Difference between revisions of "Riches"

<p> ''''' rich´ez ''''' , ''''' rich´iz ''''' : Used to render the following [[Hebrew]] and Greek words: (1) <i> ''''' ‛Ōsher ''''' </i> , which should, perhaps, be considered the most general word, as it is the most often used (&nbsp; [[Genesis]] 31:16; &nbsp;Ecclesiastes 4:8; &nbsp;Jeremiah 9:23 ). It looks at riches simply as riches, without regard to any particular feature. Alongside this would go the Greek πλοῦτος , <i> ''''' ploútos ''''' </i> (&nbsp;Matthew 13:22; &nbsp;Ephesians 2:7 ). (2) <i> ''''' Ḥōṣen ''''' </i> (&nbsp;Proverbs 27:24; &nbsp;Jeremiah 20:5 ), <i> ''''' nekhāṣı̄m ''''' </i> and <i> ''''' rekhūsh ''''' </i> (&nbsp;Genesis 36:7; &nbsp;Daniel 11:13 , &nbsp;Daniel 11:14 the King James Version) look at riches as things accumulated, collected, amassed. (3) <i> ''''' Hōn ''''' </i> looks upon riches as earnings, the fruit of toil (&nbsp;Psalm 119:14; &nbsp;Proverbs 8:18; &nbsp;Ezekiel 27:27 ). (4) <i> ''''' Hāmōn ''''' </i> regards riches in the aspect of being much, this coming from the original idea of noise, through the idea of a multitude as making the noise, the idea of many, or much, being in multitude (&nbsp;Psalm 37:16 the King James Version). (5) <i> ''''' Ḥayil ''''' </i> regards riches as power (&nbsp;Psalm 62:1-12 :19; &nbsp; Isaiah 8:4; &nbsp;Isaiah 10:14 ). (6) <i> ''''' Yithrāh ''''' </i> means "running over," and so presents riches as abundance (&nbsp;Jeremiah 48:36 the King James Version). Along with this may be placed <i> ''''' shūa‛ ''''' </i> , which has the idea of breadth, and so of abundance (&nbsp;Job 36:19 the King James Version). (7) <i> ''''' Ḳinyān ''''' </i> regards riches as a creation, something made (&nbsp;Psalm 104:24; compare margin); (8) (χρῆμα , <i> ''''' chrḗma ''''' </i> ) looks at riches as useful (&nbsp;Mark 10:23 f parallel). Like the New Testament, the Apoe uses only <i> ''''' ploutos ''''' </i> and <i> ''''' chrēma ''''' </i> . </p> <p> Material riches are regarded by the [[Scriptures]] as neither good nor bad in themselves, but only according as they are properly or improperly used. They are transitory (&nbsp;Proverbs 27:24 ); they are not to be trusted in (&nbsp;Mark 10:23; &nbsp;Luke 18:24; &nbsp;1 Timothy 6:17 ); they are not to be gloried in (&nbsp;Jeremiah 9:23 ); the heart is not to be set on them (&nbsp;Psalm 62:10 ); but they are made by God (&nbsp;Psalm 104:24 ), and come from God (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 29:12 ); and they are the crown of the wise (&nbsp;Proverbs 14:24 ). Material riches are used to body forth for us the most precious and glorious realities of the spiritual realm. See, e.g., &nbsp;Romans 9:23; &nbsp;Romans 11:33; &nbsp;Ephesians 2:7; &nbsp;Philippians 4:19; &nbsp;Colossians 1:27 . Compare [[Mammon]]; [[Treasure]]; [[Wealth]] . </p>

<p> (the rendering in the A.V. of several Heb. and Gr. words, especially '''''עשֶׁר''''' , '''''Πλοῦτος''''' ). The wealth of a pastoral people, such as the Hebrews in the patriarchal age, consisted chiefly in flocks and herds. Hence we find it assigned as a cause of the separation of [[Esau]] and Jacob that "their riches were more than they might dwell together; and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them because of their cattle" (&nbsp;Genesis 36:8). It was not until the reign of [[Solomon]] that the [[Jews]] possessed any abundance of the precious metals; and as the nation never became commercial, its rich men must in all ages have been the great land holders. Throughout the East the holders of land have ever been remarkable for exacting very disproportionate shares of the profit from the actual cultivators of the soil, and this is the reason why we find "the rich" so often and so severely denounced in Scripture. Riches is frequently used in a metaphorical sense for intellectual endowments, and for the gifts and graces of God's [[Holy]] Spirit, which constitute the treasure to be "laid up in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal." </p>