Psalms 37:38

38 But transgressors will be altogether 1destroyed; The posterity of the wicked will be 2cut off.

Psalms 37:38 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 37:38

But the transgressors shall be destroyed together
This is to be understood of obstinate and continued transgressors, who live and die in their transgressions; see ( Proverbs 11:3 ) ; otherwise all men are transgressors in Adam, and sinned and fell with him in his transgression; and are justly called transgressors from the womb; and are guilty of actual transgressions, nor are any clear from them; and are arraigned, convinced, and judged by the law as transgressors; and for many of these Christ died, and makes intercession; and who are converted, and turned from their transgressions; and these are pardoned, and saved, and not destroyed: but stubborn and perverse transgressors are destroyed; not only with a temporal destruction of their substance, and of their names, and they themselves are rooted out of the earth; but with an everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and the glory of his power; for this seems to refer to the day of judgment, when all the wicked will be "together"; and shall in a body stand at Christ's left hand, and be bid to go, "ye cursed into everlasting fire", ( Matthew 25:41 ) , and shall be turned into hell at once, and together;

the end of the wicked shall be cut off;
meaning either their posterity, as the word is rendered in ( Psalms 109:13 ) ; or their hope and expectation of good things here and hereafter; when the righteous man receives the end of his faith, hope, and expectation, even the salvation of his soul; but these shall be disappointed and frustrated of their end; see ( Proverbs 23:18 ) ; or their last end is cutting off from the presence and sight of God, utter ruin and destruction; and so it stands opposed to the end of the perfect and upright man, which is eternal peace and happiness.

Psalms 37:38 In-Context

36 Then he passed away, and lo, he was no more; I sought for him, but he could not be found.
37 Mark the blameless man, and behold the upright; For the man of peace will have a posterity.
38 But transgressors will be altogether destroyed; The posterity of the wicked will be cut off.
39 But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD ; He is their strength in time of trouble.
40 The LORD helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, Because they take refuge in Him.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Psalms 1:4-6; Psalms 37:20, 28
  • 2. Psalms 37:9; Psalms 73:17

Footnotes 1

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