Proverbs 13:9 kjv

The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

Proverbs 13:9 nkjv

The light of the righteous rejoices, But the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

Proverbs 13:9 niv

The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

Proverbs 13:9 esv

The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

Proverbs 13:9 nlt

The life of the godly is full of light and joy,
but the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.

Proverbs 13 verses

Proverbs 13 9 Meaning

Proverbs 13:9 succinctly contrasts the destinies of the righteous and the wicked. The "light of the righteous" signifies their flourishing, joy, divine favor, and inherent blessedness which expands and endures. It represents their prosperity and influence as deriving from a true and lasting source. Conversely, the "lamp of the wicked" refers to their fleeting and deceptive success or supposed enlightenment, which is ultimately temporary and will be utterly extinguished. This verse emphasizes the certainty of God's moral order, where righteousness leads to true and abiding joy, while wickedness culminates in utter destruction and despair.

Proverbs 13 9 Context

Proverbs 13 is part of a larger collection of wisdom sayings, primarily from Solomon (Pro 10:1 - 22:16), which are short, pithy statements offering moral and practical instruction for life according to God's ways. The chapter emphasizes core wisdom themes such as the power of speech, the value of diligence and discipline, the nature of true wealth, and most prominently, the fundamental contrast between the paths and destinies of the righteous and the wicked. Verse 9 functions as a profound summary within this overarching moral framework, providing an essential principle: alignment with divine wisdom (righteousness) leads to flourishing and enduring light, while rejection of it (wickedness) results in fading and ultimate extinction. The historical context reflects Israel's covenant relationship with God, where obedience was linked to blessing and disobedience to curse, a pattern extended here to individual life and ultimate fate.

Proverbs 13 9 Word analysis

• The light (אוֹר, 'or):
  • Signifies brightness, prosperity, success, divine favor, truth, spiritual guidance, joy, and ultimately life itself.
  • Unlike a lamp, it often implies an originating source, not just a produced flame. It’s expansive, not confined.
  • Often connected to God Himself (Ps 27:1: "The LORD is my light").
• of the righteous (צַדִּיקִים, tzaddiqim):
  • Refers to those who are ethically and morally upright, justified before God, and walk in accordance with His revealed will.
  • Not merely "good" in a human sense, but living in a covenant relationship characterized by faithfulness and obedience.
• rejoices (יִשְׂמָח, yismaḥ):
  • Connotes flourishing, being made joyous, thriving, bursting forth in happiness or delight.
  • Implies an active, vibrant, and expanding state of blessing, not merely a static presence of light. The light itself is depicted as joyful, reflecting the inner state and outer prosperity of the righteous.
  • Highlights the internal and external blessing associated with righteousness.
• but the lamp (נֵר, ner):
  • A smaller, contained source of light, requiring fuel and external maintenance (e.g., oil). It symbolizes life, lineage, or temporary success.
  • Contrasts sharply with 'or (light), suggesting fragility, limited scope, dependence, and impermanence. The light of the wicked is self-generated or earthly, thus easily consumed.
• of the wicked (רְשָׁעִים, reshaʿim):
  • Those who are morally corrupt, rebellious against God's law, unrighteous, and destined for punishment.
  • Their actions are often characterized by harm to others and a disregard for divine standards.
• will be put out (יִדְעַךְ, yidʿakh):
  • To be extinguished, quenched, made to vanish completely, implying finality and utter darkness.
  • There is no rekindling, no enduring legacy, just cessation. This reflects the ultimate outcome and destruction awaiting the wicked.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "The light of the righteous rejoices": This phrase speaks of an innate, abundant, and expanding vitality and joy. The source of the light is enduring, derived from a proper relationship with God, leading to genuine flourishing that brings joy both to the righteous and to those around them who witness their blessings. Their joy is not dependent on circumstances but on character.
• "but the lamp of the wicked will be put out": This stands in stark contrast. The "lamp" symbolizes a finite, possibly artificial or deceptive illumination. It suggests a temporary, superficial success that lacks an enduring source and is subject to extinction. Their apparent prosperity or influence is inherently fragile and will ultimately fail, leaving them in complete and irrecoverable darkness. It underlines the emptiness and fleeting nature of all wickedness-derived "gain."

Proverbs 13 9 Bonus section

The active verb "rejoices" (יִשְׂמָח, yismaḥ) applied to the light of the righteous suggests not only that the righteous themselves are joyful but that their very "light" – their existence, prosperity, and influence – is a source of joy to God and others. It is a light that is vibrant and full of life. This contrasts with the passive state of the wicked's lamp being "put out" by an external force or by its own intrinsic failure, highlighting the difference between a life emanating from God (active and joyful) and one cut off from Him (passive, extinguished, and devoid). The phrase implicitly contrasts "self-generated" light versus "divinely granted" light. The "lamp" for the wicked represents something they light or obtain on their own terms, inherently temporary and lacking divine sanction, leading to its certain extinction.

Proverbs 13 9 Commentary

Proverbs 13:9 offers a profound spiritual and practical truth: the trajectory of human life is directly tied to one's moral character before God. The "light of the righteous" is a metaphor for their blessedness, joy, guidance, and ultimate eternal salvation. This light is sourced not from human ingenuity or earthly power, but from God's presence and favor. It is described as "rejoicing" or "shining brightly," indicating a dynamic and increasing manifestation of blessing and divine approval, which will ultimately culminate in shining like the sun in the kingdom of God (Mt 13:43). It speaks of a flourishing that affects every aspect of their being and even extends outwards.

In contrast, the "lamp of the wicked" symbolizes their fleeting successes, deceptive self-sufficiency, or temporary earthly glory. Unlike the righteous, whose light comes from an inexhaustible, divine source, the wicked's "light" is a self-generated, finite flicker, destined to run out. "Will be put out" conveys total cessation—no hope, no enduring legacy, only complete darkness and oblivion. This isn't just a metaphor for death but for the utter destruction of all their plans, their very memory, and their spiritual being. The verse powerfully reminds believers of divine justice and encourages a walk of faith and righteousness, knowing that true prosperity and eternal joy are found only in aligning with God's way.