Proverbs 12 7

Proverbs 12:7 kjv

The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.

Proverbs 12:7 nkjv

The wicked are overthrown and are no more, But the house of the righteous will stand.

Proverbs 12:7 niv

The wicked are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous stands firm.

Proverbs 12:7 esv

The wicked are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous will stand.

Proverbs 12:7 nlt

The wicked die and disappear,
but the family of the godly stands firm.

Proverbs 12 7 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Ps 1:4-6The wicked are not so... but the way of the wicked will perish.End of the wicked's way
Ps 37:10In a little while the wicked will be no more...Wicked vanish quickly
Ps 37:29The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.Righteous inherit permanence
Ps 37:35-36I have seen a wicked, ruthless man... but he passed away and behold, he was no more.Temporary prosperity, then disappearance
Ps 92:7When the wicked sprout like grass... it is that they may be destroyed forever.Wicked's destruction is eternal
Ps 112:3Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.Righteous' household stability and legacy
Prov 2:21-22For the upright will inhabit the land... but the treacherous will be uprooted.Uprooting of wicked, settling of righteous
Prov 10:25When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.Righteous withstand adversity
Prov 10:30The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not dwell in the land.Permanence for righteous, expulsion for wicked
Prov 11:7When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes...Wicked's hope dies with them
Prov 11:21Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.Generational blessing for righteous
Prov 14:11The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.Destruction vs. Flourishing households
Prov 15:25The LORD tears down the house of the proud, but He establishes the boundary of the widow.God opposes proud, establishes vulnerable
Prov 21:7The violence of the wicked will sweep them away...Wicked destroyed by their own actions
Job 8:15He leans on his house, but it does not stand...Unstable foundation of ungodly
Isa 1:28But rebels and sinners shall be broken together, and those who forsake the LORD shall perish.Rebels' comprehensive perishing
Isa 32:18My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in undisturbed resting places.God's people find secure dwelling
Mal 4:1For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace... and the wicked will be stubble...Day of judgment for the wicked
Mt 7:24-27Everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them... will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock...Wisdom builds enduring spiritual house
Lk 6:47-49Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them... is like a man building a house... on the rock.Obedience secures stability
Rom 2:6-8He will render to each one according to his deeds: ...glory and honor and peace to every person who does good... but for those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.God's justice in outcomes based on deeds
2 Tim 2:19Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands...God's truth stands firm

Proverbs 12 verses

Proverbs 12 7 Meaning

Proverbs 12:7 declares a fundamental principle of divine justice: the ultimate fate of the wicked is utter destruction and disappearance, while the righteous and their households will endure and stand firm. It highlights the stark contrast between two ways of life and their lasting outcomes under God's righteous governance.

Proverbs 12 7 Context

Proverbs 12 belongs to a collection of Solomon's proverbs (Prov 10:1 - 22:16), characterized by short, insightful statements often employing antithetical parallelism to contrast the outcomes of different moral choices. This chapter particularly emphasizes the value of righteousness, hard work, integrity, and truthful speech, and the detrimental effects of wickedness, deceit, and laziness. Proverbs 12:7 encapsulates the overarching theme: one's character, either righteous or wicked, directly determines their ultimate legacy and stability in the world and before God. In ancient Israelite society, the "house" was not merely a structure but encompassed the entire family, lineage, reputation, and inheritance, signifying the stability and continuation of a family line. The "overthrow" of a house implied a complete end of a lineage or a family's standing.

Proverbs 12 7 Word analysis

  • The wicked: רְשָׁעִים (rĕshā‘îm). Plural of רָשָׁע (rāshā‘), denoting those who are morally and spiritually evil, opposing God's law and principles. It refers not just to specific bad acts but to a pervasive character of unrighteousness and disregard for God's way.
  • are overthrown: נֶהְפָּכִים (nehpākhîm). From הָפַךְ (haphakh), meaning to turn over, overturn, subvert, or transform. It suggests a sudden, often violent, reversal or destruction, a turning upside down of their existence or stability. It implies a complete and irreversible collapse.
  • and are no more: וְאֵינָם (vĕ’êynām). From אֵין ('ayin), meaning "there is not," "nothing," or "no more." This phrase emphasizes complete disappearance, obliteration, or cessation of existence. It refers to their ultimate erasure, signifying the end of their influence, legacy, or presence.
  • but the house: וּבֵית (ûbêṯ). בַּיִת (bayiṯ) means house, household, family, lineage, dynasty, or possessions. In this context, it primarily refers to the enduring establishment and prosperity of the righteous person's family, descendants, and overall legacy. It signifies permanence beyond an individual's lifespan.
  • of the righteous: צַדִּיקִים (ṣaddîqîm). Plural of צַדִּיק (ṣaddîq), referring to those who are just, upright, innocent, and in right standing with God. Their conduct aligns with divine standards and demonstrates integrity and adherence to truth.
  • will stand: יַעֲמֹד (ya‘amōd). From עָמַד ('amad), meaning to stand, endure, remain firm, persist, or be established. It denotes stability, resilience, and permanence. Unlike the fleeting existence of the wicked, the house of the righteous possesses an enduring quality, often implying divine preservation and blessing.

Proverbs 12 7 Bonus section

The "overthrow" of the wicked often encompasses not only their personal downfall but also the disintegration of their accumulated wealth, power, and reputation. What they strive to build is ultimately without a divine foundation and thus destined to crumble. The endurance of the "house of the righteous" is a testament to the blessing of God, which secures prosperity and lasting influence across generations, ensuring that their efforts contribute to an enduring legacy for the glory of God rather than a temporary and vanishing presence. This divine arrangement underscores that true security and legacy are rooted in righteousness before the Lord, not in worldly achievements alone.

Proverbs 12 7 Commentary

Proverbs 12:7 serves as a concise statement of divine justice, vividly contrasting the ultimate destinies of the wicked and the righteous. The "overthrow" of the wicked is a definitive act, implying a divinely ordained reversal of their apparent prosperity or power. They are rendered "no more," signaling a complete and permanent end to their influence, legacy, and hope, often paralleled with their memory being blotted out. This is not necessarily about immediate physical death for every wicked individual, but about their ultimate collapse in the face of God's justice, whether through judgment, natural consequences, or a lack of lasting impact.

Conversely, the "house of the righteous will stand." This promise emphasizes enduring stability and perpetuation, not merely of a physical dwelling but of the righteous person's lineage, influence, reputation, and all that they represent. It reflects God's faithfulness in upholding those who walk in His ways, granting them lasting security and blessings that extend through generations. The stability of the righteous house is not dependent on their own strength but on God's covenant loyalty and their submission to His wisdom. This verse provides assurance that living according to God's standards leads to a firm foundation, even amidst trials, whereas ungodliness results in a futile and ultimately self-destructive existence.