Psalm 37 2

Psalm 37:2 kjv

For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

Psalm 37:2 nkjv

For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb.

Psalm 37:2 niv

for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.

Psalm 37:2 esv

For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.

Psalm 37:2 nlt

For like grass, they soon fade away.
Like spring flowers, they soon wither.

Psalm 37 verses

Psalm 37 2 Meaning

Psalm 37:2 states that those who do evil, despite any current appearance of prosperity, will quickly fade away and perish. It compares their transient existence and eventual destruction to grass and tender green plants that sprout rapidly in a favorable season but just as swiftly wither and die under the scorching sun or due to lack of sustenance. This verse serves as a foundational reason, given immediately after Psalm 37:1, for why believers should not fret or envy the apparent success of the wicked.

Psalm 37 2 Context

Psalm 37 is a didactic, or teaching, psalm belonging to the wisdom literature of the Old Testament. It primarily addresses the perennial struggle of the righteous when confronted with the seeming prosperity of the wicked. It provides comfort, instruction, and encouragement for believers to trust in God's sovereign timing and justice, rather than yielding to anxiety, envy, or discouragement when they see evildoers apparently flourishing. Verse 2 immediately follows the command in Verse 1 not to "fret" or be "envious" of evildoers, providing the crucial reason for this injunction: their success is temporary and their downfall is certain. The agricultural imagery draws from the ancient Near Eastern climate where lush vegetation can spring forth after rains, only to rapidly wilt and die under the intense heat of the sun, making the fragility of life and transient nature of things vividly clear to the original audience.

Psalm 37 2 Word analysis

• For they: This pronoun refers back directly to the "evildoers" and "workers of iniquity" mentioned in Psalm 37:1, establishing the subject of the verse's declaration. It immediately answers why one should not fret.
• shall soon: This adverb signifies brevity and immediacy from God's eternal perspective, emphasizing the finite and quickly approaching end of the wicked's "success." It challenges human perception of time and emphasizes God's certain, timely justice.
• be cut down (יִמָּלוּ - yimmāllû): From the Hebrew root mālal (מָלַל), meaning to fade, wither, or decay. While it can imply a direct "cutting," the primary sense here is an inevitable process of decay and loss of life, likening them to vegetation naturally succumbing. It suggests cessation of life and vigor.
• like the grass (כְּחָצִיר - kāḥāṣîr): Ḥāṣîr (חָצִיר) denotes ordinary field grass or hay. In the biblical landscape, grass, though seemingly ubiquitous, is one of the most fleeting forms of life, springing up quickly but dying off just as rapidly, especially without consistent water or under harsh sunlight. This simile highlights the common, expendable, and brief nature of their existence.
• and wither (יִבֹּלוּ - yibbōlû): From the Hebrew root bālal (בָּלַל), also meaning to fade, wilt, decay, or fall away. This term reinforces the imagery introduced by "cut down," emphasizing the internal process of decline, loss of moisture, and natural deterioration that leads to ultimate lifelessness. It denotes the complete absence of vigor and the natural conclusion of their fleeting life.
• as the green herb (וְכִירֶק דֶּשֶׁא - wəḵîyereq deshe’): Yereq deshe’ (יֶרֶק דֶּשֶׁא) refers to fresh, tender, verdant young growth, particularly vibrant foliage or garden herbs. This intensified simile underlines the fact that even at their most vibrant, robust, and flourishing state, the wicked are still likened to plants destined for a swift and natural decline. It is a dual simile ("like the grass" and "as the green herb") that strengthens the message of inescapable and rapid decay, illustrating that their seeming strength and freshness are also temporary.

Psalm 37 2 Bonus section

• This verse embodies a core tenet of biblical wisdom literature: the inherent difference in destiny between the righteous and the wicked, regardless of their temporary circumstances on earth.
• The use of common agricultural scenes made this profound spiritual truth highly accessible and impactful for an agrarian society, grounding heavenly principles in earthly realities.
• It subtly encourages a mindset of faith that looks beyond the visible, temporal realm to the unseen, eternal reality of God's perfect judgment and justice.
• This verse provides the foundation for the subsequent advice in Psalm 37 to "trust in the Lord," "dwell in the land," "feed on His faithfulness," and "delight yourself in the Lord." Because the wicked's end is certain and swift, the focus must shift to walking in faithfulness and patiently waiting on God.

Psalm 37 2 Commentary

Psalm 37:2 offers a profound theological comfort and a warning, couched in striking agricultural metaphor. The Psalmist argues that one should not be disturbed by the prosperity of evildoers because their flourishing is both superficial and short-lived. Just as grass and fresh green shoots quickly appear after rain but are soon scorched by the relentless sun or harvested, so too will the wicked swiftly meet their end. Their life is fragile, their prosperity without root or enduring substance. The phrase "shall soon" (though not necessarily "immediately" in human terms) indicates an appointed, certain, and divinely determined outcome. It emphasizes that their brief success does not negate God's justice or their inevitable doom. This verse serves as a reminder to shift focus from earthly appearances and temporary successes to God's ultimate plan, encouraging patience and reliance on His divine timing rather than human indignation or anxiety. The vivid imagery compels believers to consider eternity and God's sovereign hand, recognizing that the temporary nature of wickedness’s ascendancy guarantees its ultimate destruction, contrasting sharply with the eternal hope of the righteous.