Topical Bible: The Wicked are Compared to Grass on the Housetop

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Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical literature, the imagery of grass on the housetop is used to describe the fleeting and insubstantial nature of the wicked. This metaphor is primarily drawn from Psalm 129:6, which states, "May they be like grass on the rooftops, which withers before it can grow." . This verse captures the essence of the wicked's temporary success and ultimate demise, emphasizing their lack of deep roots and enduring substance.

Cultural and Historical Context

In ancient Israel, houses were often constructed with flat roofs made of mud and clay. These rooftops would occasionally sprout grass, especially after rain, but the grass would quickly wither due to the lack of soil depth and nutrients. This natural phenomenon provided a vivid illustration for the psalmist to convey the transient nature of the wicked. Unlike grass in fertile fields, which can grow and thrive, grass on the housetop is doomed to a short-lived existence.

Theological Implications

The comparison of the wicked to grass on the housetop serves as a reminder of the ultimate justice and sovereignty of God. While the wicked may appear to flourish temporarily, their prosperity is superficial and short-lived. This imagery reassures the faithful that God will not allow evil to endure indefinitely. The righteous can take comfort in knowing that the apparent success of the wicked is as fleeting as the grass that quickly withers.

Biblical Cross-References

The theme of the wicked's transience is echoed throughout Scripture. In Psalm 37:2, the psalmist writes, "For they will wither quickly like grass and fade like the green herb." . Similarly, Isaiah 40:6-8 contrasts the temporary nature of human life with the enduring word of God: "All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." .

Practical Application

For believers, the metaphor of grass on the housetop serves as a call to focus on eternal values rather than temporary, worldly success. It encourages Christians to root themselves deeply in their faith and in the teachings of Scripture, which provide lasting nourishment and stability. By doing so, they can avoid the fate of the wicked, whose lives are marked by superficiality and eventual ruin.

Conclusion

The biblical comparison of the wicked to grass on the housetop is a powerful reminder of the fleeting nature of evil and the enduring justice of God. Through this vivid imagery, Scripture calls believers to trust in God's ultimate plan and to live lives rooted in righteousness and faith.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Kings 19:26
Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the house tops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

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Concerning the Unity of God . On the Article, I Believe in one God ...
... says, If then God so clothes the grass of the ... And even this is still little compared
with the ... But Terebinthus, his disciple in this wicked error, inherited his ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture vi concerning the unity.htm

Treatise on Christ and Antichrist.
... him in flame, and shall consume the forest like grass." [1437]. 17. ... of the world."
[1560] But what saith He to the wicked? ... [1429] The nations are compared to a ...
/.../treatise on christ and antichrist.htm