King James Bible Dictionary

The Mosaic legislation regarding the poor is specially important.

1. They had the right of gleaning the fields (Leviticus 19:9, 10; Deuteronomy 24:19, 21).

2. In the sabbatical year they were to have their share of the produce of the fields and the vineyards (Exodus 23:11; Leviticus 25:6).

3. In the year of jubilee they recovered their property (Leviticus 25:25-30).

4. Usury was forbidden, and the pledged raiment was to be returned before the sun went down (Exodus 22:25-27; Deuteronomy 24:10-13). The rich were to be generous to the poor (Deuteronomy 15:7-11).

5. In the sabbatical and jubilee years the bond-servant was to go free (Deuteronomy 15:12-15; Leviticus 25:39-42, 47-54).

6. Certain portions from the tithes were assigned to the poor (Deuteronomy 14:28, 29; 26:12, 13).

7. They shared in the feasts (Deuteronomy 16:11, 14; Nehemiah 8:10).

8. Wages were to be paid at the close of each day (Leviticus 19:13).

In the New Testament (Luke 3:11; 14:13; Acts 6:1; Galatians 2:10; James 2:15, 16) we have similar injunctions given with reference to the poor. Begging was not common under the Old Testament, while it was so in the New Testament times (Luke 16:20, 21, etc.). But begging in the case of those who are able to work is forbidden, and all such are enjoined to "work with their own hands" as a Christian duty (1 Thessalonians 4:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-13; Ephesians 4:28). This word is used figuratively in Matthew 5:3; Luke 6:20; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Revelation 3:17.

Atonement money of, uniform with that of the rich
Exodus 30:15

Inexpensive offerings of the impecunious
Leviticus 5:7; Leviticus 12:8; Leviticus 14:21-22
Alms; Beneficence; Liberality; Orphan; Poverty; Widow; Rich, The; Riches

Unclassified scriptures relating to
Exodus 23:3; Exodus 23:6; Leviticus 19:15; 1 Samuel 2:7; Nehemiah 8:10; Nehemiah 8:12; Job 29:11-13; Job 29:15-16; Job 30:25; Job 31:15-22; Job 34:19; Psalms 37:16; Psalms 82:3-4; Psalms 109:16; Proverbs 10:15; Proverbs 13:7-8; Proverbs 13:23; Proverbs 14:20-21; Proverbs 14:31; Proverbs 18:23; Proverbs 19:1; Proverbs 19:4; Proverbs 19:7; Proverbs 19:17; Proverbs 19:22; Proverbs 20:13; Proverbs 21:13; Proverbs 22:2; Proverbs 22:9; Proverbs 23:21; Proverbs 28:6; Proverbs 28:8; Proverbs 28:11; Proverbs 28:19; Proverbs 29:14; Ecclesiastes 4:6; Ecclesiastes 4:13; Ecclesiastes 6:8; Ecclesiastes 9:15-16; Jeremiah 22:16; Ezekiel 16:49; Matthew 25:42; Matthew 25:45; Matthew 26:11; Mark 14:7; Mark 12:43-44; Luke 6:30-35; Luke 16:20-21; John 12:6; James 1:9-10

Duty to
Exodus 22:25-27; Exodus 23:11; Leviticus 19:9-10; Leviticus 23:22; Leviticus 25:25-28; Leviticus 25:35-37; Leviticus 25:39-43; Deuteronomy 14:28-29; Deuteronomy 15:2-14; Deuteronomy 24:12-21; Deuteronomy 26:12-13; Nehemiah 8:10; Psalms 37:21; Psalms 37:26; Psalms 41:1-3; Psalms 112:4-5; Psalms 112:9; Proverbs 28:27; Proverbs 29:7; Proverbs 31:9; Proverbs 31:20; Isaiah 1:17; Isaiah 16:3-4; Isaiah 58:7; Isaiah 58:10; Ezekiel 18:7; Ezekiel 18:16-17; Daniel 4:27; Zech 7:10; Matthew 5:42; Luke 6:30; Matthew 19:21; Matthew 25:35-36; Mark 14:7; Luke 3:11; Luke 11:41; Luke 12:33; Luke 14:12-14; Luke 18:22; Luke 19:8; Acts 20:35; Romans 12:8; Romans 12:13; Romans 12:20; 1 Corinthians 13:3; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 6:10; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Galatians 2:10; Galatians 6:10; Ephesians 4:28; 1 Timothy 5:9-10; 1 Timothy 5:16; Hebrews 13:3; James 1:27; James 2:2-9; James 2:15-16; James 5:4; 1 John 3:17-19

Figurative:

Poor in spirit
Matthew 5:3; Luke 6:20; Isaiah 66:2
Creditor; Debtor; Employee; Employer; Servant; Wages

God's care of

General references
1 Samuel 2:7-8; Job 5:15-16; Job 31:15; Job 34:18-19; Job 34:28; Job 36:6; Job 36:15; Psalms 9:18; Psalms 10:14; Psalms 12:5; Psalms 14:6; Psalms 34:6; Psalms 35:10; Psalms 68:10; Psalms 69:33; Psalms 72:2; Psalms 72:4; Psalms 72:12-14; Psalms 74:21; Psalms 102:17; Psalms 107:9; Psalms 107:36; Psalms 107:41; Psalms 109:31; Psalms 113:7-8; Psalms 132:15; Psalms 140:12; Psalms 146:5; Psalms 146:7; Proverbs 22:2; Proverbs 22:22-23; Proverbs 29:13; Ecclesiastes 5:8; Isaiah 11:4; Isaiah 14:30; Isaiah 14:32; Isaiah 25:4; Isaiah 29:19; Isaiah 41:17; Jeremiah 20:13; Zephaniah 3:12; Zech 11:7; Matthew 11:5; Luke 7:22; Luke 4:18; Luke 16:22; James 2:5
God, Goodness of; God, Providence of

Kindness to, instances of:

To Ruth
Ruth 2:23

By Boaz
Ruth 2:14-16

To the widow of Zarephath
1 Kings 17:12-24

Prophet's widow
2 Kings 4:1-7

Jews
Esther 9:22

By Job
Job 29:11-16; Job 31:16-21; Job 31:38-40

The Temanites
Isaiah 21:14

Nebuzar-Adan
Jeremiah 39:10

The good Samaritan
Luke 10:33-35

Zacchaeus
Luke 19:8

Christian churches
Acts 6:1; Acts 11:29; Romans 15:25-26; 2 Corinthians 8:1-4

Dorcas
Acts 9:36

Cornelius
Acts 10:2; Acts 10:4

Church at Antioch
Acts 11:29-30

Paul
Romans 15:25

Churches of Macedonia and Achaia
Romans 15:26; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

Oppressions of:

General references
Nehemiah 5:1-13; Job 20:19-21; Job 22:6-7; Job 22:9-11; Job 24:4; Job 24:7-10; Psalms 10:2; Psalms 10:8-10; Psalms 37:14; Proverbs 14:20; Proverbs 17:5; Proverbs 19:7; Proverbs 22:7; Proverbs 22:16; Proverbs 28:3; Proverbs 28:15; Proverbs 30:14; Ecclesiastes 5:8; Isaiah 3:14-15; Isaiah 10:1-2; Isaiah 32:6-7; Ezekiel 18:12; Ezekiel 22:29; Amos 2:6-8; Amos 4:1-2; Amos 5:11-12; Amos 8:4; Amos 8:6; Habakkuk 3:14; James 2:6
Poor, Duty to

Instances of, the widow's son
2 Kings 4:1-7
Creditor; Debtor; Servant; Wages

The general kindly spirit of the law toward the poor is sufficiently shown by such passages as (15:7) for the reason that (ver. 11) "the poor shall never cease out of the land." Among the special enactments in their favor the following must be mentioned-

1. The right of gleaning. (Leviticus 19:9,10; 24:19,21)
2. From the produce of the land in sabbatical years the poor and the stranger were to have their portion. (Exodus 23:11; Leviticus 25:6)
3. Re-entry upon land in the jubilee year, with the limitation as to town homes. (Leviticus 25:25-30)
4. Prohibition of usury and of retention of pledges. (Exodus 22:25-27; Leviticus 25:3,5,37) etc.
5. Permanent bondage forbidden, and manumission of Hebrew bondmen or bondwomen enjoined in the sabbatical and jubilee years. (Leviticus 25:39-42,47-54; 15:12-15)
6. Portions from the tithes to be shared by the poor after the Levites. (14:28; 26:12,13)
7. The poor to partake in entertainments at the feasts of Weeks and Tabernacles. (16:11,14) see Nehemiah 8:10
8. Daily payment of wages. (Leviticus 19:13) Principles similar to those laid down by Moses are inculcated in the New Testament, as (Luke 3:11; 14:13; Acts 6:1; Galatians 2:10; James 2:15)

POOR, adjective [Latin pauper.]

1. Wholly destitute of property, or not having property sufficient for a comfortable subsistence; needy. It is often synonymous with indigent, and with necessitous, denoting extreme want; it is also applied to persons who are not entirely destitute of property, but are not rich; as a poor man or woman; poor people

2. In law, so destitute of property as to be entitled to maintenance from the public.

3. Destitute of strength, beauty or dignity; barren; mean; jejune; as a poor composition; a poor essay; a poor discourse.

4. Destitute of value, worth or importance; of little use; trifling.

That I have wronged no man, will be a poor plea or apology at the last day.

5. Paltry; mean; of little value; as a poor coat; a poor house.

6. Destitute of fertility; barren; exhausted; as poor land. The ground is become poor

7. Of little worth; unimportant; as in my poor opinion.

8. Unhappy; pitiable.

Vex'd sailors curse the rain

For which poor shepherds pray'd in vain.

9. Mean; depressed; low; dejected; destitute of spirit.

A soothsayer made Antonius believe that his genius, which was otherwise brave, was, in the presence of Octavianus, poor and cowardly.

10. Lean; emaciated; as a poor horse. The ox is poor

11. Small, or of a bad quality; as a poor crop; a poor harvest.

12. Uncomfortable; restless; ill. The patient has had a poor night.

13. Destitute of saving grace. Revelation 3:17.

14. In general, wanting good qualities, or the qualities which render a thing valuable, excellent, proper, or sufficient for its purpose; as a poor pen; a poor ship; a poor carriage; poor fruit; poor bread; poor wine, etc.

15. A word of tenderness or pity; dear.

POOR, little, pretty, fluttering thing.

16. A word of slight contempt; wretched.

The poor monk never saw many of the decrees and councils he had occasion to use.

17. The poor collectively, used as a noun; those who are destitute of property; the indigent; the needy; in a legal sense, those who depend on charity or maintenance by the public.

I have observed the more public provisions are made for the poor the less they provide for themselves.

POOR in spirit, in a Scriptural sense, humble; contrite; abased in one's own sight by a sense of guilt. Matthew 5:3.

POOR'JOHN, noun A sort of fish [callarius] of the genus Gadus.

POOR'LY, adverb Without wealth; in indigence or want of the conveniences and comforts of life; as, to live poorly

1. With little or no success; with little growth, profit or advantage; as, wheat grows poorly on the Atlantic borders of New England; these men have succeeded poorly in business.

2. Meanly; without spirit.

Nor is their courage or their wealth so low,

That from his wars they poorly would retire.

3. Without excellence or dignity. He performs poorly in elevated characters.

POOR'LY, adjective Somewhat ill; indisposed; not in health; a common use of the word in America.

For three or four weeks past I have lost ground, having been poorly in health.

POOR'NESS, noun Destitution of property; indigence; poverty; want; as the poorness of the exchequer.

No less I hate him than the gates of hell,

That poorness can force an untruth to tell.

[In this sense, we generally use poverty.]

1. Meanness; lowness; want of dignity; as the poorness of language.

2. Want of spirit; as poorness and degeneracy of spirit.

3. Barrenness; sterility; as the poorness of land or soil.

4. Unproductiveness; want of the metallic substance; as the poorness of ore.

5. Smallness or bad quality; as the poorness of crops or of grain.

6. Want of value or importance; as the poorness of a plea.

7. Want of good qualities, or the proper qualities which constitute a thing good in its kind; as the poorness of a ship or of cloth.

8. Narrowness; barrenness; want of capacity.

Poorness of spirit, in a theological sense, true humility or contrition of heart on account of sin.

POOR-SPIR'ITED, adjective Of a mean spirit; cowardly; base.

POOR-SPIR'ITEDNESS, noun Meanness or baseness of spirit; cowardice.