What is the meaning of Proverbs 11:21? Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished Solomon opens with an iron-clad guarantee: no matter how things look in the moment, God’s justice stands. • “Be assured” underscores certainty; His verdict is already written (cf. Proverbs 16:5). • “The wicked” describes those who stubbornly reject God’s ways—whether violent criminals (Psalm 37:12–13) or the everyday scoffer (Proverbs 21:24). • “Will not go unpunished” reminds us that judgment may be delayed but never denied. Just as Galatians 6:7 teaches, “God is not mocked; whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” • This assurance steadies believers when evil prospers temporarily (Psalm 73:17-19). God’s courtroom has no hung juries; every sin finds its sentence, either borne by the sinner or satisfied at the cross (Romans 2:5-6). But the offspring of the righteous will escape The second line balances justice with hope, revealing God’s covenant kindness to those who walk with Him. • “Offspring” points beyond the individual to family and future generations, echoing Exodus 20:6: God shows love “to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.” • “Of the righteous” refers to people made right with God and living with integrity (Proverbs 20:7). Their faith leaves a protective legacy. • “Will escape” speaks of deliverance from the judgment aimed at the wicked. Psalm 37:25-28 illustrates this: “I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread… the LORD protects the blameless.” Practical implications: ‣ A parents’ daily obedience sets up blessing for sons and daughters. ‣ Children still choose their paths, yet God honors the spiritual inheritance of a godly home (2 Timothy 1:5). ‣ Ultimate rescue is found in Christ, where believers—from every generation—are “rescued from the coming wrath” (1 Thessalonians 1:10). summary Proverbs 11:21 declares two unshakable realities: God unfailingly punishes unrepentant wickedness, and He faithfully shields the descendants of those who walk in righteousness. Evil never slips through the cracks of divine justice, while godly living leaves a legacy of mercy that outlasts a lifetime. |
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