Poor
In Scripture, the poor are those who lack material resources and are therefore especially vulnerable. God repeatedly commands His people to show them justice, mercy, and practical care.
At a Glance
In Scripture, the poor are those who lack material resources and are therefore especially vulnerable. God repeatedly commands His people to show them justice, mercy, and practical care.
Description
In Scripture, the poor are primarily those who lack material provision and therefore live in a condition of need and vulnerability. God’s law, the prophets, and the wisdom literature repeatedly condemn exploiting the poor and require His people to practice justice, mercy, generosity, and impartiality toward them. In the Gospels and Epistles, care for the poor remains an important expression of faithful obedience, while some passages also use poverty language in a spiritual sense, such as humility before God or recognition of one’s need for Him. Because the Bible uses the term both literally and at times figuratively, the meaning must be taken from context; the safest conclusion is that Scripture consistently reveals God’s concern for the materially poor and calls His people to reflect that concern in righteous action.