Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished
This phrase emphasizes the certainty of divine justice. Throughout the Bible, God's justice is a recurring theme, as seen in passages like Psalm 37:28, which states that the Lord loves justice and will not forsake His saints. The assurance here is rooted in the character of God, who is holy and just. Historically, the Israelites understood this through the Law given to Moses, which outlined consequences for sin. The phrase also reflects the prophetic warnings found in books like Isaiah and Jeremiah, where the prophets declared that nations and individuals who acted wickedly would face God's judgment. This assurance serves as a moral compass, reminding believers that while human justice may fail, divine justice is inevitable.

but the offspring of the righteous will escape
This part of the verse highlights the blessings and protection afforded to the descendants of those who live righteously. In biblical context, righteousness is often associated with faithfulness to God's commandments and a life lived in accordance with His will. The promise of escape or deliverance for the offspring of the righteous can be seen in the covenantal blessings promised to Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 17:7). This reflects a broader biblical principle that God's favor and protection extend to the families of those who are faithful to Him. Culturally, this would resonate with the ancient Near Eastern understanding of family and legacy, where the actions of one generation could impact the next. This promise also points to the ultimate deliverance found in Jesus Christ, who is the fulfillment of righteousness and offers salvation to all who believe, thus ensuring spiritual escape from eternal punishment.

1. The Wicked
This term refers to those who live in opposition to God's laws and principles. In the context of Proverbs, the wicked are often contrasted with the righteous, highlighting their moral and spiritual failings.

2. The Righteous
These are individuals who live in accordance with God's will, striving to follow His commandments and live a life of integrity and faithfulness.

3. The Offspring
This term can be understood both literally, as the children of the righteous, and metaphorically, as the results or fruits of a righteous life.

4. Punishment
In the biblical context, punishment is often seen as a consequence of sin and disobedience to God. It serves as a form of divine justice.

5. Escape
This refers to the deliverance or protection that the righteous and their offspring receive from God, contrasting with the fate of the wicked.Divine Justice is Certain
God's justice is assured, and the wicked will face consequences for their actions. This should encourage believers to trust in God's timing and justice.

The Legacy of Righteousness
The righteous leave a legacy that benefits their offspring. This encourages believers to live righteously, knowing it impacts future generations.

God's Protection for the Righteous
The promise of escape for the righteous and their offspring highlights God's protective nature. Believers can find comfort in God's provision and care.

The Importance of Righteous Living
Living a righteous life is not only about personal salvation but also about influencing and protecting those around us.

Contrast Between Wickedness and Righteousness
This verse serves as a reminder of the stark contrast between the outcomes of wickedness and righteousness, urging believers to choose the path of righteousness.(21) Though hand join in hand.--For this sense comp. Isaiah 28:15, sqq. The passage may also mean "hand to hand," i.e., from one generation to another; or, what is most probable, "the hand to it," i.e., assuredly. For the general sense of the verse, comp. Psalms 37

Verse 21. - Though hand join in hand (Proverbs 16:5); literally, hand to hand, which may be taken variously. The Septuagint and some other versions take the phrase in the sense of unjust violence: "He who layeth hand upon hand unjustly;" Vulgate, manus in manu, "hand in hand," which is as enigmatical as the Hebrew. Some Jewish interpreters consider it an adverbial expression, signifying simply "soon." Some moderns take it to mean "sooner or later," as the Italian da mano in mano, or, in succession of one generation after another (Gesenius, Wordsworth). Others deem it a form of adjuration, equivalent to "I hereby attest, my hand upon it!" And this seems the most probable interpretation; assuredly the Divine justice shall be satisfied by the punishment of the wicked (comp. Psalm 37.). The Authorized Version gives a very good sense: "Though hands be plighted in faith, and men may associate together in evil, the wicked shall not go unpunished" (comp. Isaiah 28:15). St. Gregory ('Mor. in Job,' lib. 25.) takes a very different view: "Hand in hand the wicked shall not be innocent;" for hand is wont to he joined with hand when it rests at ease, and no laborious employment exercises it. As though he were saying, "Even when the hand rests from sinful deeds, yet the wicked, by reason of his thoughts, is not innocent" (Oxford transl.). This exposition is, of course, divorced from the context. The seed of the righteous. This is not "the posterity of the righteous," but is a periphrasis for "the righteous," as in Psalm 24:6; Psalm 112:2, "the generation of the righteous" (comp. Isaiah 65:23). The climax which some see here - as if the author intended to say, "Not only the good themselves, but their descendants also shall be delivered" - is non-existent and unnecessary. Septuagint, "But he that soweth righteousness shall receive a sure reward," which is another rendering of the second member of ver. 18. Shall be delivered; i.e. in the time of God's wrath (vers. 4, 23; Proverbs 2:22).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Be assured
יָ֣ד (yāḏ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

that the wicked
רָּ֑ע (rā‘)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

will not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

go unpunished,
יִנָּ֣קֶה (yin·nā·qeh)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5352: To be, clean, to be bare, extirpated

but the offspring
וְזֶ֖רַע (wə·ze·ra‘)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2233: Seed, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity

of the righteous
צַדִּיקִ֣ים (ṣad·dî·qîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 6662: Just, righteous

will escape.
נִמְלָֽט׃ (nim·lāṭ)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4422: To be smooth, to escape, to release, rescue, to bring forth young, emit sparks


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 11:21 Most certainly the evil man will not (Prov. Pro Pr)