His Own Conceit

Proverbs 18:11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit. 

This verse parallels the previous one (v.10), but offers a contrast rather than a continuation. The “rich man” (Hebrew: ‛âshı̂yr) has accumulated wealth and earthly resources. His wealth, in his mind, functions like a “strong city”- a metaphor for security, defence, and independence.

In the ancient world, walled cities were considered the safest places from enemies and disasters. A man without a city was vulnerable; a city meant safety. However, this trust is misplaced. While the righteous find refuge in the name of the LORD (v.10), the rich trust in their money and possessions as their source of safety.

A “high wall” suggests complete protection, something that no enemy can scale. The key phrase is: “in his own conceit” – meaning, in his imagination, in his own eyes, or in his self-delusion. In reality, wealth cannot guarantee protection from life’s ultimate dangers, sickness, death, divine judgment, or inner emptiness.

This is a warning against prideful self-reliance. The rich man builds mental and emotional walls of confidence around his money, believing it to be impenetrable, yet it’s only secure in his own imagination.

Wealth is not inherently evil, but it becomes dangerous when it replaces God as one’s source of hope. Trust in wealth can be subtle; it doesn’t require arrogance, just misplaced confidence in “what I can control.” True safety is not in what you possess, but in whom you trust.

1 Timothy 6:17 warns those who are rich that they not trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God. Wealth can tempt us into self-reliance, slowly replacing our prayer life and dependency on God. Build your confidence not in what you own, but in who owns you.