Proverbs 10:30

Pro 10:30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.

Ver. 30. The righteous shall never be removed.] Or, They shall not be removed for ever, though for a while they may seem to be so.

But the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.] God sits upon the circle of the earth, to shake them out thence, as by a canvass.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

CRITICAL NOTES.—

Pro_10:31. Cut out, “rooted out.”

MAIN HOMILETICS OF Pro_10:30

THE EARTH THE POSSESSION OF THE RIGHTEOUS

I. From their relation to God it is theirs now. The estate of an English nobleman is the portion of all his family to a certain extent. They all live upon it, and partake of its productions. But the eldest son has a special inheritance in it—it is the perpetual possession of the heir of the house, and it is therefore his in a sense in which it is not the property of his brothers and sisters. “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof” (Psa_24:1), and it is therefore the property of His children—of those who are His sons and heirs (Rom_8:17). All men enjoy to some extent the blessings of the earth, but it belongs only to them whom Paul addresses when he says, “All things are yours, whether.… the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come” (1Co_3:21-22).

II. From their relation to God it shall be theirs in the future. The regenerated earth is to be the eternal abode of the righteous. The glorified body of the redeemed man will have enough of his present body to enable us to identify each other. Although we have not now the “body that shall be” (1Co_15:37), there will be such a relationship between the present and the future as shall make them the same individual man. So, although the earth is to be “a new earth” (2Pe_3:13), there will be that about it which will enable the regenerated man to recognise his old home. And if in the new earth there is to dwell “righteousness,” it is because it is to be the abode of righteous beings. On this subject see also Homiletics on Chap. Pro_2:21-22.

OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS

Pro_10:30. Love of home is an impulse and emotion natural to, man; but to no people was fatherland so greatly delighted in, to none was exile and banishment from fatherland so dreadful a thought, as it was to the people of Israel. Expatriation is the worst of all evils with which the prophets threatened individuals and the people; and the history of Israel in their exile, which was a punishment of their national apostasy, confirms this proverb, and explains its form.… In general, the proverb means that the righteous fearlessly maintains the position he takes; while, on the contrary, all they who have no hold on God lose also their outward position. But often enough this saying is fulfilled in this, that they, in order that they may escape disgrace, become wanderers and fugitives, and are compelled to conceal themselves among strangers.—Delitzsch.

The desire of the righteous is not to stay upon earth, neither is that the reward which God hath appointed for them. They know a better place to go unto, and where better things than the earth can afford are provided for them. Hugo de Sancto Victore saith, therefore, making three sorts of men, “He is very delicate whose own country is delicious unto him; he is valiant to whom every country is his own; he is perfect to whom the world is a banishment. The first hath fastened his love upon the world, the second hath scattered his love in the world, the last hath extinguished his love from the world.” And this is the righteous man of whom it is here said that he shall never be removed, because he shall never be taken hence with an unwilling and reluctant mind. He having never set his affection upon the world, can never be removed from it. When he goeth hence, he goeth cheerfully and gladly; it is not a remove of him, but a pleasant passage to him.—Jermin.

Moved, not removed, but shaken: shall not be seriously disturbed.—Miller.

See also comments on chap. Pro_2:21-22.

(For Homiletics on Pro_10:31, see on Pro_10:13-14; Pro_10:20-21.)

OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS

The figure here is of a sprout or seedling which has the capacity to grow for ever. “Wisdom” is such a tree. It grows from the mouth of the good man, and will grow for ever; that is, the good man will incessantly spread abroad wisdom. God, who is invisible, spreads abroad wisdom only through the creature. But the ungodly tongue, literally “the tongue of upturnings,” overturning everything, and being in this world the great instrument for leading others astray, will be put in a condition to be foiled of such an influence: as the inspired sentence expresses it, will be “cut out.”—Miller.

As a tree full of life and sap brings forth its fruit, so in Isa_57:19, the cognate word is translated “the fruit of the lips.” The froward tongue is like a tree that brings forth evil and not good fruit. It “shall be cut down.” What is meant is, that the abuse of God’s gift of speech will lead ultimately to its forfeiture. There shall, at last, be the silence of shame and confusion.—Plumptre.

The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary (gen. ed. Joseph S. Exell; Funk & Wagnalls, c. 1892) — public domain (pre-1929). A full-Bible homiletical/sermon-outline anthology covering 65 of 66 books (2 John is absent from the source module). Text from a community e-Sword module.

10:30 This proverb connects with God’s covenant promises to Israel (see Deut 28:1-14, 63-68). Such connections are rare in the book of Proverbs.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

They enjoy in this life by faith and hope, their everlasting life.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

(Compare Pro 12:3; Psa 37:9-11; Psa 102:28).

earth--or, "land of promise."

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 30. The righteous shall never be removed] Because he is built on the eternal foundation. See on Pr 10:25.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(30) The righteous shall never be removed.—See above on Pro_2:21, and Psa_37:29.

But the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.—Rather, The godless abide not in the land. They often have to become vagabonds, like Cain, for their crimes. This, too, was the great punishment threatened by Moses and all the prophets, which at last fell upon the Jews, and is still in force.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

30. the earth] Comp. Mat_5:5; or, the land (sc. of Canaan), as R.V. Comp. Pro_21:21-22; Exo_20:12. The law holds good, though its sphere of action may vary.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The righteous shall never be removed,.... They may be removed from place to place in this world, through the persecutions of their enemies, or through one providence or another, as they often are; they may be removed from a state of outward prosperity to a state of adversity, as Job was; they may be removed from spiritual and comfortable frames of soul to carnal or uncomfortable ones; for good frames are very precarious and uncertain things; and they will be removed out of this world into another; here they have no continuing city: but they shall never be removed from the love of God, nothing can separate them from that; they are set as a seal on his heart, and are engraven on the palms of his hands, and there is no removing them from thence; they may be waiver about their interest in the love of God; they may be without the manifestations and discoveries of it to their souls; they may be under the hidings of God's face; they may be at a distance from his house and ordinances, or may not enjoy the presence of God in them for a time; yet not separated from his affections; they shall never be removed out of the hands of Christ, into which they are put for security, and out of which none can pluck them, men or devils; how should they, since they are in those hands that made the heavens and the earth, support all in being, and hold the reins of government? Was it possible they could be removed from hence, it would impeach the wisdom of God, who has put them there; argue weakness in Christ, and suppose danger to them. Nor can they be removed out of the family of God; sons of God abide in his house for ever; they are no more foreigners and strangers; once children, no more servants; they may be corrected and chastised, yet be children; they may judge themselves unworthy of the relation, and be ready to conclude that their spots are not the spots of God's children, and fear they are none of them, and yet the relation continues: nor will they ever be removed from their state of justification, by which they are denominated righteous, into a state of condemnation; for full satisfaction is given to law and justice for them; their justification is complete, it is from all sin; the righteousness by which they are justified is everlasting, and even their faith which receives it shall never fail; to which may be added, that they are secured from wrath to come, and entitled to eternal life. In a word, they are on the sure foundation of electing grace; they are in the immovable covenant of grace; they are on the Rock of ages, Christ Jesus; all the divine Persons and perfections are on their side; they are kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation; see Psa 55:22;

but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth; but a very little while, as Gersom observes; and the time of their abode on earth is so short, as scarce to be called an inhabitation of it. Moreover, they shall not inhabit the earth the righteous will, even the new earth, which none but righteous persons shall inhabit, Pe2 3:13; see Psa 37:9.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

The wicked shall rot inhabit - The other and higher side of the same law of the divine government appears in Mat 5:5.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Earth. This the Jews frequently experienced. The more enlightened understood, that such promises regarded also eternity. (Calmet)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

The righteous shall never be removed; they shall live long and happily here, when this is most expedient for them, and eternally in heaven.

The wicked shall not inhabit the earth; they shall not have so much as a long and quite abode upon earth, unless where this is a curse and mischief to them, and much less shall they have any possession in heaven.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

30. Removed — Rather, moved from the earth, or land, namely, Palestine. But under this proverb lies a more general truth. Compare Pro_2:21-22; Psa_37:22; Psa_125:1; Mat_5:5.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The righteous shall never be removed. (Pro_2:21 Pro_12:3, 21 Psa_10:6 Psa_37:29) This is in agreement with the temporal promise made to the patriarchs and often renewed, as in the fifth commandment. St. Paul says, (1Ti_4:8) "Godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come." The wicked shall not inhabit (or, abide not in) the land. The punishment of exile was threatened upon the Jews for their disobedience, and they are still suffering this retribution. (Lev_26:33 Deu_4:27 Isa_22:17) Christ gives the other aspect of God"s moral government when he says, (Mat_5:5) "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth."

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Never be removed - They shall live happily here, and eternally in heaven. The earth - They shall not have so much as a quiet abode upon earth; much less shall they have any possession in heaven.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

21 The lips of the righteous edify many;

But fools die through want of understanding.

Keil & Delitzsch — Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–1891) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API. (Old Testament only.)

The frailty of our present condition, common to all (Ecc 9:2, Ecc 9:11 ), was not in the wise man’s eye; but the state of the two classes as in the purpose and mind of God. His way is strength to the upright. The righteous, walking steadily in the way, shall never be removed. (Psa 15:1-5 ; Psa 37:22 ; Psa 112:6 ; Psa 125:1 . 2Pe 1:5-11 .) ’They enjoy in this life by faith and hope their everlasting life.’†1 "No weapon that is formed against them shall prosper. The mountains shall depart, and the little hills shall be removed: but my loving-kindness shall not depart from thee; neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed; saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee." (Isa 54:10 .) Is not this a confidence, that earth nor hell can never shake? (Rom 8:38-39 .)

The wicked — have they any such confidence? So far from being never removed, they shall never inhabit. They have no title, like the righteous (Mat 5:5 . 1Co 3:22 ), as sons and heirs, to the blessings of earth; no hope or interest in the land, of which the earth is the type. (Psa 37:29 .) Often are they cut off from inhabiting the one. (Pro 10:27 ; Pro 2:22 . Psa 37:22 . Eze 33:24-26 .) Never will they be suffered to inhabit the other. (1Co 6:9 ; Rev 21:27 .) As our character is, so is our hope and prospect. We gain or lose both worlds.

Footnotes:

†1 Reformers’ Notes.

Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs (1846) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

v. 30. The righteous shall never be removed, not lose his home or be banished from his country; but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth, they will not remain in possession of the land.

Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The righteous will not collapse forever When he collapses, his collapse is not a permanent collapse, but he will fall and rise.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.