Third Millennium Study Bible
Notes on Proverbs 21:4-29

Defeat for the Wicked - Proverbs 21:4-8

Proverbs 21:8 sums up this passage by contrasting the devious behavior of the guilty with the straightforward conduct of the pure. In Proverbs 21:4-7 the wicked are categorized into several self-serving types by the motif of their body parts: (1) "haughty eyes" (Prov 21:4), (2) a "proud heart" (Prov 21:4; 6:17; 8:13) and (3) a "lying tongue" (Prov 21:6). See WLC 142.

The arrogance of the wicked derives from their: (1) unrestrained heart (Prov 21:4), (2) lack of discipline (Prov 21:4) and (3) haste to make money (Prov 21:5; cf. Prov 10:2; 13:11). Their haste is expanded to acquiring "fortune . . . by a lying tongue" (Prov 21:6) and escalates to "violence" (Prov 21:7; 1:8-19; cf. Matt 26:52), and a refusal to "do what is right" (Prov 21:7). Truly the unplowed field - which only the Spirit may plow to produce lasting fruit (Mark 4:8; 1 Cor 3:7; cf. John 15:16) - of the wicked produces sin (Prov 21:4).

The Righteous Triumph Over the Wicked - Proverbs 21:9-18

Proverbs 21:9 shifts dramatically from wicked men to the wicked wife to point to the need for a wise wife. Compare Proverbs 31:10-31. Proverbs 21:10-18 continue the theme of doing justice, but they pertain more specifically to the triumph of the righteous over the greedy and the merciless wicked. References to the "wicked" frame this partial unit (Prov 21:10, 18). In Proverbs 21:4-8 the righteous are not mentioned, but here the wicked are contrasted with the "righteous" (Prov 21:15, 18), who are wise. In the Hebrew text "righteous" is the second word in every third verse between verses Proverbs 21:10-21 (Prov 21:12, 15, 18, cf. Prov 21:21). Accordingly, this partial unit consists of three clusters (Prov 21:10-12, 13-15, 16-18).

The theme of the triumph of the righteous over the wicked commences with the Righteous One overthrowing the wicked (Prov 21:10-12). It is developed by noting that justice (Prov 21:15; cf. Prov 21:3) causes sheer joy in the righteous but fills the wicked with terror (Prov 21:13-15). The clusters come to a climax by promising that the wicked will die the death they intended for the righteous (Prov 21:16-18). See WLC 142; WSC 75.

In Proverbs 21:18 we see the word "ransom." This is the compensation to pay a penalty to free a wrongly imprisoned victim and save his life (cf. Prov 13:8; Exod 21:29; Isa 43:3). The wicked are expendable (cf. Rom 9:22), given over to imprisonment in order that the righteous might go free. Tares (non-elect) in a field help protect the wheat (the elect) - see Matthew 13:24-30.

Endurance and Death - Proverbs 21:19-29

This passage contrasts the eternal endurance of the righteous with the death of the wicked. It consists of two smaller clusters (Prov 21:20-23, 24-29).

The four proverbs in unit one (Prov 21:20-23) feature the righteous wise. They find (1) a supply of grain and oil (Prov 21:20), (2) life (Prov. 2:19; 3:2, 18, 22; 4:10, 13, 22, 23; 5:6; 6:23; 8:35; 9:11; 10:11, 16, 17; 11:19, 30; 12:28; 13:12, 14; 14:27, 30; 15:4, 24, 31; 16:15, 22; 18:21; 19:23; 22:4; 27:27; 31:12), prosperity, or rather righteousness (Prov. 8:18, 20; 10:2; 11:46, 18, 19; 12:28; 13:6; 14:34; 15:9; 16:8, 12, 31; 21:3), and honor (Prov. 3:16, 35; 8:18; 11:16; 15:33; 18:12; 20:3; 22:4; 25:2, 27; 26:1, 8; 29:23) - (Prov 21:21), (3) victory over evil and the wicked (Prov 21:22), and (4) security (Prov 21:23). The cluster assumes that the Lord supplies these blessings. See WLC 141.

In Proverbs 21:22 the proverb escalates the material gain of the wise (Prov 21:20) to a climactic assertion: Nothing and no one can stop the ultimate triumph of the wise over evil and wicked men (see Rom 8:35-39). Though the wise man may have begun his life's journey poor and despised (cf. Ecc 9:16), he is now likened to a warrior and described as stronger than a multitude who lack his spiritual virtue (cf. Pss 18:29-30; 144:1). Proverbs 21:22, 23 are linked by military motifs, moving from the offense of the wise man against evil to his defense against it by wise speech.

In Proverbs 21:24-29 the topic shifts dramatically from the wise man (Prov 21:20-23) to his antagonist, the mocker, who heads a list of wicked types. Koptak says, "Such a person will not learn (Prov 21:11; cf. Prov 19:25) because of pride and arrogance (cf. Prov 21:4; also Prov 11:2; Obad. 1:3; Hab. 2:5)." This list matches the list in Proverbs 21:4-8: (1) the proud (Prov 21:4, 24), (2) the sluggard or lazy person (Prov 21:5, 25-26), (3) the liar (Prov 21:6, 28) and, (4) climactically, the brazenly wicked man (Prov 21:29). The four wicked types (Prov 21:24-25, 28-29) circle the hypocritical worshiper (Prov 21:27). In Proverbs 21:24-26 both the mocker and the sluggard destroy the community by their aggressive, destructive acts ("behaves"; see Prov 21:24) and refusal to work.

Related Resources

• Overview of the Book of Proverbs