Proverbs 10:25 kjv
As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.
Proverbs 10:25 nkjv
When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.
Proverbs 10:25 niv
When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.
Proverbs 10:25 esv
When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous is established forever.
Proverbs 10:25 nlt
When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away,
but the godly have a lasting foundation.
Proverbs 10 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 1:4-6 | "The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away… The Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish." | Wicked are like fleeting chaff; righteous endure. |
| Job 27:19-21 | "He lies down rich, but will do so no more; he opens his eyes, and all is gone... A tempest carries him away in the night." | Sudden destruction of wicked's prosperity. |
| Psa 37:10 | "A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found." | Wicked's disappearance. |
| Psa 73:19-20 | "How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! Like a dream when one awakens, so, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise their fantasies." | Sudden, complete ruin of the wicked. |
| Isa 29:5 | "But the multitude of your foes will be like fine dust, and the multitude of the ruthless like flying chaff. And in an instant, suddenly..." | Wicked vanquished like dust/chaff. |
| Isa 17:13 | "The nations rumble like the roaring of mighty waters, but he will rebuke them, and they will flee far away, driven like chaff on the hills before the wind, like whirling dust before a gale." | Nations opposing God driven away like dust. |
| Nah 1:3 | "The Lord has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet." | God's power in a storm; implies judgment. |
| Jer 23:19 | "Behold, the whirlwind of the Lord goes forth in fury—a whirling tempest; it shall fall grievously on the head of the wicked." | Lord's whirlwind of judgment on wicked. |
| Prov 12:7 | "The wicked are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous will stand." | Wicked perish, righteous house stands. |
| Prov 10:30 | "The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not dwell in the land." | Righteous endure, wicked displaced. |
| Prov 11:4 | "Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death." | Righteousness provides security in judgment. |
| Matt 7:24-25 | "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock... and it did not fall." | Building life on solid foundation (Christ). |
| 1 Cor 3:11 | "For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." | Christ as the ultimate secure foundation. |
| Eph 2:19-20 | "Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone." | Believers built on Christ's foundation. |
| Heb 11:10 | "For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God." | Righteous seek an enduring, divine foundation. |
| Psa 11:3 | "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" | Emphasizes the importance of foundations. |
| Psa 46:1-3 | "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble... Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea..." | God is the refuge, unshakeable strength. |
| Psa 125:1 | "Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever." | Trust in Lord brings immovable stability. |
| Isa 28:16 | "Therefore thus says the Lord God, 'Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation: 'Whoever believes in him will not be in haste.'" | God lays a sure foundation (Christ). |
| Matt 16:18 | "...on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." | Church founded on Christ, endures. |
| 2 Tim 2:19 | "But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: 'The Lord knows those who are his,' and, 'Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.'" | God's foundation is firm and sealed. |
| 1 Pet 2:6 | "For it stands in Scripture: 'Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.'" | Christ, the precious cornerstone for believers. |
| Mal 4:1 | "'For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze,' says the Lord of hosts, 'so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.'" | Wicked utterly consumed by coming judgment. |
| Psa 92:7 | "Though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever;" | Wicked's fleeting prosperity precedes eternal ruin. |
| Phil 1:6 | "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." | God ensures the enduring security of His people. |
Proverbs 10 verses
Proverbs 10 25 Meaning
Proverbs 10:25 contrasts the transient and destructive end of the wicked with the secure and enduring stability of the righteous. It illustrates that fleeting worldly success or power for the ungodly ultimately vanishes like a swift, destructive storm, leaving them annihilated. In stark opposition, the righteous, whose lives are rooted in God's ways, possess an unwavering and perpetual security, likened to an unshakeable, eternal foundation, which remains firm even amidst chaos and judgment.
Proverbs 10 25 Context
Proverbs chapter 10 marks a distinct section within the book of Proverbs, beginning a large collection of individual, contrasting proverbs (chapters 10-22:16). Unlike the longer, connected discourses of chapters 1-9, these verses are primarily couplets that set in sharp opposition the characteristics and destinies of two main archetypes: the righteous/wise and the wicked/foolish. Proverbs 10:25 perfectly embodies this structure, directly contrasting the transient fate of the wicked with the eternal stability of the righteous. The chapter as a whole reiterates themes of consequences: the blessing of diligence, the danger of dishonesty, the value of integrity, and the ultimate judgment that awaits those who choose good or evil. Historically and culturally, such proverbs served as foundational ethical and theological instruction, preparing individuals for life by imparting divine wisdom, observing God's consistent principles in the world, and illustrating that prosperity and destruction are linked to one's moral character and relationship with God. The imagery of a whirlwind would have been potent, representing a sudden, overwhelming force of nature familiar in the arid climate, often symbolizing divine wrath or swift disaster.
Proverbs 10 25 Word analysis
- When: The Hebrew particle kĕ- (כְּ), translated as "when," indicates immediacy and suddenness. It points to a precise moment of a forceful event.
- the whirlwind: The Hebrew word is sûphâ (סוּפָה). It denotes a violent storm, tempest, or tornado. In biblical literature, this imagery frequently represents divine judgment, swift destruction, or overwhelming power, often associated with God's manifest presence or wrath (e.g., in Nah 1:3; Job 9:17; Isa 66:15).
- passes: From the Hebrew verb ‘ābar (עָבַר), meaning "to pass over," "pass through," or "go away." Here, it signifies the swift movement of the destructive storm, and by extension, the rapid disappearance of that which it strikes.
- the wicked: The Hebrew term is rāshā‘ (רָשָׁע). It describes a person who is actively evil, morally wrong, ungodly, guilty, or unrighteous. This individual is fundamentally characterized by a departure from God's standards and will.
- is no more: The Hebrew ’ênennû (אֵינֶנּוּ) is a strong emphatic negation, meaning "he is not," or "he does not exist." It conveys complete cessation of being or influence, an utter vanishing. It emphasizes the absolute and final end of the wicked, suggesting both physical demise and the utter futility of their legacy.
- but: The Hebrew waw conjunction (וְ), functioning here as a strong adversative, introducing a stark contrast to what precedes. It signals a complete reversal of fate.
- the righteous: The Hebrew word is tsaddîq (צַדִּיק), meaning "just," "upright," or "righteous." This describes one who adheres to God's standards, walks in His ways, and is in right standing with Him, characterized by integrity and faithfulness.
- has an everlasting: Implied possessive and part of the phrase ‘ôlām (עוֹלָם), meaning "eternity," "forever," "perpetual," or "long duration." In this context, it emphasizes unending or continuous security and stability, going beyond mere temporal survival to permanent existence.
- foundation: The Hebrew word is yĕsôd (יְסוֹד), referring to a base, ground, or a firm underlying structure upon which something is built. It implies stability, security, and unshakeable support. When combined with ‘ôlām (everlasting), it paints a picture of ultimate, perpetual security, rooted in something profoundly enduring.
Words-group analysis:
- "When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more": This phrase paints a vivid picture of sudden, inevitable divine judgment. The swift, destructive force of the "whirlwind" signifies an overwhelming and inescapable end for "the wicked." Their non-existence (’ênennû) highlights their ephemerality and the ultimate futility of a life lived apart from God, suggesting a total eradication of their presence and influence. This illustrates a universal principle of divine justice: what is not aligned with God's enduring truth cannot ultimately endure.
- "but the righteous has an everlasting foundation": This phrase directly contrasts the previous one, presenting the diametrically opposed fate of "the righteous." The "everlasting foundation" speaks of absolute and perpetual security, stability, and endurance. This foundation is not self-made but implicitly derives from God's character, His promises, and the unwavering nature of His truth. It suggests that while worldly circumstances may rage, those aligned with God are anchored to a reality that transcends time and temporary turmoil, promising permanent blessedness and security.
Proverbs 10 25 Bonus section
The concept of "foundation" (yĕsôd) is critically important in biblical theology, especially concerning stability and permanence. In the New Testament, this metaphor often refers directly to Jesus Christ (1 Cor 3:11) as the sole, true foundation for the Church and for individual salvation. This echoes the Old Testament understanding that God Himself is the ultimate stable foundation (Isa 28:16). Thus, the righteous person's "everlasting foundation" is implicitly their reliance on and relationship with God, finding its fullest realization and security in Christ. The "whirlwind" motif also appears throughout the Old Testament as a vehicle for God's presence (Ezek 1:4), His judgments (Job 27:21), and His swift actions. This amplifies the sense that the wicked's end is not accidental but orchestrated by divine providence. The wisdom literature frequently uses natural phenomena to illustrate spiritual truths, connecting observable events to ultimate spiritual realities.
Proverbs 10 25 Commentary
Proverbs 10:25 delivers a foundational truth about divine justice and the ultimate destinies of humanity, using powerful, contrasting imagery. The "whirlwind" serves as a metaphor for a swift, overwhelming judgment or calamitous event. It could represent a sudden downfall, a devastating illness, unexpected poverty, or divine wrath itself. For the "wicked," defined by their opposition to God and His ways, such a moment signals their absolute and complete annihilation or removal—they are utterly "no more." Their fleeting existence and their earthly gains prove to be transient, swept away as if they never truly stood.
Conversely, the "righteous" possess an "everlasting foundation." This isn't just about temporal safety but speaks to a fundamental, spiritual stability rooted in their relationship with God. Their lives, built on the solid ground of divine wisdom, obedience, and truth, remain secure amidst any "whirlwind" or upheaval. This foundation is impervious to the forces that destroy the wicked because its source is eternal—it is God Himself, His covenant promises, and the enduring principles of His kingdom. The proverb thus reassures believers that their ultimate security does not depend on worldly fortunes or fleeting power but on a steadfast commitment to God, which secures a permanent place in His divine order. This promise speaks to both temporal sustenance in life's storms and eternal security beyond death.
- Example 1: Think of a company built on dishonest practices; when economic storms hit, it crumbles, and its fraudulent leaders are exposed and vanish from power.
- Example 2: Consider a person whose character is integrity and generosity; even if they face trials, their good name and righteous stand persist, respected and remembered long after the difficult period passes.