Proverbs 10:30

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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

Complete Jewish Bible:

The righteous will never be moved, but the wicked will not remain in the land.

Berean Standard Bible:

The righteous will never be shaken, but the wicked will not inhabit the land.

American Standard Version:

The righteous shall never be removed; But the wicked shall not dwell in the land.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

The righteous{H6662} shall never{H5769} be removed{H4131}: but the wicked{H7563} shall not inhabit{H7931} the earth{H776}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Psalms 37:22

  • For [such as be] blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and [they that be] cursed of him shall be cut off.

Psalms 125:1

  • ¶ A Song of degrees. They that trust in the LORD [shall be] as mount Zion, [which] cannot be removed, [but] abideth for ever.

Psalms 37:28

  • For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

Psalms 37:29

  • The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.

Proverbs 2:21

  • For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.

Proverbs 2:22

  • But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

Psalms 37:9

  • For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

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Commentary for Proverbs 10:30

Proverbs 10:30, "The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth," is a verse that encapsulates a central theme in the Wisdom Literature of the Hebrew Bible: the contrast between the righteous and the wicked, and the respective fates that await them. This proverb reflects the belief that righteousness is a stable foundation for life, suggesting that those who live according to divine principles are secure and enduring, while the wicked, by contrast, are transient and their downfall is certain.

The historical context of this verse is rooted in the ancient Near Eastern wisdom tradition, where righteousness was understood as living in accordance with the norms and laws of the community, which were seen as divinely ordained. The idea that the righteous would be protected and sustained, while the wicked would be uprooted, was a common motif in this tradition, serving both as a moral compass and as a theological assertion about the nature of God and the moral order of the universe.

In the broader context of the Book of Proverbs, this verse is part of a collection of teachings that aim to impart wisdom and moral guidance. The teachings were likely compiled over centuries and reflect various authors' insights. They were used for educational purposes, to instruct the young and to guide the decision-making of the community, reinforcing the idea that righteous living leads to stability and prosperity, while wickedness leads to ruin.

Theologically, Proverbs 10:30 speaks to the concept of divine justice, where righteousness is rewarded with security and wickedness is punished with displacement or destruction. It assures the reader that, in the end, virtue will prevail and evil will not have a lasting place in the world. This assurance served as a source of hope and encouragement for the faithful, promising that their adherence to ethical living would have enduring consequences, both in this life and in the life to come, according to the beliefs of the ancient Israelites.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H6662
    There are 197 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: צַדִּיק
    Transliteration: tsaddîyq
    Pronunciation: tsad-deek'
    Description: from צָדַק; just; just, lawful, righteous (man).
  2. Strong's Number: H5769
    There are 414 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עוֹלָם
    Transliteration: ʻôwlâm
    Pronunciation: o-lawm'
    Description: or עֹלָם; from עָלַם; properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial (especially with prepositional prefix) always; alway(-s), ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for, (n-)) ever(-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of) old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world ([phrase] without end). Compare נֶצַח, עַד.
  3. Strong's Number: H4131
    There are 36 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מוֹט
    Transliteration: môwṭ
    Pronunciation: mote
    Description: a primitive root; to waver; by implication, to slip, shake, fall; be carried, cast, be out of course, be fallen in decay, [idiom] exceedingly, fall(-ing down), be (re-) moved, be ready, shake, slide, slip.
  4. Strong's Number: H7563
    There are 249 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: רָשָׁע
    Transliteration: râshâʻ
    Pronunciation: raw-shaw'
    Description: from רָשַׁע; morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person; [phrase] condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did wrong.
  5. Strong's Number: H7931
    There are 123 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁכַן
    Transliteration: shâkan
    Pronunciation: shaw-kan'
    Description: a primitive root (apparently akin (by transmission) to שָׁכַב through the idea of lodging; compare סִכְלוּת, שָׁכַם); to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively); abide, continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-er), have habitation, inhabit, lay, place, (cause to) remain, rest, set (up).
  6. Strong's Number: H776
    There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֶרֶץ
    Transliteration: ʼerets
    Pronunciation: eh'-rets
    Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.