Proverbs 11:31
in Proverbs 11If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth; How much more the wicked and the sinner!
KJV
Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.
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This verse in Proverbs 11
Commentary
11 notes on this verseBehold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth,.... Which Aben Ezra understands of the recompence of their good works. There is a reward for the righteous, and which they have now in keeping, though not "for" keeping, the commandments of God; they have the promise of this life, as well as of that which is to come, and which is made good to them; they have every good thing now which is proper and convenient for them; and they shall be recompensed in the new earth, in which only righteous persons will dwell.
This site's exposition
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life
on Proverbs 11:30-31
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,” the image the book uses for wisdom found (3:18) and desire fulfilled (13:12). At 1 Peter 4:18 the verse is quoted, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,” arguing from the hard road.
This site's exposition
If the righteous receive their due on earth
Albert Barnes reads the due of the righteous as discipline for their lesser sins, carried out on earth. If God corrects His own, the ungodly and the sinner have far more to fear. Peter quotes this saying in 1 Peter 4:18.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
A commentator
John ChrysostomCOMMENTARY ON THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON, FRAGMENT 11:31 · Written before 407.
proposed
"If the righteous are saved with difficulty, where will the impious and sinners appear?" Consider that life is long, a lasting residence with many dangers. And he [Solomon] does not say these words about those who lived righteously. But if by any chance he said something about them, he would speak in the best of terms. Indeed if God has bestowed something upon us, what we have done with it will be examined, and who will be justified except the one who is purer than the sun? By "righteous" he [Solomon] means the one who organizes his life in righteousness. The one who hates God is "impious." The "sinner" is the one who acts wickedly.
Conversion from both impiety and iniquity is commanded. For both provoke the wrath of God against one, because God detests and condemns both, as Paul says, "The wrath of God is indeed being revealed from heaven against every impiety and human wickedness." And Solomon says, …
The Medieval Church2 voices
"If the righteous receives [retribution] on earth, how much more the wicked and sinner?" This is to say clearly, "If the frailty of mortal life is so great that not even the righteous who are to be crowned in heaven pass through this life without …
If the just on earth receive, etc. If the holy martyrs endured so much as the just, how much torment do you think awaits those who unjustly afflicted them? If Job and Tobit, and others chosen by God, received so many adversities in this life, …
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
The sense would appear to be, “The righteous is requited, i. e., is punished for his lesser sins, or as a discipline; much more the wicked, etc.” Compare 1Pe 4:18.
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Behold--Thus calling attention to the illustrations (compare Pr 11:23), the sentiment of which is confirmed even in time, not excluding future rewards and punishments.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
The scope of the whole is a comment on Pr 11:23. Thus liberality, by God's blessing, secures increase, while penuriousness, instead of expected gain, procures poverty.
Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth, etc. - The Septuagint, Syrian, and Arabic read this verse as follows: “And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” And this St, Peter quotes literatim, 1Pe 4:18 (note), where see the note.
The words behind it
8 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| הֵ֣ן | hen | there! | H2005 → | |
| צַ֭דִּיק | tzadik | a righteous [person] | H6662 → | 206 times |
| בָּאָ֣רֶץ | baaretz | on the earth | H776 → | 2504 times |
| יְשֻׁלָּ֑ם | yeshulam | he is rewarded | H7999 → | 116 times |
| אַ֝֗ף | ʾaf | indeed? | H637 → | 134 times |
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| רָשָׁ֥ע | rasha' | a wicked [person] | H7563 → | 263 times |
| וְחוֹטֵֽא׃ | vechote' | and a sinner | H2398 → | 238 times |
הֵ֣ןthere!
henH2005 →
צַ֭דִּיקa righteous [person]
tzadikH6662 →206 times
בָּאָ֣רֶץon the earth
baaretzH776 →2504 times
יְשֻׁלָּ֑םhe is rewarded
yeshulamH7999 →116 times
אַ֝֗ףindeed?
ʾafH637 →134 times
כִּֽי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
רָשָׁ֥עa wicked [person]
rasha'H7563 →263 times
וְחוֹטֵֽא׃and a sinner
vechote'H2398 →238 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Proverbs 13:21Disaster pursues sinners, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous.
it leads to
- Psalms 32:10
Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but loving devotion surrounds him who trusts in the LORD.
- Isaiah 3:10–11
Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor.
- Proverbs 13:13
He who despises instruction will pay the penalty, but the one who respects a command will be rewarded.
- Romans 2:7–10
To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life.
- Genesis 4:7
If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires you, but you must master it.”
- Psalms 32:10
Through
Jeremiah 25:29For behold, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears My Name, so how could you possibly go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword…
it leads to
- Ezekiel 38:21
And I will summon a sword against Gog on all My mountains, declares the Lord GOD, and every man’s sword will be against his brother.
- 1 Peter 4:17
For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?
- 1 Kings 8:43
then may You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You. Then all the peoples of the earth will know Your name and fear…
- Ezekiel 38:21
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Proverbs
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles, Peter 4:18; Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Proverbs of Solomon; Fulgentius of Ruspe, ON THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS 1:13.1; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, COMMENTARY ON THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON, FRAGMENT 11:31 and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763).