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Proverbs 23:10
Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:

Ezekiel 22:29
The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.

oppress

Proverbs 21:16
The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.

Exodus 23:6
Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause.

Job 29:12-16
Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, andhim that had none to help him…

and do not crush the afflicted at the gate
The "gate" in ancient cities was not only a physical entry point but also a place where legal matters were settled and justice was administered. To "crush the afflicted at the gate" refers to the abuse of power in legal settings, where the poor and afflicted could be easily taken advantage of due to their lack of influence or resources. This phrase warns against corrupt practices and the perversion of justice, which were common issues addressed by the prophets, such as Amos and Isaiah. The gate was a symbol of justice and community leadership, and the call to maintain integrity there is a reminder of the responsibility to uphold righteousness. This connects to the New Testament teachings of Jesus, who often spoke against hypocrisy and the mistreatment of the marginalized, as seen in His rebukes of the Pharisees and His parables about justice and mercy (e.g.,Matthew 23:23).

“Do not rob a poor man because he is poor…” (Proverbs 22:22)

• The verse begins with a flat prohibition. God knows the temptation to take advantage of those who lack resources or influence.

• Scripture consistently portrays the poor as precious to the Lord. “Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him” (Proverbs 14:31).

• Theft here is not only the blatant taking of property; it includes unfair wages, rigged prices, or any scheme that siphons what little someone has (Leviticus 19:13;James 5:4).

• The motive—“because he is poor”—exposes a heart that preys on vulnerability. God sees that motive and condemns it.

• InExodus 22:25–27 the Lord warns Israel that if they lend to the poor they must not act like creditors charging interest. The same protective heart is on display inProverbs 22:22.

• Jesus amplifies the principle: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me” (Matthew 25:40). Abuse of the poor is ultimately an offense against Christ Himself.

“…and do not crush the afflicted at the gate,” (Proverbs 22:22)

• “The gate” was the courtroom of the ancient city, where elders judged disputes (Ruth 4:1–2). To “crush” at the gate means using legal power to grind down the already hurting.

• God requires justice without partiality. “Do not pervert justice; do not show favoritism to the poor or favoritism to the great” (Leviticus 19:15).

• Cross references underline His stance:

–Deuteronomy 27:19: “Cursed is he who denies justice to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow.”

–Isaiah 10:1–2: “Woe to those who enact unjust statutes… to deprive the oppressed of justice.”

• The Lord defends those who have no defender.Psalm 72:4 declares the Messiah “will vindicate the afflicted among the people; He will save the children of the needy and crush the oppressor.”

•James 2:1–7 rebukes early believers for favoring the rich in the assembly. The warning echoes Solomon: never side with power against the powerless.

Proverbs 22:22 calls for unwavering honesty and compassion. God forbids exploiting poverty or manipulating courts to harm the already afflicted. He watches over the vulnerable, and those who honor Him must do the same—treating the poor with integrity, ensuring justice at every gate, and reflecting the character of the righteous Judge who shows no partiality.

(22)Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate.--The place of business (Genesis 34:20) and of judgment (Deuteronomy 21:19;Amos 5:15). (Comp. the title, "the Sublime Porte.") This, with the followingProverbs 22:23, forms a tetrastich or verse of four lines, as do alsoProverbs 22:24-25. . . .