In the biblical context, the term "wicked" refers to individuals who live in opposition to God's laws and righteousness. The Bible frequently contrasts the fate and nature of the wicked with various elements of creation, including green herbs, to illustrate the transient and ultimately futile nature of their pursuits.

Biblical Comparison:

The comparison of the wicked to green herbs is notably found in Psalm 37:1-2 : "Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong. For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants." This passage highlights the temporary and fleeting nature of the wicked's prosperity and existence. Just as green herbs flourish for a season and then fade away, so too do the wicked experience a short-lived success that ultimately leads to their downfall.

Nature of Green Herbs:

Green herbs are characterized by their rapid growth and vibrant appearance, yet they are also known for their short lifespan. They thrive under favorable conditions but quickly wither when those conditions change. This imagery serves as a powerful metaphor for the wicked, who may appear prosperous and strong for a time but lack the enduring foundation that comes from righteousness and alignment with God's will.

The Fate of the Wicked:

The Bible consistently teaches that the wicked will not endure. Psalm 92:7 states, "Though the wicked sprout like grass, and all evildoers flourish, they will be forever destroyed." This verse reinforces the idea that the apparent success of the wicked is illusory and temporary. Their ultimate fate is destruction, as they are not rooted in the eternal truths of God's kingdom.

Contrast with the Righteous:

In contrast to the wicked, the righteous are often likened to trees planted by streams of water, as seen in Psalm 1:3 : "He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does." Unlike the ephemeral nature of green herbs, the righteous are depicted as stable, enduring, and fruitful, drawing sustenance from their relationship with God.

Conclusion:

The biblical comparison of the wicked to green herbs serves as a poignant reminder of the transient nature of life apart from God. While the wicked may experience temporary success, their lack of a firm foundation in divine truth leads to their eventual demise. This imagery encourages believers to pursue righteousness and align their lives with God's eternal principles, ensuring a legacy that endures beyond the fleeting moments of earthly existence.Psalm 37:2
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
Nave's Topical Index

Ancestors of the Blessed virgin
... them always living amongst other men who, compared to them ... in order to lead their
lives undisturbed by wicked people. ... I saw also that those holy people whom I ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/i ancestors of the blessed.htm

The Resemblance Between the Old Testament and the New.
... pleasant soever the delights of the wicked, they gradually ... to the bringing back of
the people, since by a ... Wherefore, the passage may be fitly compared with one ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 10 the resemblance between.htm

Letter cxlvii. To Sabinianus.
... he pursued through the wilderness the people whom he ... of the wicked, but that the
wicked turn from ... themselves, they are trivial indeed when compared with those ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter cxlvii to sabinianus.htm

Church Fabrics and Services.
... to another, and would have found, as compared with the ... altar is a small pew hung
with green damask, with ... all sorts of inferior and even wicked people, at the ...
/.../the english church in the eighteenth century/chapter x church fabrics and.htm

The Old Testament and Comparative Religion
... Let him root out the wicked and evildoer from the land! ... shall go free." With this
may be compared Exod.22.10 ... gavest him to be food to the people inhabiting the ...
/.../eiselen/the christian view of the old testament/chapter v the old testament.htm

An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ...
... Now therefore let all the wicked men be far from ... again, "Where there is no vision,
the people perish" (Proverbs ... which both the law and the gospel is compared. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exposition on the first.htm

The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem:
... raised by human ingenuity and vanity, when compared with that ... the feet of the
unconverted and wicked world ... and not light, that keepeth God's people from knowing ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the holy city or the.htm

The Resurrection of the Dead, and Eternal Judgment:
... when 'twas sown, is no glory, when compared with that ... were"enemies in [their] mind
by wicked works" (Colossians ... to save the whole man of his people, while he ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the resurrection of the dead.htm

Christian Behavior
... strength; enemies in their minds by wicked works, and ... 1. God's people are fruitful
in good works according to ... shining and small heat, when compared with bigger ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/christian behavior.htm

Book ii. Jerome Answers the Second, Third, and Fourth Propositions ...
... They think it wicked to eat the flesh of swine ... eat land-crocodiles, and the Africans
even green lizards ... practice of the commoner sort of the people who imitated ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/book ii jerome answers the.htm

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Wicked: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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