Proverbs 11:21 kjv

Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

Proverbs 11:21 nkjv

Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished; But the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.

Proverbs 11:21 niv

Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free.

Proverbs 11:21 esv

Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.

Proverbs 11:21 nlt

Evil people will surely be punished,
but the children of the godly will go free.

Proverbs 11 verses

Proverbs 11 21 Meaning

Proverbs 11:21 declares a fundamental principle of divine justice: the wicked, even when they act in unity or make pacts, will inevitably face punishment. Conversely, the descendants of the righteous will certainly be delivered and preserved. It emphasizes God's sovereign hand in judgment and deliverance, ensuring that ultimate outcomes align with character.

Proverbs 11 21 Context

Proverbs chapter 11 is a rich tapestry of contrasts, repeatedly juxtaposing the character, actions, and ultimate destinies of the righteous and the wicked. Themes such as integrity versus perverseness, generosity versus stinginess, humility versus pride, and diligence versus idleness are woven throughout, consistently showing that God's justice prevails. Verse 21 acts as a powerful summation of these themes, particularly reinforcing the concept of divine retribution for evil and the secure future for those who align with God's wisdom.

In the historical and cultural context of ancient Israel, alliances and collective strength were vital for survival and influence. "Hand join in hand" often implied forming a compact, a pledge of solidarity, or a confederation, offering a perceived shield against external threats or internal accountability. This proverb directly confronts that notion, stating that even the most robust human conspiracies or self-assuring pacts among the wicked are powerless before divine judgment. It counters the ancient human tendency to despair when evil appears to triumph through unity or might (e.g., Ps 73) by asserting the ultimate and unchallengeable authority of God’s moral order.

Proverbs 11 21 Word analysis

• Though hand join in hand (אִם־יָ֣ד לְיָ֣ד 'im-yāḏ lĕyāḏ):

  • Literally: "If hand to hand."
  • Idiomatic meaning: Signifies forming a compact, alliance, solidarity, or firm pledge of mutual support, especially in a common endeavor. It can imply swearing an oath by clasping hands (similar to surety in Prov 6:1; 17:18), or simply united, collective action. In this context, it depicts the wicked conspiring, uniting their efforts, or making solemn pledges among themselves for mutual protection. This unity, however formidable it may seem to human eyes, holds no sway with God.

• the wicked (רָשָׁע rāšā‘):

  • Meaning: Morally evil, guilty, ungodly, perverse. This term describes not merely someone who commits isolated wrong acts, but a person whose life and character are fundamentally hostile to God’s law and righteousness.

• shall not be unpunished (לֹ֣א יִנָּקֶה lōʾ yinnāqe):

  • Literally: "Shall not be declared innocent" or "shall not escape clean/unblemished."
  • The verb 'nāqâ' means to be clean, innocent, or cleared of guilt. Its negation here in the Niphal (passive) form is a strong assertion: despite any human efforts, justifications, or perceived impunity, the wicked will absolutely face a reckoning and punishment. There is no escaping divine justice for their deeds.

• but the seed (וְזֶ֖רַע wəzera‘):

  • Meaning: Offspring, descendants, posterity.
  • This term emphasizes a generational blessing or curse. The effects of righteousness, unlike the futility of wickedness, are portrayed as enduring beyond the individual, influencing their future lineage.

• of the righteous (צַדִּיק ṣaddîq):

  • Meaning: Just, upright, virtuous, righteous.
  • Describes individuals who live in accordance with God's will, whose actions and character reflect divine wisdom and moral purity. They strive to honor God in their ways.

• shall be delivered (נִמְלָֽט nimlāṭ):

  • Meaning: Shall escape, be rescued, saved, delivered.
  • Implies being preserved from danger, harm, destruction, or the divine judgment that awaits the wicked. It speaks of security, divine protection, and ultimate salvation for the lineage of the righteous.

Words-group Analysis:

• "Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished:" This clause conveys the certainty of divine retribution for evil, regardless of the numerical strength, combined power, or secret pacts of the wicked. Their solidarity, which might seem to provide invincibility in human eyes, is utterly futile in avoiding God's ultimate judgment. It directly challenges any human notion that strength in numbers or unity in corruption can escape moral accountability.

• "but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered." This antithetical parallelism provides hope and assurance. It affirms the enduring nature of God's covenant blessings upon the righteous. While the wicked's schemes and lineages are destined for ruin, the offspring of those who live righteously will be supernaturally protected and preserved from calamity and ultimate condemnation, often experiencing generational stability and spiritual continuity.

Proverbs 11 21 Bonus section

The idiom "hand join in hand" (יאד ליאד) in other contexts sometimes denotes a pledge or suretyship (e.g., Prov 6:1; 17:18; 22:26), meaning one puts oneself in debt for another. If applied here, it would mean that even if the wicked make binding guarantees to protect each other, these human covenants are null and void in the face of God's universal justice. They cannot underwrite impunity.

The emphasis on "seed" or descendants is crucial to understanding ancient covenantal thinking, where God's promises and blessings (or curses) often extended generationally (Ex 20:5-6; Deut 7:9). The deliverance of the righteous "seed" can refer not only to physical preservation but also to their spiritual inheritance and participation in the enduring kingdom of God. This transcends immediate worldly security to encompass ultimate salvation.

Proverbs 11 21 Commentary

Proverbs 11:21 is a powerful declaration of God’s absolute justice and His unwavering commitment to the righteous. It reassures believers that no human alliance, no matter how strong or numerous, can ultimately shield the wicked from their merited judgment. The seemingly formidable unity ("hand join in hand") of evildoers will dissolve under divine scrutiny, and their plotting will prove to be of no avail. God is sovereign, and His moral order will prevail.

Conversely, the verse offers profound comfort concerning the enduring legacy of the righteous. While their immediate circumstances may vary, God pledges the ultimate deliverance and security of their "seed." This is not an absolute guarantee against all worldly difficulties for every single descendant, but rather a profound truth about the ultimate spiritual preservation and blessedness for the line that embodies true righteousness, emphasizing God's covenant faithfulness across generations. It serves as an encouragement to faithful living, assuring that righteousness yields lasting benefits, while wickedness is a path to certain doom for individuals and their legacy.