Proverbs 24:20

20 For the evil man shall have no posterity: and the light of the wicked shall be put out.

Proverbs 24:20 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 24:20

For there shall be no reward to the evil [man]
No reward of good things, such as is for the righteous in a way of grace; but he shall have a reward of evil things, a just recompence of reward for his sins: of "no end" ^F18; there will be an end of his life in this world, and there will be an end of his prosperity; but, as the Targum is, there will be no "good end" to him; his end will not be like that of the perfect and upright man, for it will be cut off, ( Psalms 37:37 Psalms 37:38 ) ; or, as the Vulgate Latin version renders it, "the wicked have no hope of future things"; no good hope of everlasting happiness; they have their good things now, and their evil things hereafter; and therefore are not to be fretted at and envied. Aben Ezra interprets it, they shall have no offspring or issue, son or nephew; the word is sometimes used for posterity; the candle of the wicked shall be put out;
meaning not the dim light of nature in them, nor the light of life before their time, so Aben Ezra; but their prosperity, riches, splendour, and glory, which candle is often put out while they live, and always at death; after which they have no more light, honour, and happiness; even not so much as the light of a candle, to which their prosperity in this life is compared, it being at best but small, and of a short continuance; see ( Job 18:5 Job 18:6 ) ( 21:17 ) ; and therefore should not be the object of the envy of good men, who are in a more happy and stable condition than they.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 (tyrxa) "finis", Pagninus, Vatablus, Baynus, Junius & Tremellius, Mercerus, Gejerus.

Proverbs 24:20 In-Context

18 For the Lord will see , and it will not please him, and he will turn away his wrath from him.

19 Rejoice not in evil-doers, neither be envious of sinners.

20 For the evil man shall have no posterity: and the light of the wicked shall be put out.

21 son, fear God and the king; and do not disobey either of them.

22 For they will suddenly punish the ungodly, and who can know the vengeance by both? [A son that keeps the commandment shall escape destruction; for has fully received it. Let no falsehood be spoken by the king from the tongue; yea, let no falsehood proceed from his tongue. The king's tongue is a sword, and not one of flesh; and whosoever shall be given up to shall be destroyed: for if his wrath should be provoked, he destroys men with cords, and devours men's bones, and burns them up as a flame, so that they are not fit to be eaten by the young eagles. son, reverence my words, and receive them, and repent.]