Proverbs 11:7
in Proverbs 11When the wicked man dies, his hope perishes, and the hope of his strength vanishes.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish; And the hope of iniquity perisheth.
KJV
When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.
⋯
This verse in Proverbs 11
Commentary
8 notes on this verse"And the expectation of the diligent will perish." Similarly, there is one kind of diligence with which the good are always girded to fulfill God's commandments; another, with which the wicked, when they sin knowingly, fear diligently lest they someday be seized for eternal punishment. …
This site's exposition
Riches profit not in the day of wrath
on Proverbs 11:4-8
Riches profit not in the day of wrath states plainly what money cannot buy, and righteousness stands in its place as the only deliverance named. Four proverbs work the same ground from different angles: the righteous man's own integrity is his road, the wicked man's own wickedness is his downfall, and the two courses run to opposite ends even in something as small as who takes whose place in trouble. When a wicked man dies his every expectation perishes with him, the bench observes, because he invested his hope in what death takes away.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
A commentator
John ChrysostomCOMMENTARY ON THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON, FRAGMENT 9:7 · Written in the 5th century.
proposed
"When a righteous man dies, hope does not perish." He hopes that his children will do well; he hopes to be provided with great things. This passage also transports us to thoughts of the resurrection or of our posterity. Or, since one who is righteous has delighted in all these things already, he will also enjoy their future consummation; or, finally, that he would have enjoyment of glory after death.
The Medieval Church1 voice
"When a wicked man dies, there is no longer any hope." Alas, poor man! Origen ignored this sentence, who believed that life would be given to all the wicked and sinners after the universal and final judgment. It should be noted, however, that although there …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Significant words, as showing the belief that when the righteous died, his “expectation” (i. e., his hope for the future) did not perish. The second clause is rendered by some, “the expectation that brings sorrow.”
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
expectation . . . perish--for death cuts short all his plans (Lu 16:25). hope of unjust--better, "hope of wealth," or "power" (compare Isa 40:29, Hebrew).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
When a wicked man dieth - Hope is a great blessing to man in his present state of trial and suffering; because it leads him to expect a favorable termination of his ills. But hope was not made for the wicked; and yet they are the very persons that most abound in it! They hope to be saved, and get at last to the kingdom of God; though they have their face towards perdition, and refuse to turn. But their hope goes no farther than the grave. There the wicked man’s expectation is cut off, and his hope perishes. But to the saint, the penitent, and the cross-bearers in general, what a treasure is hope! What a balm through life!
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| בְּמ֤וֹת | bemot | at [the] death of | H4194 → | 156 times |
| אָדָ֣ם | ʾadam | a person | H120 → | 551 times |
| רָ֭שָׁע | rasho' | wicked | H7563 → | 263 times |
| תֹּאבַ֣ד | tovad | it is lost | H6 → | 184 times |
| תִּקְוָ֑ה | tikvah | hope | H8615 → | 34 times |
| וְתוֹחֶ֖לֶת | vetochelet | and [the] hope of | H8431 → | 6 times |
| אוֹנִ֣ים | ʾonim | strength<s> | H202 → | |
| אָבָֽדָה׃ | ʾavadah | it perishes | H6 → | 184 times |
בְּמ֤וֹתat [the] death of
bemotH4194 →156 times
אָדָ֣םa person
ʾadamH120 →551 times
רָ֭שָׁעwicked
rasho'H7563 →263 times
תֹּאבַ֣דit is lost
tovadH6 →184 times
תִּקְוָ֑הhope
tikvahH8615 →34 times
וְתוֹחֶ֖לֶתand [the] hope of
vetocheletH8431 →6 times
אוֹנִ֣יםstrength<s>
ʾonimH202 →
אָבָֽדָה׃it perishes
ʾavadahH6 →184 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 14:32The wicked man is thrown down by his own sin, but the righteous man has a refuge even in death.
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 4:18
And the Lord will rescue me from every evil action and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
- Psalms 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
- 2 Corinthians 5:8
We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
- Revelation 14:13
And I heard a voice from heaven telling me to write, “Blessed are the dead—those who die in the Lord from this moment on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labors,…
- 2 Timothy 4:18
Through
Job 11:20But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; they will hope for their last breath.”
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 28:65
Among those nations you will find no repose, not even a resting place for the sole of your foot. There the LORD will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and a despairing soul.
- Deuteronomy 28:65
Through
Proverbs 10:28The hope of the righteous is joy, but the expectations of the wicked will perish.
it leads to
- Job 8:13
Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so the hope of the godless will perish.
- Romans 15:13
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Psalms 73:24–26
You guide me with Your counsel, and later receive me in glory.
- Job 8:13
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Proverbs
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 Proverbs; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, COMMENTARY ON THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON, FRAGMENT 9:7; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.