Psalms 21:10

KJV

Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men.

KJV (with Strong's)

Their fruit {H6529} shalt thou destroy {H6} from the earth {H776}, and their seed {H2233} from among the children {H1121} of men {H120}.

Complete Jewish Bible

You will destroy from the earth their descendants, rid humankind of their posterity;

Berean Standard Bible

You will wipe their descendants from the earth, and their offspring from the sons of men.

American Standard Version

Their fruit wilt thou destroy from the earth, And their seed from among the children of men.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 21:10, a potent declaration within a psalm celebrating God's deliverance and the king's triumph, unequivocally proclaims the certain and comprehensive destruction of those who oppose the Lord and His anointed. This verse vividly illustrates the ultimate and irreversible consequences of wickedness, assuring that not only the adversaries themselves but also their legacy, influence, and future generations will be utterly eradicated from the earth, signifying a complete and decisive divine judgment.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 21 is a royal psalm, primarily an ode of thanksgiving offered by the king (traditionally David) to God for a decisive victory granted. The preceding verses [Psalms 21:1-7](/psalms/21-1-7 "Psalms 21:1-7 - A King's Thanksgiving for Victory") recount the Lord's abundant blessings, strength, and unwavering favor bestowed upon the king, emphasizing divine protection and an enduring reign. Following this celebration, verses [Psalms 21:8-12](/psalms/21-8-12 "Psalms 21:8-12 - The King's Triumph Over Enemies") shift focus dramatically to the king's, and ultimately God's, assured victory over all enemies. Within this section, verse 10 stands as a stark pronouncement of the thoroughness of this divine judgment, detailing the complete obliteration of the wicked and their lasting influence.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, the king was God's anointed representative, and opposition to the king was often seen as opposition to God Himself. The concept of "fruit" and "seed" held profound cultural significance, representing not just immediate offspring but also one's legacy, reputation, and future generations. To destroy one's "fruit" and "seed" was the ultimate form of defeat and dishonor in the ancient Near East, signifying a complete erasure from history and memory. This verse reflects the prevailing understanding of divine justice, where the consequences of actions could extend beyond the individual to their descendants, ensuring that the influence of evil would not perpetuate. It underscores the belief that God's sovereignty extended to the complete undoing of His adversaries' power and lineage.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the Psalms and broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Justice and Judgment**, underscoring God's righteous character and His unwavering commitment to upholding justice. It assures that those who set themselves against Him or His purposes will face certain and comprehensive judgment, as seen in the ultimate destruction described. Secondly, the imagery of "fruit" and "seed" emphasizes the **Complete Eradication of Evil's Legacy**. "Fruit" can refer to the outcomes of their actions, their achievements, or their immediate offspring, while "seed" explicitly refers to their descendants or future generations. This suggests a total obliteration of their lasting impact and lineage, ensuring that their wickedness does not propagate, echoing similar themes of generational consequences found elsewhere in scripture, such as in [Isaiah 14:20](/isaiah/14-20 "Isaiah 14:20 - The Fate of Babylon's Offspring"). Finally, the verse powerfully conveys **The Futility of Opposition to God's Sovereignty**. It serves as a stark reminder that all attempts to oppose God's sovereign will are ultimately doomed to failure. No matter how strong or numerous the adversaries, their end is assured by the Almighty, reinforcing the truth that God's plans cannot be thwarted, as affirmed in [Proverbs 21:30](/proverbs/21-30 "Proverbs 21:30 - No Wisdom Against the Lord").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Fruit (Hebrew, _pᵉrî_):** This term (H6529) refers to the literal produce of plants or the figurative outcome, result, or reward of one's actions, labor, or life. In this context, it signifies the immediate effects, achievements, or even the direct children of the wicked. Its destruction implies the undoing of all they have built or produced, signifying a nullification of their present influence and accomplishments.
* **Destroy (Hebrew, _ʼâbad_):** This primitive root (H6) means "to wander away," and by implication, "to perish" or (causatively) "to destroy." It conveys a sense of losing oneself, failing, or being utterly undone. Here, it emphasizes God's active and decisive role in causing the complete and irreversible perishing of the wicked's influence and lineage, leaving no way for them to escape or continue.
* **Seed (Hebrew, _zeraʻ_):** This word (H2233) consistently denotes physical descendants, progeny, or future generations. Its destruction signifies the complete cutting off of the wicked's lineage, ensuring that their name, memory, and influence will not continue through their offspring. This is the ultimate form of eradication in ancient thought, preventing any future perpetuation of their wickedness or legacy.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth":** This clause declares God's active role in annihilating the present influence and immediate legacy of the wicked. "Fruit" here encompasses the tangible results of their lives—their plans, their works, their immediate offspring, and anything they sought to establish or achieve. The phrase "from the earth" emphasizes the totality and public nature of this destruction, leaving no trace of their immediate impact or accomplishments. It signifies a complete reversal of their efforts and a nullification of their present power.
* **"and their seed from among the children of men":** This parallel clause extends the judgment to future generations, ensuring that the wicked's lineage and potential for future influence are completely cut off. "Seed" specifically refers to their descendants, and its destruction "from among the children of men" means they will have no progeny to carry on their name, memory, or wicked ways. This pronouncement signifies the ultimate and irreversible end of their legacy, preventing any future resurgence of their evil and ensuring their complete eradication from human history.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 21:10 employs several potent literary devices to convey the certainty and totality of divine judgment. The most prominent is **Parallelism**, specifically **Synonymous Parallelism**, where "their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth" and "their seed from among the children of men" express the same idea of complete eradication using different but related terms. This repetition intensifies the message, emphasizing that the destruction is comprehensive, affecting both the immediate output ("fruit") and the future lineage ("seed"). This pairing also functions as a form of **Merism**, where two complementary parts ("fruit" and "seed") represent the whole, signifying everything from immediate results to future generations, thus encompassing the entirety of the wicked's existence and influence. The language also contains elements of **Hyperbole**, as the complete erasure of all descendants might not be literally applied to every wicked individual but serves to underscore the absolute and decisive nature of God's judgment against the *spirit* of wickedness and its perpetuation. The vivid imagery evokes a sense of irreversible finality, leaving no room for the wicked or their influence to persist.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 21:10 stands as a stark testament to God's unwavering commitment to justice and His ultimate sovereignty over all creation, particularly over the forces of evil. It assures believers that divine judgment is not merely a possibility but a certain reality for those who persistently oppose God and His righteous rule. This verse reinforces the biblical truth that while the wicked may flourish for a time, their end is assured, and their efforts to establish lasting influence outside of God's will are ultimately futile. It speaks to a cosmic order where righteousness will triumph, and all that defies God will be brought to nothing, ensuring the purity and stability of His kingdom. The comprehensive nature of the destruction ("fruit" and "seed") highlights the depth of God's judgment against sin, aiming to eradicate its very root and future propagation.

* [Proverbs 10:7](/proverbs/10-7 "Proverbs 10:7 - The Memory of the Just vs. The Wicked")
* [Malachi 4:1](/malachi/4-1 "Malachi 4:1 - The Day of the Lord and the Wicked")
* [2 Thessalonians 1:7-9](/2_thessalonians/1-7-9 "2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 - God's Righteous Judgment")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
For the believer, Psalms 21:10 offers profound reassurance and a deep sense of security. In a world often marked by apparent injustice and the temporary prosperity of the wicked, this verse serves as a powerful reminder that God is ultimately in control. His justice will prevail, and those who set themselves against His righteous kingdom will face certain and complete judgment. This truth provides immense comfort and hope, strengthening faith amidst present struggles and trials, knowing that the triumph of righteousness is not merely a wish but a divine certainty. For those who might be tempted to walk in wickedness or to compromise their faith, this verse serves as a solemn and sobering warning about the severe, comprehensive, and lasting consequences of rebellion against God. It calls for urgent introspection and a decisive turning towards God's path, emphasizing the critical importance of aligning one's life with divine principles rather than pursuing fleeting evil. Ultimately, it encourages a life lived in reverence and obedience, trusting in the Lord who judges righteously and whose kingdom is eternal.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the comprehensive nature of the judgment described in this verse (destroying "fruit" and "seed") deepen your understanding of God's justice?**
* **In what ways does this psalm's message of divine triumph over evil offer comfort and hope in your current circumstances?**
* **What practical steps can you take to ensure your "fruit" and "seed" (your legacy and influence) are aligned with God's righteous purposes?**

### FAQ

**Does this verse imply that God punishes children for the sins of their parents?**

Answer: While the language of "seed" being destroyed might initially suggest generational punishment, it's crucial to interpret this verse within the broader biblical context. The Old Testament also clearly states that "the son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity" ([Ezekiel 18:20](/ezekiel/18-20 "Ezekiel 18:20 - Individual Responsibility")). Instead, the destruction of "fruit" and "seed" in Psalms 21:10 is best understood as the complete eradication of the *legacy* and *influence* of the wicked. It signifies that their name, their reputation, their wicked ways, and any potential for their evil to perpetuate through future generations will be utterly cut off. It's a statement about the finality of divine judgment against a persistent, unrepentant opposition to God, ensuring that their destructive impact on society and their rebellion against God's anointed will not continue. It speaks to the ultimate undoing of their entire enterprise, rather than a direct punishment of innocent descendants for their ancestors' specific sins.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 21:10, with its declaration of the complete destruction of the king's enemies, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, the true and eternal King. While the psalm initially celebrates a human king's victory, it foreshadows the decisive triumph of God's Anointed One over all spiritual and physical opposition. Jesus, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), came not only to redeem humanity but also to utterly dismantle the kingdom of darkness. His death on the cross was the decisive blow against sin and death, and His resurrection was the ultimate victory over all hostile powers ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Principalities and Powers")). The "fruit" and "seed" of wickedness—every manifestation of evil, every oppressive system, every rebellious heart—will ultimately be destroyed by Christ. This destruction will be fully realized at His glorious return, when He will judge the living and the dead, and all His enemies will be made a footstool for His feet ([Hebrews 10:13](/hebrews/10-13 "Hebrews 10:13 - Christ's Enemies Made a Footstool")). The comprehensive judgment described in Psalms 21:10 points forward to the day when Christ will establish His eternal kingdom, where righteousness dwells, and all unrighteousness, along with its "fruit" and "seed," will be utterly purged from the earth ([Revelation 19:11-16](/revelation/19-11-16 "Revelation 19:11-16 - Christ's Triumphant Return and Righteous Judgment")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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.

1 Kings 13:34

And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut [it] off, and to destroy [it] from off the face of the earth.

Psalms 109:13

Let his posterity be cut off; [and] in the generation following let their name be blotted out.

Job 20:28

The increase of his house shall depart, [and his goods] shall flow away in the day of his wrath.

Job 18:16

His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut off.

Job 18:19

He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings.

Isaiah 14:20

Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, [and] slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.