Proverbs 2:21,22

The Contrast Between What Happens To The Upright, And What Happens To The Wicked (Proverbs 2:21).

Each of the first three Chapter s of Proverbs, together with Proverbs 4:1, ends with a contrast between what happens to the upright, and what happens to those who are not. In Proverbs 1:32 the contrast is between the simple/naive and the fools, as against those who hear and respond to wisdom. Here the contrast is between the wicked and the treacherous as against those who are upright and morally mature. In Proverbs 3:33 the contrast is between the wicked and the righteous, the scorners and the lowly (humbly accepting), the fools and the wise. In Proverbs 4:18 the contrast is between those whose lives reveal light, in contrast with the wicked whose lives reveal only darkness. Thus the simple/naive and fools reveal themselves as wicked and treacherous and in darkness, whilst the wise reveal themselves as upright and morally mature and in the light.

Proverbs 2:21

‘For the upright will dwell in the land/earth,

And the perfect (those who are true) will remain in it,

But the wicked will be cut off from the land/earth,

And the treacherous will be rooted out of it.'

The word eretz can mean either earth or land. In view of the references to death and the grave consuming the wicked (e.g. Proverbs 2:18) it probably here means ‘earth' as a generality, or alternatively ‘the land' as representing what was their world (the land of the living, or the land as given to them by YHWH). The idea of ‘expulsion from the land' was not in mind here. The expulsion was by death. Thus the upright and the morally mature will live long and satisfying lives on the earth (compare Proverbs 3:2; Proverbs 3:16). The wicked and the treacherous will be cut off from the land of the living and rooted out of it. This is the constant message of Proverbs.

‘The upright (straight)' are those who walk in the straight path. They walk in accordance with God's instruction. In direct contrast are the ‘wicked', i.e. the non-upright, those who deviate from the straight path. The latter are defined elsewhere in terms of violence (Proverbs 10:6; Proverbs 12:6; Proverbs 24:15), greed (1-.3; Proverbs 21:10), deceit (Proverbs 12:5) and perverse speech (Proverbs 10:32; Proverbs 11:11; Proverbs 15:28; Proverbs 19:28). Not all the wicked have all these faults. Wickedness is any deviation from the straight path. Wickedness is thus revealed in us all. But the wicked in Scripture are those who continue in that path, Some are violent, some are greedy, some are deceitful and some use perverse speech, but all come under the general term of ‘wicked, non-upright'. The perfect (those who are true) contrast with the treacherous. The ‘perfect' walk in God's ways and seek to do His will, the treacherous choose crooked paths, and rebel against His will.