Proverbs 11:21 Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.

Bible > Proverbs > Chapter 11 > Verse 21

◄ Proverbs 11:21 ►

New International Version
Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free.

New Living Translation
Evil people will surely be punished, but the children of the godly will go free.

English Standard Version
Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.

Berean Standard Bible
Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.

King James Bible
Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

New King James Version
Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished; But the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.

New American Standard Bible
Be assured, the evil person will not go unpunished, But the descendants of the righteous will be rescued.

NASB 1995
Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished, But the descendants of the righteous will be delivered.

NASB 1977
Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished, But the descendants of the righteous will be delivered.

Legacy Standard Bible
Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished, But the seed of the righteous will escape.

Amplified Bible
Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished, But the descendants of the righteous will be freed.

Christian Standard Bible
Be assured that a wicked person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.

American Standard Version
Though hand join in hand, the evil man shall not be unpunished; But the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

Contemporary English Version
You can be sure of this: All crooks will be punished, but God's people won't.

English Revised Version
Though hand join in hand, the evil man shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Certainly, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the descendants of righteous people will escape.

Good News Translation
You can be sure that evil people will be punished, but the righteous will escape.

International Standard Version
Be sure of this: the wicked will not go unpunished, but the descendants of the righteous will go free.

Majority Standard Bible
Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.

NET Bible
Be assured that the evil person will certainly be punished, but the descendants of the righteous will not suffer unjust judgment.

New Heart English Bible
Most certainly, the evil man will not be unpunished, but the descendants of the righteous will be delivered.

Webster's Bible Translation
Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

World English Bible
Most certainly, the evil man will not be unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
Hand to hand, the wicked is not acquitted, "" And the seed of the righteous has escaped.

Young's Literal Translation
Hand to hand, the wicked is not acquitted, And the seed of the righteous hath escaped.

Smith's Literal Translation
Hand to hand, the evil one shall not be unpunished: and the seed of the just were delivered.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Hand in hand the evil man shall not be innocent: but the seed of the just shall be saved.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Hand in hand, the evil shall not be innocent. But the offspring of the just shall be saved.

New American Bible
Be assured, the wicked shall not go unpunished, but the offspring of the just shall escape.

New Revised Standard Version
Be assured, the wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will escape.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
He who stretches out his hand against his neighbor shall not go unpunished: but the offspring of the righteous shall be delivered.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
He that stretches his hand against his neighbor will not be innocent of evil, and the seed of the righteous will be delivered.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
My hand upon it! the evil man shall not be unpunished; But the seed of the righteous shall escape.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
He that unjustly strikes hands shall not be unpunished: but he that sows righteousness he shall receive a faithful reward.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Dishonest Scales
…20The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but the blameless in their walk are His delight. 21Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape. 22Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Isaiah 3:11
Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them! For they will be repaid with what their hands have done.

Nahum 1:3
The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.

Exodus 23:7
Stay far away from a false accusation. Do not kill the innocent or the just, for I will not acquit the guilty.

Psalm 37:28
For the LORD loves justice and will not forsake His saints. They are preserved forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off.

Psalm 37:38
But the transgressors will all be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off.

Job 21:30
Indeed, the evil man is spared from the day of calamity, delivered from the day of wrath.

Isaiah 13:11
I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity. I will end the haughtiness of the arrogant and lay low the pride of the ruthless.

Jeremiah 25:31
The tumult will resound to the ends of the earth because the LORD brings a charge against the nations. He brings judgment on all mankind and puts the wicked to the sword,’” declares the LORD.

Ezekiel 18:20
The soul who sins is the one who will die. A son will not bear the iniquity of his father, and a father will not bear the iniquity of his son. The righteousness of the righteous man will fall upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked man will fall upon him.

Malachi 4:1
“For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble; the day is coming when I will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of Hosts. “Not a root or branch will be left to them.”

Romans 1:18
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.

Romans 2:8-9
But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow wickedness, there will be wrath and anger. / There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil, first for the Jew, then for the Greek;

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Galatians 6:7-8
Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return. / The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

2 Thessalonians 1:6-9
After all, it is only right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, / and to grant relief to you who are oppressed and to us as well. This will take place when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels / in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. ...

Treasury of Scripture

Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

hand

Proverbs 16:5
Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

Exodus 23:2
Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:

the seed

Proverbs 13:22
A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

Genesis 17:7,8
And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee…

Psalm 37:26
He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

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Acquitted Assured Assuredly Delivered Descendants Escape Escaped Evil Evil-Doer Free Hand Held Innocent Join Punishment Righteous Safe Seed Sure Unpunished Upright Wicked

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Acquitted Assured Assuredly Delivered Descendants Escape Escaped Evil Evil-Doer Free Hand Held Innocent Join Punishment Righteous Safe Seed Sure Unpunished Upright Wicked

Proverbs 11

1. On Deception

Berean Study Bible

Be assured
This phrase emphasizes certainty and confidence. In the Hebrew text, the word used here is "yad," which means "hand" or "power." It conveys the idea of something being firmly in hand or under control. The assurance here is not just a casual promise but a divine guarantee. In the context of ancient Israel, where oral tradition and covenantal promises were central, this assurance would have been understood as a solemn declaration from God Himself, underscoring His sovereignty and justice.

the wicked
The term "wicked" in Hebrew is "rasha," which refers to those who are morally wrong, guilty, or hostile to God. In the biblical context, the wicked are those who live in opposition to God's laws and principles. Historically, the wicked were often seen as those who oppressed the poor, engaged in deceit, or worshipped false gods. The Bible consistently portrays the wicked as being in conflict with the righteous, and this verse assures that their actions will not be overlooked by God.

will not go unpunished
This phrase is a declaration of divine justice. The Hebrew word for "punished" is "naqah," which means to be held innocent or to be acquitted. The negative construction here indicates that the wicked will not be acquitted or escape judgment. In the ancient Near Eastern context, justice was a foundational aspect of society, and this assurance would have resonated deeply with those who longed for fairness and retribution against wrongdoers. It reflects the biblical theme that God is a just judge who will ultimately hold everyone accountable for their actions.

but the offspring of the righteous
The word "offspring" in Hebrew is "zera," which means seed or descendants. This phrase highlights the generational impact of righteousness. The righteous, or "tsaddiq" in Hebrew, are those who live in accordance with God's will and commandments. The promise here is that the blessings of righteousness extend beyond the individual to their descendants. In the biblical narrative, the concept of generational blessing is significant, as seen in the promises made to Abraham and his descendants. This assurance would have been particularly comforting in a culture that valued family lineage and legacy.

will escape
The Hebrew word for "escape" is "malat," which means to slip away or be delivered. This conveys the idea of being rescued or saved from danger or harm. In the context of Proverbs, which often contrasts the fates of the righteous and the wicked, this promise of escape underscores the protective hand of God over those who follow Him. Historically, this would have been understood as both a physical and spiritual deliverance, reflecting the belief that God actively intervenes in the lives of the faithful to preserve and protect them from the consequences of evil.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(21) Though hand join in hand.--For this sense comp. Isaiah 28:15, sqq. The passage may also mean "hand to hand," i.e., from one generation to another; or, what is most probable, "the hand to it," i.e., assuredly. For the general sense of the verse, comp. Psalms 37

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 21. - Though hand join in hand (Proverbs 16:5); literally, hand to hand, which may be taken variously. The Septuagint and some other versions take the phrase in the sense of unjust violence: "He who layeth hand upon hand unjustly;" Vulgate, manus in manu, "hand in hand," which is as enigmatical as the Hebrew. Some Jewish interpreters consider it an adverbial expression, signifying simply "soon." Some moderns take it to mean "sooner or later," as the Italian da mano in mano, or, in succession of one generation after another (Gesenius, Wordsworth). Others deem it a form of adjuration, equivalent to "I hereby attest, my hand upon it!" And this seems the most probable interpretation; assuredly the Divine justice shall be satisfied by the punishment of the wicked (comp. Psalm 37.). The Authorized Version gives a very good sense: "Though hands be plighted in faith, and men may associate together in evil, the wicked shall not go unpunished" (comp. Isaiah 28:15). St. Gregory ('Mor. in Job,' lib. 25.) takes a very different view: "Hand in hand the wicked shall not be innocent;" for hand is wont to he joined with hand when it rests at ease, and no laborious employment exercises it. As though he were saying, "Even when the hand rests from sinful deeds, yet the wicked, by reason of his thoughts, is not innocent" (Oxford transl.). This exposition is, of course, divorced from the context. The seed of the righteous. This is not "the posterity of the righteous," but is a periphrasis for "the righteous," as in Psalm 24:6; Psalm 112:2, "the generation of the righteous" (comp. Isaiah 65:23). The climax which some see here - as if the author intended to say, "Not only the good themselves, but their descendants also shall be delivered" - is non-existent and unnecessary. Septuagint, "But he that soweth righteousness shall receive a sure reward," which is another rendering of the second member of ver. 18. Shall be delivered; i.e. in the time of God's wrath (vers. 4, 23; Proverbs 2:22).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Be assured
יָ֣ד (yāḏ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

that the wicked
רָּ֑ע (rā‘)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

will not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

go unpunished,
יִנָּ֣קֶה (yin·nā·qeh)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5352: To be, clean, to be bare, extirpated

but the offspring
וְזֶ֖רַע (wə·ze·ra‘)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2233: Seed, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity

of the righteous
צַדִּיקִ֣ים (ṣad·dî·qîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 6662: Just, righteous

will escape.
נִמְלָֽט׃ (nim·lāṭ)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4422: To be smooth, to escape, to release, rescue, to bring forth young, emit sparks

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OT Poetry: Proverbs 11:21 Most certainly the evil man will not (Prov. Pro Pr)