Egyptian Wisdom Meets the Bible: Parallels Between Amenemope and Proverbs

It often comes as a surprise to people when they realize that there are striking similarities between the content found in biblical wisdom books and certain ancient texts from surrounding cultures. Although Scripture is unique in its monotheistic worldview, there are some interesting overlaps in the Bible’s wisdom writings with other wisdom sources from polytheistic cultures. As Christians, what are we to make of these similarities?

For our purposes, we can illustrate this phenomenon by comparing Proverbs with an Egyptian document called The Instruction of Amenemope, a collection of wisdom sayings that are clearly polytheistic in nature. There is a lot of thematic overlap in both. For example, both teach the concept that wealth is not everything. They also both admonish us to practice integrity and fairness in daily transactions, caution us against the fleeting nature of riches, and emphasize what we could call contentment. Here are some notable examples.

Wealth Is Not Everything

Better is poverty in the hand of the god,
than wealth in the storehouse;
Better is bread with a happy heart,
than wealth with vexation (Amenemope 9.5-9).

Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity
than a rich man who is crooked in his ways (Proverbs 28:6).

Amenemope touches on the importance of being “in the hand of the god” rather than pursuing money. Proverbs affirms something quite similar, describing the person of integrity—though poor—as better off than a crooked person who happens to be wealthy. While we as Christians believe that Proverbs is inspired by God, here we see wisdom statements that match closely with a non-biblical, Egyptian text. This hints that all humans, being made in the image of God, are capable of observing truths about life. Amenemope’s words may be thoroughly polytheistic in context, but he has stumbled upon a principle that aligns with God’s design. Even the unbeliever can often observe that wealth is not everything in life.

Integrity and Fairness in Transactions

Do not remove the scales nor alter the weights
Nor diminish the fractions of the measure;
Do not desire a measure of the fields,
Nor neglect those of the treasury (Amenemope 17.18-21).

A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
but a just weight is his delight (Proverbs 11:1).

Honesty in business is another recurring topic in wisdom literature, both Egyptian and Israelite. In Amenemope, we see a stern reminder not to tamper with scales, weights, or measures—which was basically an ancient method of cheating. The Book of Proverbs echoes that sentiment by describing dishonest scales as something God detests, while just weights bring Him delight. Both sets of writings warn us to treat others fairly in trade, reminding us that we should seek integrity in our daily lives. There is certainly a pragmatic reason to practice integrity, but ultimately both cultures (Egyptian and Israelite) also believed that one would be judged or rewarded in eternity based on their dealings here in life. So, even Egyptian wisdom writings seem to emphasize not just living for the here and now.

Caution in Pursuing the Temporality of Wealth

Do not strain to seek excess when your possessions are secure.
If riches are brought to you by robbery,
they will not stay the night in your possession.
When the day dawns they are no longer in your house.
Their place can be seen but they are no longer there.
The earth opened its mouth to crush and swallow them
and plunged them in dust.
They make themselves a great hole, as large as they are.
And sink themselves in the underworld.
They make themselves wings like geese,
and fly to heaven (Amenemope 9.14-10.5).

Do not toil to acquire wealth;
be discerning enough to desist.
When your eyes light on it, it is gone,
for suddenly it sprouts wings,
flying like an eagle toward heaven (Proverbs 23:4-5).

These two passages show the futility of obsessing over wealth. In Amenemope, there’s a vivid image of riches taking flight like geese. Proverbs offers a similar picture of wealth sprouting wings like an eagle. Both highlight the fleeting nature of money.

If it’s secured unfairly, it might disappear by morning. Even when gained honestly, it can slip through your fingers before you realize it. This mirrors a universal truth: we’re not as in control of our resources as we might believe, and piling up wealth at the expense of righteousness is a fool’s errand. Such observations are a window into the common grace that allows many cultures to glimpse bits and pieces of wisdom embedded in God’s creation.

Concluding Thoughts and Takeaways

At this point, you might be thinking, “Why is this significant?” Well, the Bible itself praises Solomon’s wisdom by comparing it to that of the Egyptians:

“And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore, so that Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.”

1 Kings 4:29-30

If Egyptian wisdom was unremarkable, that compliment wouldn’t be particularly noteworthy. By placing Solomon’s wisdom above the esteemed and sophisticated wisdom traditions of Egypt, Scripture underscores how exceptional his God-given insight truly was. But it also acknowledges that Egypt had a reputation for deep, respectable wisdom. They weren’t intellectual lightweights in the ancient world. They had made some valid observations!

Because of the similarities between Egyptian wisdom literature and biblical wisdom books, some scholars argue that Israel borrowed or appropriated its wisdom traditions from Egypt. While no one can deny that some cultural influence could exist, it’s not necessarily the only explanation. You could just as plausibly say that both nations independently observed the same truths in God’s creation. After all, each day, Egyptians watched the sun rise in the east and set in the west, just like the Israelites did. Each group could observe the changing of seasons, the patterns of sowing and reaping, and the pitfalls of deceitful dealing. As the Book of Proverbs itself teaches, “Go to the ant… consider her ways, and be wise” (Prov 6:6-8). One can glean wisdom by simply watching and reflecting on God’s design in the natural world. That’s part of the genius of God’s design in creation!

The principle of “natural revelation” or “general revelation” teaches that God created the world in such a way that it bears His fingerprints. Anyone with eyes to see can glean some level of wisdom by studying creation. So it shouldn’t shock us to learn that people outside the covenant community of Israel could articulate truths that align with biblical teaching.

God’s common grace allows even non-believers to discover and express certain principles that, in practice, can be quite beneficial. The classic example often cited is Benjamin Franklin’s adage, “A penny saved is a penny earned.” That’s good advice. It encourages prudent money management. Franklin wasn’t a devout Christian in the sense that we would typically define it, but he observed the patterns of cause and effect in daily life and expressed a wise maxim.

Yet, as important as natural wisdom or common sense can be, we must keep in mind its limitations. Human observation is always subject to error, bias, and the distorting effects of sin. We can perceive something clearly, yet still interpret it incorrectly. Sometimes, our pride or predispositions cloud our vision. That is precisely why Scripture remains the ultimate, infallible source of wisdom: it is the direct revelation of the Creator, free from the distortions of human fallenness. Yes, we can learn valuable lessons from Amenemope, Ben Franklin, secular psychologists, or even a well-spoken motivational speaker on the internet—but when push comes to shove, the only sure foundation of truth is God’s Word.

Psalm 119:99 captures this idea beautifully: “I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation.”

This is not an arrogant statement; it’s a humble recognition that divine revelation surpasses any human-created teaching. When we base our lives on the principles of Scripture, we stand on the unshakable truth that originates in the mind of God Himself. That doesn’t mean we should ignore common grace insights that come from elsewhere—only that we filter everything through the lens of God’s revealed Word.