Proverbs 11:21

21 1Be assured, 2an evil person will not go unpunished, but 3the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.

Proverbs 11:21 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 11:21

[Though] hand [join] in hand, the wicked shall not be
unpunished
Though they give the hand to one another, unite in their counsels, enter into combinations, confederacies, and strict alliances, and join all their force and strength together; or though with both hands, with all their might and main, endeavour to secure themselves, yet they shall not go unpunished. This may be exemplified in the kings of the earth, that will join each other, and gather their armies together, to make war against Christ; when they will be conquered, taken, and slain, ( Revelation 19:19-21 ) . Jarchi interprets it, "from hand to hand", and explains it thus; from the hand of God into their hand shall come the reward of their work, and shall not go unpunished: to which may be added, even though there may be a succession of parents and children, and their substance may be handed down from the one to the other, yet at last just punishments will take place. To which is opposed, but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered;
these are the seed of the church in all successive ages; the seed that are accounted of by the Lord for a generation; particularly the remnant of the woman's seed, that keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ; against whom the dragon, the old serpent the devil, was wroth, and went forth to make war, in order utterly to destroy them; but they escaped his hands, were delivered from him, and preserved by the power and grace of God, as a seed to serve him, ( Revelation 12:17 ) .

Proverbs 11:21 In-Context

19 Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live, but he who pursues evil will die.
20 Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the LORD, but those of blameless ways are his delight.
21 Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
22 Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good; the expectation of the wicked in wrath.

Cross References 3

  • 1. Proverbs 16:5
  • 2. Proverbs 12:7; [Psalms 37:2, 9]; See Isaiah 28:15-18
  • 3. See Psalms 112:2
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.