Proverbs 21:12
The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.
Original Language Analysis
מַשְׂכִּ֣יל
man wisely considereth
H7919
מַשְׂכִּ֣יל
man wisely considereth
Strong's:
H7919
Word #:
1 of 7
to be (causatively, make or act) circumspect and hence, intelligent
לְבֵ֣ית
the house
H1004
לְבֵ֣ית
the house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
3 of 7
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
רְשָׁעִ֣ים
of the wicked
H7563
רְשָׁעִ֣ים
of the wicked
Strong's:
H7563
Word #:
4 of 7
morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
מְסַלֵּ֖ף
but God overthroweth
H5557
מְסַלֵּ֖ף
but God overthroweth
Strong's:
H5557
Word #:
5 of 7
properly, to wrench, i.e., (figuratively) to subvert
Cross References
Proverbs 14:11The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.Psalms 52:5God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.Psalms 107:43Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.Job 5:3I have seen the foolish taking root: but suddenly I cursed his habitation.Proverbs 14:32The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.1 Corinthians 10:5But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.Amos 4:11I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.Job 8:15He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.Proverbs 13:6Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.Genesis 19:29And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.
Historical Context
Israel's history repeatedly demonstrated this principle: wicked houses (Ahab, Jeroboam) fell under divine judgment while God preserved the righteous remnant.
Questions for Reflection
- Do you trust that God sees and will judge all wickedness, or are you tempted to take matters into your own hands?
- How should knowing God observes your household affect your behavior behind closed doors?
Analysis & Commentary
The 'righteous man' here likely refers to God Himself, the ultimately Righteous One who 'wisely considereth the house of the wicked.' God observes the wicked's dwelling—their entire life and household—with perfect knowledge and just judgment. He then 'overthroweth' them in judgment. This assures believers that God sees all wickedness and will certainly judge it. No evil escapes divine notice or escapes ultimate accountability. God's timing may seem slow by human standards, but His justice is certain. This should produce both comfort (God will vindicate the oppressed) and warning (no one evades accountability). The same God who numbers hairs on heads also catalogs every wicked deed for final judgment.