Proverbs 22:23

For the Lord will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

Cross-references

Proverbs 22:16 warns oppressors of the poor will themselves come to want, similar to divine retribution for spoiling.

Proverbs 14:31 reinforces that oppressing the poor insults God, who defends them — the same divine advocacy.

Proverbs 21:7 warns that wicked robbery destroys the oppressors, mirroring God spoiling those who spoil the poor.

Psalm 35:1 Allusion

Psalm 35:1 opens with 'Plead my cause, O LORD' — the same language as God's action here for the oppressed.

Psalm 140:12 affirms the LORD maintains the cause of the afflicted — a direct echo of 'plead their cause'.

Isaiah 33:1 Parallel

In Isaiah 33:1, the destroyer will be destroyed — the same poetic justice as Proverbs: those who despoil will be despoiled.

Psalm 68:5 Parallel

Psalm 68:5 depicts God as defender of the fatherless and widows — the same character as the advocate for the poor here.

Psalm 43:1 Allusion

Psalm 43:1 repeats the plea 'plead my cause', aligning with God's role as defender of the afflicted.

Psalm 35:10 Parallel

Psalm 35:10 describes God delivering the poor from the one who spoils them — identical to the promise here.

Psalm 12:5 Parallel

Psalm 12:5 shows God rising to protect the poor from oppression, reinforcing the same divine promise.

Jeremiah 50:34 says God will 'throughly plead their cause' — using the same phrase to promise justice against Babylon.

In Jeremiah 51:36, God says 'I will plead your cause' — the same phrase used in Proverbs for defending the oppressed against Babylon.

In 1 Samuel 25:39, David blesses God for pleading his cause against Nabal — a direct example of the principle here.

1 Samuel 24:15 has David explicitly saying 'plead my cause' — the same phrase used here for God defending the poor.

In 1 Samuel 24:12, David asks the LORD to judge and avenge him, echoing the same trust in God to defend the wronged.

Micah 7:9 Allusion

In Micah 7:9, the repentant sinner trusts God to 'plead my cause' — echoing Proverbs' promise of divine advocacy for the oppressed.

In Habakkuk 2:8, those who plunder nations will themselves be plundered — mirroring Proverbs' reversal on oppressors.

Malachi 3:5 Parallel

In Malachi 3:5, God draws near to judge oppressors of the vulnerable — widows, orphans, workers — matching Proverbs' defense of the exploited.

1 Thessalonians 4:6 also teaches that the Lord punishes those who wrong others, directly echoing Proverbs' promise that God will take up the case of the exploited.

Amos 4:1 Parallel

Amos 4:1 condemns oppressing the poor and crushing the needy, directly aligning with the warning in Proverbs.

Isaiah 51:22 explicitly says God pleads the cause of His people, identical language to the Lord pleading for the poor.

Isaiah 17:14 describes sudden destruction for those who spoil, echoing God spoiling the spoilers in Proverbs.

Isaiah 3:13 Allusion

Isaiah 3:13 shows God rising to plead and judge, directly paralleling the Lord pleading the cause of the poor.

Psalm 146:7 Parallel

Psalm 146:7 declares God executes justice for the oppressed—identical theme of divine vindication.

Psalm 119:154 uses the same plea 'Plead my cause'—the psalmist asks for what God promises here.

Psalm 109:31 shows God standing at the needy’s right hand to save them—a parallel defense.

Psalm 103:6 Parallel

Psalm 103:6 affirms that the LORD works justice for all who are oppressed—the same divine action.

Job 36:6 Parallel

Job 36:6 states God gives the afflicted their right—directly parallel to pleading their cause.

Deuteronomy 24:17 extends the same protection to sojourners, fatherless, and widows—whom God defends.

Deuteronomy 24:15 shows the same principle: God hears the cry of the oppressed poor and holds the oppressor accountable.

In Exodus 22:23, God promises to hear the cry of mistreated widows and orphans — directly parallel to Proverbs' assurance that God pleads their cause.

Job 27:13 Parallel

Job 27:13 declares that oppressors receive a portion from God—echoing the retribution promised here.

Ezekiel 18:7 describes a righteous person who does not spoil or oppress, contrasting with the wicked who do.

Ezekiel 22:7 lists oppression of the fatherless and widow, the very injustice God defends against in Proverbs.

Job 20:19 Parallel

Job 20:19 describes the wicked crushing the poor—the very act that Proverbs says God will avenge.

Zechariah 7:10 commands not to oppress the vulnerable, reflecting the same concern for justice as Proverbs 22:23.

Exodus 3:9 Parallel

In Exodus 3:9, God hears the cry of oppressed Israel and acts — the same divine response to affliction promised in Proverbs.