Proverbs 11:21
in Proverbs 11Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Though hand join in hand, the evil man shall not be unpunished; But the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
KJV
Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
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This verse in Proverbs 11
Commentary
8 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
literally, “hand to hand.” The meaning of which is, “Hand may plight faith to hand, men may confederate for evil, yet punishment shall come at last;” or “From hand to hand, from one generation to another, punishment shall descend on the evil doers.”
This site's exposition
The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD
on Proverbs 11:20-22
Calling the perverse heart “an abomination to the LORD” echoes the scales of verse 1, bracketing the first half on that word. The Hebrew behind “Be assured” is hand to hand, an idiom for a pledge or conspiracy. The ring “in a pig’s snout” pictures beauty without discretion.
This site's exposition
Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished
The Hebrew opens with hand to hand, which the Berean renders be assured. Albert Barnes reads it two ways: men may join hands for evil and be punished, or punishment passes from hand to hand down the generations. The offspring of the righteous escape.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church2 voices
Hand in hand, the evil will not be innocent. He who joins hands does indeed nothing. But hand in hand, the evil will not be innocent, because even if he withdraws his hand from impious action for a time, the evil cannot have the innocence …
But the seed of the righteous will be saved. This is what is said above, But to him who sows righteousness, there will be a faithful reward. Or surely, the seed of the righteous will be saved, because those who follow the examples of the …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished,.... Though they give the hand to one another, unite in their counsels, enter into combinations, confederacies, and strict alliances, and join all their force and strength together; or though with both hands, with all their might and main, endeavour to secure themselves, yet they shall not go unpunished. This may be exemplified in the kings of the earth, that will join each other, and gather their armies together, to make war against Christ; when they will be conquered, taken, and slain, Rev 19:
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The combined power of the wicked cannot free them from just punishment, while the unaided children of the righteous find deliverance by reason of their pious relationship (Ps 37:25, 26).
Though hand join in hand - Let them confederate as they please, to support each other, justice will take care that they escape not punishment. The Hindoos sometimes ratify an engagement by one person laying his right hand on the hand of another - Ward.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
And the king said to Haman: "The money is given to thee, and the people too, to do with them as it seems best in thy sight.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 1 further source is cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| יָ֣ד | yad | hand | H3027 → | 1618 times |
| לְ֭יָד | leyod | to hand | H3027 → | 1618 times |
| לֹא־ | lo'- | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יִנָּ֣קֶה | yinakeh | he will go unpunished | H5352 → | 44 times |
| רָּ֑ע | ra' | an evil [person] | H7451 → | 662 times |
| וְזֶ֖רַע | vezera' | and [the] offspring of | H2233 → | |
| צַדִּיקִ֣ים | tzadikim | righteous [people] | H6662 → | 206 times |
| נִמְלָֽט׃ | nimlat | he will be delivered | H4422 → | 95 times |
יָ֣דhand
yadH3027 →1618 times
לְ֭יָדto hand
leyodH3027 →1618 times
לֹא־not
lo'-H3808 →5168 times
יִנָּ֣קֶהhe will go unpunished
yinakehH5352 →44 times
רָּ֑עan evil [person]
ra'H7451 →662 times
וְזֶ֖רַעand [the] offspring of
vezera'H2233 →
צַדִּיקִ֣יםrighteous [people]
tzadikimH6662 →206 times
נִמְלָֽט׃he will be delivered
nimlatH4422 →95 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
Jeremiah 32:39I will give them one heart and one way, so that they will always fear Me for their own good and for the good of their children after them.
it leads to
- Ezekiel 11:19–20
And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them; I will remove their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh,
- Acts 4:32
The multitude of believers was one in heart and soul. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they owned.
- Ezekiel 11:19–20
Through
Acts 2:39This promise belongs to you and your children and to all who are far off—to all whom the Lord our God will call to Himself.”
it leads to
- Isaiah 44:3
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and currents on the dry ground. I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring.
- Romans 8:30
And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.
- Genesis 17:7–8
I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
- Joel 2:32
And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has promised, among the remnant called by…
- Isaiah 44:3
Through
Proverbs 16:5Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured that he will not go unpunished.
it leads to
- Proverbs 6:16–17
There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him:
- Proverbs 8:13
To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
- Proverbs 6:16–17
Where this verse is studied
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; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763).