Proverbs 11:7 kjv

When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.

Proverbs 11:7 nkjv

When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, And the hope of the unjust perishes.

Proverbs 11:7 niv

Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of their power comes to nothing.

Proverbs 11:7 esv

When the wicked dies, his hope will perish, and the expectation of wealth perishes too.

Proverbs 11:7 nlt

When the wicked die, their hopes die with them,
for they rely on their own feeble strength.

Proverbs 11 verses

Proverbs 11 7 Meaning

When a wicked person dies, all their hopes, plans, and confidence that were founded on unrighteousness and worldly gain will completely come to an end and amount to nothing. The ultimate destiny of those who live by injustice is to have all their earthly aspirations extinguished at the point of death, while the righteous have an enduring and true hope.

Proverbs 11 7 Context

Proverbs chapter 11 primarily functions as a series of antithetical parallels, sharply contrasting the paths and outcomes of the righteous and the wicked. Verse 7 specifically reinforces the theme introduced in previous verses, such as the destructive consequences of injustice (vv. 5-6) and the contrasting fate of the proud versus the humble (v. 2). In ancient Israelite thought, there was a strong understanding of divine justice working itself out in the present life, often through prosperity or adversity. However, verses like this one in Proverbs push beyond simplistic material outcomes, emphasizing the ultimate futility of the wicked's life and pursuits, especially when faced with the undeniable reality of death. It posits that while the wicked might seem successful in life, their very foundation is precarious, and all their efforts come to nought when their earthly existence ceases.

Proverbs 11 7 Word analysis

• "When a wicked man dies": This phrase highlights the definitive moment of death as the great revealer and separator. It is the point at which earthly plans and achievements are tested for their true value.

  • "wicked" (רָשָׁע – rasha): Signifies someone morally evil, guilty before God, impious, and consistently acting contrary to divine wisdom and righteousness. Their character is deeply entrenched in rebellion.
  • "man" (אִישׁ – ish): Standard term for a human being, indicating that this truth applies to all individuals identified as "wicked."
  • "dies" (יָמוּת – yamuth, from מוּת – muth): To cease to live, physically die. This emphasizes the finality of their earthly existence and the cessation of opportunities for change.

• "his expectation will perish": This states the immediate and inevitable consequence of the wicked man's death regarding his future hopes.

  • "expectation" (תּוֹחֶלֶת – tokhelet): Encompasses hope, confidence, something one waits for, or a future outlook. For the wicked, this tokhelet is often anchored in worldly gain, self-advancement, and the perpetuation of their ill-gotten legacy. It's the substance of what they rely on for future well-being.
  • "will perish" (תֹּאבֵד – to’ved, from אָבַד – avad): To be lost, destroyed, come to nothing, utterly vanish, or be eliminated. It implies a complete and irreversible annihilation of that hope, not merely a disappointment.

• "and the hope of unjust men perishes": This second clause functions as synonymous parallelism, restating and reinforcing the truth of the first clause using different, yet similar, terminology.

  • "hope" (תּוֹחֶלֶת – tokhelet): Repetition of the same key Hebrew word (tokhelet) from the first clause, underscoring that the concept of "expectation" or "future confidence" is precisely what is lost.
  • "unjust men" (עֹוְלִים – ovlim, from עַוְלָה – avlah meaning "iniquity, injustice, wrong"): Describes those who commit perversion, oppression, or act with moral crookedness. This term serves as a direct parallel to "wicked man," reinforcing the scope of the verse to all who disregard divine and moral order.
  • "perishes" (תֹּאבֵד – to’ved, from אָבַד – avad): Repeated for emphasis, solidifying the idea that their core hopes are utterly abolished.

• Word-Group Analysis:

  • "When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish": This connection signifies that death acts as the absolute delimiter for the wicked. Their entire earthly project, including their perceived successes, becomes null and void because their tokhelet was tied to the fleeting realm of injustice and worldly aspiration, not to the eternal.
  • "the hope of unjust men perishes": The parallel phrasing emphasizes that regardless of the specific manifestation of their wickedness (general ungodliness or specific acts of injustice), the outcome is identical. Their underlying foundation is corrupt, leading to the same catastrophic end of their future outlook.

Proverbs 11 7 Bonus section

This proverb subtly points to a deeper theological truth beyond just earthly outcomes. While Old Testament understanding of the afterlife was less explicit than later revelations, this verse indicates that death is a pivotal boundary that determines the finality of one's hope. For the wicked, their earthly-centered tokhelet has no anchor in eternity and thus ceases to exist. This contrasts with the hope of the righteous, which is consistently portrayed in Proverbs (e.g., Prov 23:18) as having a secure and enduring "future." The wisdom here is a call to align one's life, and thus one's hope, with God's enduring justice, rather than fleeting earthly pursuits. It underlines the futility of human ambition disconnected from divine truth.

Proverbs 11 7 Commentary

Proverbs 11:7 delivers a profound and stark truth about the finality of the wicked person's aspirations. It asserts that unlike the righteous, whose hope may extend beyond this life, the wicked man’s “expectation” and “hope”—his entire life’s planning, striving, and confidence in the future—are utterly extinguished at the moment of death. This is not merely a statement of disappointment; the Hebrew word avad conveys a sense of absolute destruction, of coming to naught. All the supposed gains, power, and prestige acquired through unrighteous means crumble to dust when earthly life ceases.

The verse implies that true, lasting hope cannot be built on foundations of wickedness or injustice. The schemes, legacies, and material wealth that the wicked may accumulate are ultimately ephemeral. Death acts as the great equalizer, exposing the vanity and hollowness of a life lived without regard for God's righteousness. For such individuals, death is not merely an ending, but a termination of all they held dear, a comprehensive failure of their life project. This provides a sobering counterpoint to the apparent success the wicked might enjoy in this world, urging the reader to invest in a different kind of hope that endures beyond the grave.

• Examples:
  • A person who relentlessly cheats and steps over others to build a business empire, believing their wealth will guarantee them power and status forever, only to have their assets scattered or consumed by others upon their sudden death.
  • A dictator who ruthlessly clings to power, persecuting dissidents and amassing control, only to face ultimate ruin and irrelevance after their demise, their "hope" of perpetual dominion perishing.