Proverbs 11:7
When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.
Original Language Analysis
בְּמ֤וֹת
dieth
H4194
בְּמ֤וֹת
dieth
Strong's:
H4194
Word #:
1 of 8
death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin
אָדָ֣ם
man
H120
אָדָ֣ם
man
Strong's:
H120
Word #:
2 of 8
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
רָ֭שָׁע
When a wicked
H7563
רָ֭שָׁע
When a wicked
Strong's:
H7563
Word #:
3 of 8
morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
אָבָֽדָה׃
men perisheth
H6
אָבָֽדָה׃
men perisheth
Strong's:
H6
Word #:
4 of 8
properly, to wander away, i.e., lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)
תִּקְוָ֑ה
his expectation
H8615
תִּקְוָ֑ה
his expectation
Strong's:
H8615
Word #:
5 of 8
literally a cord (as an attachment); figuratively, expectancy
Historical Context
Ancient Israelites believed in Sheol, the shadowy realm of the dead. While Old Testament revelation about afterlife was limited, righteous Israelites trusted God beyond death (Psalm 16:10-11, 49:15, 73:24-26). The wicked, having rejected covenant relationship with Yahweh, faced death without hope. Later revelation in Christ illuminated eternal destinies—judgment for the wicked, resurrection life for the righteous (John 5:28-29, Revelation 20:11-15).
Questions for Reflection
- What hopes or expectations are you building your life upon, and will they survive your death?
- How does meditation on mortality clarify what truly matters and expose false securities?
- In what ways does the Christian hope of resurrection provide comfort and motivation for holy living?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
This sobering proverb announces the death of hope for the wicked. "When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish" declares the moment of ultimate reckoning. Rasha (רָשָׁע, wicked) describes the habitually ungodly. "Expectation" (tiqvah, תִּקְוָה) means hope, thing waited for, confident expectation. For the wicked, death doesn't fulfill hopes but annihilates them—toved (תֹּאבֵד, shall perish, be destroyed).
The parallel clause intensifies: "and the hope of unjust men perisheth." Tokhelet aven (תּוֹחֶלֶת אָוֶן, hope of iniquity or hope of wicked men) emphasizes the futility of ungodly aspirations. Everything the wicked hoped for—pleasure, power, possessions—vanishes at death. They stored up treasures for themselves without being rich toward God (Luke 12:20-21).
This proverb confronts the illusion that wickedness pays. The wicked may prosper temporarily, building hopes on earthly foundations. But death exposes the bankruptcy of godless life. Job 8:13-14 warns: "The hypocrite's hope shall perish: Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web." By contrast, the righteous have hope in death (Proverbs 14:32), for their treasure is in heaven (Matthew 6:20). Christ's resurrection guarantees that Christian hope transcends the grave—"we which have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us" (Hebrews 6:18).