Proverbs 2:22 kjv
But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.
Proverbs 2:22 nkjv
But the wicked will be cut off from the earth, And the unfaithful will be uprooted from it.
Proverbs 2:22 niv
but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be torn from it.
Proverbs 2:22 esv
but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.
Proverbs 2:22 nlt
But the wicked will be removed from the land,
and the treacherous will be uprooted.
Proverbs 2 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 28:63 | "...so the LORD will rejoice over bringing you to ruin...and you shall be plucked off the land." | God's certain judgment of uprooting from the land. |
| Psa 1:4-6 | "The wicked...are like chaff that the wind blows away...the way of the wicked will perish." | The wicked are unstable and face destruction. |
| Psa 37:9 | "For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land." | Direct parallel: wicked cut off, righteous inherit. |
| Psa 37:20 | "But the wicked will perish...they will vanish like smoke." | The impermanence and destruction of the wicked. |
| Psa 37:22 | "For those blessed by the LORD shall inherit the land, but those cursed by Him shall be cut off." | Contrasting destinies based on divine favor. |
| Psa 37:28 | "For the LORD loves justice...but the offspring of the wicked shall be cut off." | God's justice ensures removal of the wicked. |
| Psa 52:5 | "But God will break you down forever; He will snatch you up and tear you from your tent and uproot you..." | Imagery of forceful and complete removal. |
| Psa 73:18-19 | "Surely you set them in slippery places; you cast them down to destruction. How suddenly they are destroyed!" | The swift and ultimate demise of the wicked. |
| Psa 92:7 | "though the wicked sprout like grass...it is that they may be destroyed forever." | Wicked prosperity is fleeting, leading to destruction. |
| Prov 10:27 | "The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be shortened." | Divine order shortens the wicked's existence. |
| Prov 11:5 | "The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight, but the wicked falls by his own wickedness." | Inherent consequence of unrighteousness. |
| Isa 1:28 | "But rebels and sinners shall be broken together, and those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed." | Judgment on rebellion against God. |
| Jer 12:14 | "Thus says the LORD: 'Concerning all My evil neighbors...I will uproot them from their land.'" | Prophetic judgment involving territorial displacement. |
| Mal 4:1 | "For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble..." | Final, fiery judgment on evildoers. |
| Matt 7:19 | "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." | Spiritual fruitlessness leads to excision. |
| Matt 13:41-42 | "The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather...all who cause sin and lawlessness...into the fiery furnace." | Final judgment, removal of wicked from God's kingdom. |
| Matt 15:13 | "Every plant that My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted." | Illegitimate growth removed by God's decree. |
| Rom 2:8-9 | "But for those who are self-seeking...there will be wrath and fury...for everyone who does evil." | Just retribution for ungodly behavior. |
| Rom 6:23 | "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." | The ultimate consequence of sin is death, cessation of life/blessing. |
| 2 Thess 1:8-9 | "inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God...They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord..." | Final, permanent separation from God's presence. |
| Rev 20:14-15 | "Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." | The ultimate removal from life and blessing. |
| Num 15:30-31 | "But the person who acts defiantly...shall be cut off from among his people." | "Cutting off" (kareth) as a severe community/covenant penalty. |
| Lev 20:3 | "...and I Myself will set My face against that person and will cut him off from among his people..." | God's direct involvement in the "cutting off." |
Proverbs 2 verses
Proverbs 2 22 Meaning
Proverbs 2:22 proclaims a divinely established consequence for those who choose the path of evil and deceit. It asserts that the wicked, characterized by ungodliness and moral wrongdoings, and the treacherous, who act with faithlessness and betrayal, will face an irreversible judgment. They will be utterly removed, dispossessed, and terminated from the land—a realm often signifying the place of covenant blessing, prosperity, and life in God's presence. This removal is certain and final, illustrating that while evil may appear to thrive for a season, it ultimately cannot endure or inherit true dwelling or blessing.
Proverbs 2 22 Context
Proverbs chapter 2 opens with an earnest plea from a father figure (personified Wisdom or God Himself) to a son, urging him to actively seek, value, and accept wisdom, understanding, and knowledge (vv. 1-5). It emphasizes that true wisdom comes from the Lord (v. 6) and is a source of guidance, protection, and preservation for those who walk in integrity (vv. 7-9). The chapter then describes the immense benefits of receiving wisdom: it saves one from the paths of evil, wicked men (vv. 10-15), and seductive immoral women (vv. 16-19). Verses 20 and 21 state that wisdom leads one to walk in the way of the good and righteous, enabling them to dwell securely in the land. Verse 22 serves as a stark contrast, outlining the dire fate of those who reject wisdom's path and instead choose wickedness and treachery. It highlights the divine moral order, where obedience leads to blessing and secure dwelling, while disobedience leads to exclusion and destruction from that very dwelling. The "land" often refers to the Promised Land, symbolizing covenant blessings, security, and an enduring presence in God's favor.
Proverbs 2 22 Word analysis
- But (
’akh, אךְ): This strong adversative particle marks a decisive contrast, pivoting from the blessed destiny of the upright (v. 21) to the ruin of the wicked. It emphasizes the absolute certainty and severity of the following statement. - the wicked (
rĕshā‘îm, רְשָׁעִים): Refers to those who are guilty, wrongdoers, morally perverse, ungodly. This term encompasses individuals whose deeds are in opposition to divine law and justice. They are the antithesis of the "upright" and "blameless" in the preceding verses. - will be cut off (
yikkārētu, יִכָּרֵתוּ): From the verbkārat(to cut, cut off, destroy, make a covenant). In the Niph'al stem here, it denotes a passive yet definite action – they will be severed. This phrase frequently describes divine judgment, indicating removal from life, family, community, or covenant blessings (e.g., Num 15:30-31). It suggests irreversible extinction or complete separation. - from the land (
mē’āreṣ, מֵאֶרֶץ): The "land" (’āreṣ) in Old Testament context often signifies not just physical territory but the place of God's covenant blessings, prosperity, peace, and secure dwelling. For Israel, it was the Promised Land, a symbol of life under God's favor. To be cut off from it implies expulsion from a place of blessing and safety, leading to spiritual or even physical demise. - and the treacherous (
ūvôḡdîm, וּבוֹגְדִים): Frombagaḏ, meaning "to act faithlessly, treacherously, deceitfully." This refers to those who betray trust, violate covenants (human or divine), and demonstrate disloyalty. This specifically highlights the aspect of intentional betrayal and deceit in their character. - will be uprooted (
yissaḥu, יִסְּחוּ): Fromnāsaḥ(to pluck up, pull out, tear out, abolish, demolish). This agricultural imagery portrays a plant violently pulled from the ground, depriving it of its life source and stability. It conveys a complete, forceful, and destructive removal, signifying the end of their ability to grow, thrive, or remain established. - from it (
mimmennāh, מִמֶּנָּה): Refers back to "the land." This repetition underscores the absolute nature of their expulsion. There is no longer a place for them in the blessed, covenant community.
Proverbs 2 22 Bonus section
The parallelism in Proverbs 2:22—"the wicked will be cut off" paralleled with "the treacherous will be uprooted"—uses two distinct but complementary metaphors for complete destruction. "Cut off" (from a tree or lineage) suggests separation and termination, often associated with covenant judgment (kareth). "Uprooted" (from a plant) signifies complete dislodgement and irreversible loss of foundation and life source. This double emphasis solidifies the certainty and totality of their demise from any true flourishing. The verse implicitly asserts God's sovereignty as the active agent behind these consequences, as He is the ultimate sustainer and Judge who orders all things. There is no escape from His judgment for persistent wickedness and treachery.
Proverbs 2 22 Commentary
Proverbs 2:22 offers a stark warning and a principle of divine justice: wicked and treacherous behavior does not ultimately pay. It's an assured declaration of consequences. The vivid imagery of being "cut off" and "uprooted" emphasizes a final, irreversible removal. This isn't just about dying, but about cessation of existence within the sphere of God's favor and blessing, typically represented by the "land." While the righteous dwell securely (Prov 2:21), the wicked face ultimate expulsion. This verse counters any notion that God's moral order is flexible or that one can perpetually escape accountability. It underscores that God's character is just; He will indeed judge evil. This principle applies both to temporal consequences in this life (e.g., ruin of reputation, loss of standing, eventual failure) and, more profoundly, to eternal separation from God.