Just in case you're unsure of this word in the KJV, I'll start with the definition of "withholdeth". It is the old English for the modern word 'withhold'. It's main meaning is to hold back (something from someone who wants it); in other words, to keep or hold something to oneself and to refuse to give or grant it to others. In some contexts, it can instead mean to restrain or control oneself from an action or expression
The morality, and ethics (a recommended list of right behaviours to follow; a good 'code of conduct'; standards for good procedure or actions to do when in particular situations), of withholding anything depends on what it is, who holds or controls it, who lacks it, the situation, and whether harm, loss, death, psychological suffering, or physical sickness to anyone might result from not giving a person access to it. So, sometimes it is not wrong &selfish to withhold something just because someone else demands it or feels entitled to it
Proverbs 11:26 gives an example of when it is definitely bad to withhold something of value to others who lack it. It is also a true principle because it accurately describes real situations that do happen
Example: Joseph caused corn and grain or other preservable crops to be collected & stored as a resource for a future expected famine ( Genesis 41:46-49). Some bible translators were wrong to use the word "hoard" in Prov 11:26 because it means to overstock, and Joseph certainly did collect much more than needed. He could do that without depriving anyone of food at that time because Egypt's land & farmers produced an oversupply. When the famine came the corn was sold, likely at a reasonable price, and distributed fairly. So he was blessed with popularity, respect, obedience, honor & memorial ( Genesis 41:54-57 + 45:16 + 50:26; Exodus 1:8) because he did not withhold corn from people at risk of starvation. In contrast, Joseph Stalin starved Ukrainians in the 1932&'33 Holodomor, a first ever man-made famine
Just in case you're unsure of this word in the KJV, I'll start with the definition of "withholdeth". It is the old English for the modern word 'withhold'. It's main meaning is to hold back (something from someone who wants it); in other words, to keep or hold something to oneself and to refuse to give or grant it to others. In some contexts, it can instead mean to restrain or control oneself from an action or expression
The morality, and ethics (a recommended list of right behaviours to follow; a good 'code of conduct'; standards for good procedure or actions to do when in particular situations), of withholding anything depends on what it is, who holds or controls it, who lacks it, the situation, and whether harm, loss, death, psychological suffering, or physical sickness to anyone might result from not giving a person access to it. So, sometimes it is not wrong &selfish to withhold something just because someone else demands it or feels entitled to it
Proverbs 11:26 gives an example of when it is definitely bad to withhold something of value to others who lack it. It is also a true principle because it accurately describes real situations that do happen
Example: Joseph caused corn and grain or other preservable crops to be collected & stored as a resource for a future expected famine ( Genesis 41:46-49). Some bible translators were wrong to use the word "hoard" in Prov 11:26 because it means to overstock, and Joseph certainly did collect much more than needed. He could do that without depriving anyone of food at that time because Egypt's land & farmers produced an oversupply. When the famine came the corn was sold, likely at a reasonable price, and distributed fairly. So he was blessed with popularity, respect, obedience, honor & memorial ( Genesis 41:54-57 + 45:16 + 50:26; Exodus 1:8) because he did not withhold corn from people at risk of starvation. In contrast, Joseph Stalin starved Ukrainians in the 1932&'33 Holodomor, a first ever man-made famine
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