is the scandal caused by the clergy that hurls so many poor souls into ... appointed
by the Diet to prepare an enumeration of the papal oppressions that weighed ...
/.../the great controversy between christ and satan /8 luther before the diet.htm

Luther Before the Diet
... it is the scandal caused by the clergy that hurls so many poor souls into ... appointed
by the Diet to prepare an enumeration of the papal oppressions that weighed ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 8 luther before the.htm

'Give Me to Drink'
... need the water of the well, and should ask it of a poor human creature. ... to ride on
the necks of their enemies, and pay back their persecutions and oppressions. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/give me to drink.htm

Introduction to the Two Homilies on Eutropius.
... In fact when the Archbishop declaimed against the cupidity and oppressions of the
rich ... Whither could the poor wretch fly who was thus in a moment hurled from ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/introduction to the two homilies.htm

James v. 1-6
... He then describes the oppressions inflicted by the rich (not necessarily such as
belonged to Christian churches) on the pious poor in humble life. ...
/.../neander/the epistle of james practically explained/james v 6-jan.htm

Resources
What does the Bible say about giving to the poor? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about being poor? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to be poor in spirit? | GotQuestions.org

Poor: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Poor

Poor: Atonement Money of, Uniform With That of the Rich People

Poor: Duty To

Poor: God's Care of

Poor: Inexpensive offerings of People Who Have Very Little Money

Poor: Kindness To by Boaz

Poor: Kindness To by Job

Poor: Kindness to Congregations

Poor: Kindness to Congregations of Macedonia and Achaia

Poor: Kindness to Cornelius

Poor: Kindness to Dorcas

Poor: Kindness to Jews

Poor: Kindness to Nebuzaradan

Poor: Kindness to Paul

Poor: Kindness to Prophet's Widow

Poor: Kindness to The Congregation at Antioch (In Syria)

Poor: Kindness to The Good Samaritan

Poor: Kindness to The Temanites

Poor: Kindness to To Ruth

Poor: Kindness to To the Widow of Zarephath

Poor: Kindness to Zacchaeus

Poor: Oppressions of

Poor: Poor in Spirit

Poor: The Widow's Son

Poor: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To

The Poor are Such by God's Appointment

The Poor by Mocking, God is Reproached

The Poor by Oppressing, God is Reproached

The Poor: A Care For is a Fruit of Repentance

The Poor: A Care For is Characteristic of Saints

The Poor: A Care For: should be Urged

The Poor: Care For-Illustrated

The Poor: Christ Delivers

The Poor: Christ Lived As One of

The Poor: Christ Preached To

The Poor: Condition of, often Results From: Bad Company

The Poor: Condition of, often Results From: Drunkenness and Gluttony

The Poor: Condition of, often Results From: Sloth

The Poor: Defend

The Poor: Despise Not

The Poor: do Justice To

The Poor: Gideon

The Poor: Give to Cheerfully

The Poor: Give to Liberally

The Poor: Give to not Grudgingly

The Poor: Give to Pray For

The Poor: Give to Specially If Saints

The Poor: Give To without Ostentation

The Poor: God is the Refuge of

The Poor: God: Delivers

The Poor: God: Despises No the Prayer of

The Poor: God: Exalts

The Poor: God: Forgets Not

The Poor: God: Hears

The Poor: God: Maintains the Right of

The Poor: God: Protects

The Poor: God: Provides For

The Poor: God: Regards Equally With the Rich

The Poor: Guilt of Defrauding

The Poor: Harden not the Heart Against

The Poor: Made by God

The Poor: May Be: Liberal

The Poor: May Be: Rich in Faith

The Poor: May Be: Upright

The Poor: May Be: Wise

The Poor: Neglect Towards Is: A Neglect of Christ

The Poor: Neglect Towards Is: A Proof of Unbelief

The Poor: Neglect Towards Is: Inconsistent With Love to God

The Poor: Offerings of, Acceptable to God

The Poor: Oppress Not

The Poor: Oppression of-Illustrated

The Poor: Prophet's Widow

The Poor: Punishment For: Acting Unjustly Towards

The Poor: Punishment For: Oppressing

The Poor: Punishment For: Refusing to Assist

The Poor: Punishment For: Spoiling

The Poor: Regard For: Boaz

The Poor: Regard For: Church at Antioch

The Poor: Regard For: Churches of Macedonia and Achaia

The Poor: Regard For: Cornelius

The Poor: Regard For: Dorcas

The Poor: Regard For: Job

The Poor: Regard For: Nebuzaradan

The Poor: Regard For: Paul

The Poor: Regard For: Peter and John

The Poor: Regard For: Zacchaeus

The Poor: Rob Not

The Poor: Rule Not, With Vigour

The Poor: Ruth

The Poor: Saints of Old

The Poor: Shall Never Cease out of the Land

The Poor: should Commit Themselves to God

The Poor: should Hope in God

The Poor: should Provided for Under the Law

The Poor: should Rejoice in God

The Poor: should when Converted, Rejoice in Their Exaltation

The Poor: Shut not the Hand Against

The Poor: Take No Usury From

The Poor: The Wicked: Care not For

The Poor: The Wicked: Crush

The Poor: The Wicked: Defraud

The Poor: The Wicked: Despise the Counsel of

The Poor: The Wicked: Devour

The Poor: The Wicked: Grind the Faces of

The Poor: The Wicked: Oppress

The Poor: The Wicked: Persecute

The Poor: The Wicked: Regard not the Cause of

The Poor: The Wicked: Sell

The Poor: The Wicked: Tread Down

The Poor: The Wicked: Vex

The Poor: They Who in Faith, Believe are Blessed

The Poor: They Who in Faith, Believe are Happy

The Poor: They Who in Faith, Believe: Have Promises

The Poor: They Who in Faith, Believe: Have the Favour of God

The Poor: Widow of Zarephath

The Poor: Wrong not in Judgment

Related Terms

Poor-looking (2 Occurrences)

Poverty (25 Occurrences)

Meekness (14 Occurrences)

Countrymen (60 Occurrences)

Creditor (8 Occurrences)

Sabbatical (1 Occurrence)

Beg (77 Occurrences)

Destitute (25 Occurrences)

Delivers (38 Occurrences)

Beggar (5 Occurrences)

Box (13 Occurrences)

Meek (23 Occurrences)

Beatitudes

Alms (13 Occurrences)

Blindness (7 Occurrences)

Begging (18 Occurrences)

Defend (38 Occurrences)

Charity (29 Occurrences)

Countenance (67 Occurrences)

Deacon (4 Occurrences)

Executioners (32 Occurrences)

Cows (33 Occurrences)

Vindicate (18 Occurrences)

Dropped (52 Occurrences)

Debtor (7 Occurrences)

Bruise (19 Occurrences)

Countryman (19 Occurrences)

Contribution (24 Occurrences)

Amount (66 Occurrences)

Shuts (12 Occurrences)

Sells (14 Occurrences)

Deaconess (1 Occurrence)

Almsgiving (3 Occurrences)

Body-guard (23 Occurrences)

Possessions (84 Occurrences)

Crush (50 Occurrences)

Sold (92 Occurrences)

Bedstead (1 Occurrence)

Bedchamber (6 Occurrences)

Shows (42 Occurrences)

Sight (522 Occurrences)

Distribute (23 Occurrences)

Maintain (50 Occurrences)

Always (186 Occurrences)

Perfume (202 Occurrences)

Blind (91 Occurrences)

Sell (58 Occurrences)

Debt (48 Occurrences)

Evil-doer (88 Occurrences)

Blessed (338 Occurrences)

Purchase (25 Occurrences)

Bed (142 Occurrences)

Year (4027 Occurrences)

Pledge (55 Occurrences)

Marked (163 Occurrences)

Violently (92 Occurrences)

Creature (73 Occurrences)

Becometh (82 Occurrences)

Bond (32 Occurrences)

Saviour (157 Occurrences)

Year's (8 Occurrences)

Vinedressers (4 Occurrences)

Vine-dressers (18 Occurrences)

Zacchaeus (3 Occurrences)

Knives (12 Occurrences)

Crushing (93 Occurrences)

Ewe-lamb (4 Occurrences)

Equity (19 Occurrences)

Dung-hill (3 Occurrences)

Despoils (1 Occurrence)

Dishonored (17 Occurrences)

Dunghill (8 Occurrences)

Drags (5 Occurrences)

Deliverest (7 Occurrences)

Dispersed (28 Occurrences)

Deaf (22 Occurrences)

Den (19 Occurrences)

Deliverer (29 Occurrences)

Delivereth (49 Occurrences)

Poor: Kindness to Zacchaeus
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