What actions lead to the "name of the wicked" rotting, as in Proverbs 10:7? Setting the Verse in Context Proverbs 10:7 gives us a striking contrast: “The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.”. Solomon has just begun a long section of short, paired proverbs (10:1–22:16) where he spells out, in rapid-fire fashion, what righteousness looks like—and what wickedness does. Every one-line contrast in the immediate verses paints a fresh brushstroke on the portrait of the “wicked” whose reputation decays. Understanding “The Name of the Wicked” In Scripture “name” stands for far more than a label. It represents character, reputation, influence, the story people remember after we’re gone (Ecclesiastes 7:1). When a name “rots,” it doesn’t simply fade; it becomes like a piece of fruit that turns sour and spreads an unpleasant odor. God’s Word shows us the actions that bring on that moral decay. Actions That Poison a Person’s Legacy Drawn from Proverbs 10 and reinforced by other passages, here are the behaviors that lead to a rotting name: • Violent or harmful speech – “The mouth of the wicked conceals violence.” (Proverbs 10:6) – “Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.” (Proverbs 10:18) • Persistent deceit – “The perverse tongue will be cut out.” (Proverbs 10:31) – “A lying tongue is but for a moment.” (Proverbs 12:19) • Willful rejection of God’s wisdom – “Fools despise wisdom and discipline.” (Proverbs 1:7) – “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” (Psalm 14:1) • Pride that resists correction – “Arrogance precedes destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18) – “He who hates reproof is stupid.” (Proverbs 12:1) • Injustice and oppression – “He who oppresses the poor taunts their Maker.” (Proverbs 14:31) – “Woe to those who enact unjust statutes… to rob the needy.” (Isaiah 10:1-2) • Greed and dishonest gain – “Wealth gained by fraud will dwindle.” (Proverbs 13:11) – “The wicked borrows and does not repay.” (Psalm 37:21) • Habitual violence or bloodshed – “The violence of the wicked will drag them away.” (Proverbs 21:7) – “All who take up the sword will perish by the sword.” (Matthew 26:52) • Sexual immorality – “He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself.” (Proverbs 6:32) – “God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.” (Hebrews 13:4) • Contempt for truth and justice in leadership – “Like a roaring lion… is a wicked ruler over poor people.” (Proverbs 28:15) – “The judges take bribes… therefore the people groan.” (Proverbs 29:4) The Contrast: A Life That Blesses Instead Immediately after each dark stroke, Solomon splashes light: • “Blessings are on the head of the righteous.” (Proverbs 10:6) • “He who walks in integrity walks securely.” (Proverbs 10:9) • “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life.” (Proverbs 10:11) When a person embraces God’s wisdom—loving truth, practicing justice, guarding the tongue, walking in humility—his or her name becomes a fragrance rather than a stench. Psalm 112:6 echoes the thought: “Surely the righteous will never be shaken; the righteous will be remembered forever.” Steering Our Own Name Toward Blessing • Choose truth over deceit; let every word line up with God’s. • Seek correction; treat rebuke as a friend, not an enemy. • Practice mercy and fairness, especially toward the vulnerable. • Pursue purity; flee anything that cheapens God’s gift of sexuality. • Walk humbly, recognizing every good thing comes from the Lord. As we cling to Christ, obey His Word, and depend on His Spirit, He shapes a legacy that outlives us, one that brings honor to His name—and, by grace, makes our own name a blessing instead of something that rots. |
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