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Study this verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Proverbs 11:31.
This, I think, is the only one of Solomon's proverbs that has that note of attention prefixed to it, Behold! which intimates that it contains not only an evident truth, which may be beheld, but an eminent truth, which must be considered. 1. Some understand both parts of a recompence in displeasure: The righteous, if they do amiss, shall be punished for their offences in this world; much more shall wicked people be punished for theirs, which are committed, not through infirmity, but with a high hand. If judgment begin at the house of God, what will become of the ungodly? Pe1 4:17, Pe1 4:18; Luk 23:31. 2. I rather understand it of a recompence of reward to the righteous and punishment to sinners. Let us behold providential retributions. There are some recompences in the earth, in this world, and in the things of this world, which prove that verily there is a God that judges in the earth (Psa 58:11); but they are not universal; many sins go unpunished in the earth, and services unrewarded, which indicates that there is a judgment to come, and that there will be more exact and full retributions in the future state. Many times the righteous are recompensed for their righteousness here in the earth, though that is not the principal, much less the only reward either intended for them or intended by them; but whatever the word of God has promised them, or the wisdom of God sees good for them, they shall have in the earth. The wicked also, and the sinner, are sometimes remarkably punished in this life, nations, families, particular persons. And if the righteous, who do not deserve the least reward, yet have part of their recompence here on earth, much more shall the wicked, who deserve the greatest punishment, have part of their punishment on earth, as an earnest of worse to come. Therefore stand in awe and sin not. If those have two heavens that merit none, much more shall those have two hells that merit both.
Historical interpretation
Seven Centuries of Reception
5 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
Select a marker to jump to its quote. Markers stagger vertically where authors wrote within a few decades of each other.
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? [Proverbs 11:31] Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
“If the righteous are saved with difficulty, where will the impious and sinners appear?” Consider that life is long, a lasting residence with many dangers. And he [Solomon] does not say these words about those who lived righteously. But if by any chance he said something about them, he would speak in the best of terms. Indeed if God has bestowed something upon us, what we have done with it will be examined, and who will be justified except the one who is purer than the sun? By “righteous” he [Solomon] means the one who organizes his life in righteousness. The one who hates God is “impious.” The “sinner” is the one who acts wickedly.
Conversion from both impiety and iniquity is commanded. For both provoke the wrath of God against one, because God detests and condemns both, as Paul says, “The wrath of God is indeed being revealed from heaven against every impiety and human wickedness.” And Solomon says, as the blessed Peter had also inserted among his own words, “And if the righteous one is barely saved, when will the godless and the sinner appear?”
If the just on earth receive, etc. If the holy martyrs endured so much as the just, how much torment do you think awaits those who unjustly afflicted them? If Job and Tobit, and others chosen by God, received so many adversities in this life, why are you troubled if a slight affliction reaches you, who lie so far beneath their traces? And indeed you, even if you should not say and believe that you are impious, you should not deny that you are a sinner, that is, to have some sins, small or great, open or hidden. Rather, you must confess so as not to deceive yourself, and the truth may not be in you (1 John 1). If, therefore, the just received on earth, Abel the martyr and Job the example of patience, how much more the impious, Antiochus and Herod! And sinners in the Gospel, the paralytics, could be healed by the Lord only after their sins were first forgiven. Note that Peter, in his Epistle according to the old translation, placed this sentence, saying: And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear (1 Peter 4)?
“If the righteous receives [retribution] on earth, how much more the wicked and sinner?” This is to say clearly, “If the frailty of mortal life is so great that not even the righteous who are to be crowned in heaven pass through this life without tribulations on account of the countless slips of [our] flawed nature, how much more do those who are cut off from heavenly grace await the certain outcome of their everlasting damnation?
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Summary
Proverbs 11:31 serves as a profound declaration of divine justice, asserting that consequences for both the righteous and the wicked are not merely reserved for an afterlife but are demonstrably evident within this earthly existence. It functions as a stark reminder of God's active involvement in human affairs, ensuring that all receive their due, with a particularly emphatic warning regarding the certain and severe recompense awaiting those who persist in unrighteousness.
Context
Literary Context
Proverbs 11:31 stands as a concluding and summarizing statement within a chapter primarily dedicated to contrasting the divergent destinies and characteristics of the righteous and the wicked. Chapter 11 initiates its discourse with a focus on the antithesis between integrity and dishonesty, subsequently exploring themes such as pride versus humility, generosity versus greed, and the ultimate outcomes of these moral choices. Verses immediately preceding 11:31, such as Proverbs 11:18, explicitly discuss the "sure reward" for the righteous and the "deceitful wages" for the wicked. This verse functions as a powerful capstone, affirming the universal principle of divine retribution that undergirds the practical wisdom offered throughout the chapter and, indeed, the entire book of Proverbs. It powerfully reinforces the idea that God's moral order is actively enforced within the created world.
Historical & Cultural Context
The Book of Proverbs emerged from ancient Israel, a society intrinsically bound by a covenant relationship with Yahweh. This covenant fundamentally emphasized the principle of divine retribution, wherein obedience to God's laws typically brought blessings, and disobedience resulted in curses, often observed within the temporal realm, as vividly articulated in Deuteronomy 28. While wisdom literature, including Proverbs, acknowledges the intricate complexities of life and does not always present a simplistic cause-and-effect (as notably explored in the Book of Job), it consistently upholds the belief that God is inherently just and actively governs the world. The concept of "recompense in the earth" would resonate deeply with an audience familiar with the idea that both national and individual prosperity or adversity were frequently perceived as direct consequences of their faithfulness or unfaithfulness to the covenant. This verse speaks to a pervasive worldview where God maintains sovereignty over all aspects of life, including the inevitable consequences of human actions.
Key Themes
Proverbs 11:31 powerfully articulates the pervasive theme of Divine Justice and Retribution found throughout the wisdom literature. It underscores that God's moral order is not a passive or abstract concept but an active force that intervenes in human affairs, ensuring that actions have consequences. This verse also significantly contributes to the overarching Contrast Between the Righteous and the Wicked, a foundational theme in Proverbs, highlighting their divergent paths and ultimate outcomes, as seen in passages like Proverbs 10:25. Furthermore, it speaks to the Immediacy of Consequences, emphasizing that recompense is experienced "in the earth," not solely in a distant afterlife, though it certainly does not preclude eternal judgment. This earthly dimension of justice serves as both a warning and an encouragement, affirming that God's governance is present and observable, aligning with principles such as those found in Galatians 6:7.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
A primitive root meaning "to be safe (in mind, body or estate); figuratively, to be (causatively, make) completed; by implication, to be friendly; by extension, to reciprocate (in various applications)." In this context, it signifies "to be repaid," "requited," or "to receive one's due." It implies a full settlement or completion of what is owed, whether good or bad, aligning with the idea of a full payment or restoration. For the righteous, this can include divine discipline or the natural consequences of living in a fallen world, which ultimately refine them. For the wicked, it means receiving the just penalty for their actions.
Meaning "just; just, lawful, righteous (man)." It refers to one who is in right standing with God, acting in accordance with His moral and ethical standards. This righteousness is not necessarily human perfection but a genuine orientation of heart and life towards God's will and covenant. Even these individuals, though favored by God, are not exempt from the trials, tribulations, and disciplines that are part of life in a fallen world and God's refining process.
Meaning "morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person; [phrase] condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did wrong." This term describes those who are ungodly, guilty, and who live in active opposition to God's ways. The verse emphatically states that if the righteous, who strive for good, face earthly consequences, then those who actively pursue evil will undoubtedly face a far more severe and certain reckoning.
Verse Breakdown
"Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth:"
The opening interjection "Behold" (from the Hebrew hinneh) serves as a powerful call to attention, signaling the weighty and significant truth that follows. This clause declares that even those who are just and upright before God will experience a form of "recompense" or "payment" within this earthly life. This "recompense" for the righteous can encompass various forms: the natural consequences of living in a fallen world, the trials and tribulations that test and strengthen faith, or even divine discipline intended for their refinement, growth, and sanctification, rather than punitive judgment for their righteousness. It underscores that no one, not even the righteous, is entirely exempt from the realities of earthly accountability and God's sovereign hand.
"much more the wicked and the sinner."
This second clause introduces a profound contrast and an emphatic escalation of the principle of recompense. The phrase "much more" (or "how much more") functions as an a fortiori argument, asserting that if the righteous, who are God's people, experience earthly recompense, then it is absolutely certain and far more severe for the wicked and the sinner. "Wicked" (râshâʻ) denotes those who are actively ungodly and morally corrupt, characterized by deliberate rebellion against God. "Sinner" (châṭâʼ) refers to one who misses the mark, transgresses, or is guilty of wrongdoing. This parallelism underscores the inevitability and greater severity of judgment awaiting those who persist in rebellion against God's standards, emphasizing the certainty of their earthly reckoning.
Literary Devices
Proverbs 11:31 masterfully employs several potent Literary Devices to convey its message with striking clarity and impact. The most prominent is Antithetical Parallelism, a foundational characteristic of Hebrew poetry, where two lines express contrasting ideas to highlight a truth. Here, the "righteous" are set in stark opposition to "the wicked and the sinner," vividly illustrating their divergent paths and ultimate fates. The phrase "much more" functions as a powerful A Fortiori Argument, a logical device that asserts that if a lesser case (recompense for the righteous) is true, then a greater case (recompense for the wicked) is even more certainly true and of greater magnitude. This creates a compelling sense of escalating consequence and divine certainty. The initial "Behold" acts as an Interjection, serving to immediately arrest the reader's attention and underscore the profound nature of the truth being presented. There is also an element of Paradox or nuanced understanding in the idea that the "righteous" are "recompensed" in the earth, which might initially sound negative. However, within the biblical framework, this "recompense" for the righteous often includes divine discipline, testing, and refinement, which are ultimately for their good and growth, standing in sharp contrast to the destructive and punitive recompense of the wicked.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Proverbs 11:31 is a cornerstone verse for understanding the biblical doctrine of divine justice and the active governance of God in the world. It asserts that God's moral order is not an abstract concept or a distant future event, but a present reality, with consequences for human actions unfolding "in the earth." This truth challenges any notion that unrighteousness goes unpunished or that righteousness is without its own form of earthly accountability or refining processes. It highlights God's unwavering commitment to upholding justice, ensuring that no one escapes the natural and divine consequences of their choices. While the ultimate judgment is eternal, this proverb emphasizes that God's justice is also at work in the temporal realm, serving as both a warning to the ungodly and an assurance of His sovereign control and faithfulness to His people.
Reflection and Application
Proverbs 11:31 calls us to a sober and profound reflection on the pervasive reality of God's justice in our daily lives. For the believer, the idea that "the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth" is not a threat but rather an invitation to trust deeply in God's refining and sanctifying hand. It reminds us that even our struggles, disciplines, and the natural consequences of living in a fallen world are integral parts of God's sovereign plan to shape us, to test our faith, and to draw us into a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him. This perspective transforms adversity from a sign of abandonment into an instrument of grace and growth. Conversely, the emphatic warning to "the wicked and the sinner" serves as a powerful evangelistic imperative and a urgent call to repentance. It underscores that delaying repentance or dismissing the inevitable consequences of sin is a perilous and ultimately destructive path. For all humanity, this verse encourages a life lived with unwavering integrity, profound humility, and a deep, abiding awareness that our actions, whether good or evil, are observed by a just and righteous God who will ultimately bring all things to account, both in this life and in the life to come.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Does "recompensed" for the righteous mean they are punished for being good?
No, "recompensed" (from the Hebrew shâlam') for the righteous does not mean they are punished for their goodness. Instead, it signifies that they, too, will receive their "due" or experience consequences in this earthly life. This can include the natural difficulties and trials that are part of living in a fallen world, or even divine discipline and testing, which the Bible consistently teaches is a sign of God's profound love and a powerful means of refinement for His children (see Hebrews 12:6-11). The ultimate purpose of this "recompense" for the righteous is their growth, sanctification, and eternal good, contrasting sharply with the destructive and punitive judgment that awaits the wicked.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Proverbs 11:31 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While the proverb speaks of earthly recompense, it points to a deeper, spiritual reality perfectly embodied in Him. The "righteous" in this verse, ultimately, are those who are made righteous by faith in Christ, for He is "our righteousness" (1 Corinthians 1:30). Jesus, the perfectly righteous one, was indeed "recompensed in the earth" in a manner far beyond human comprehension. He experienced the ultimate suffering and death, not for His own sin, but as the spotless Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. His "recompense" was the cross, where He bore the full weight of the "much more" that was due to "the wicked and the sinner"—that is, the just wrath of God against all who believe in Him. Thus, for those who are in Christ, the "recompense" for their sin has been fully paid by Him, and their earthly "recompense" becomes the loving discipline of a Father (Hebrews 12:7-8) rather than condemnation. Conversely, for those who reject Him, the "much more" of judgment remains, as Christ Himself will return as the righteous Judge (Acts 17:31). Therefore, Proverbs 11:31 powerfully foreshadows the cross as the ultimate demonstration of God's justice and the only means by which the wicked can escape their deserved recompense, through the substitutionary sacrifice of the Righteous One.