Bible Strands
Proverbs 11:7
When the wicked man dies, his hope perishes, and the hope of his strength vanishes.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Positioned between Proverbs 11:6 and 11:8, the verse functions as a wisdom contrast within a chapter that repeatedly pairs the fate of the righteous with that of the wicked.
The words — The Hebrew תִּקְוָה (tikvah) and תוֹחֶלֶת (tochelet) both translate to hope or expectation, while אוֹנִים ('onim) denotes strength or power. The verb אָבַד ('avad) appears twice to mark how these hopes are lost and perish at death.
The thread — This pattern appears in Proverbs 10:28, which contrasts the righteous man's joy with the wicked man's perishing expectations, and Job 8:13, which declares the hope of the godless will perish.
Why it lands — The text states that death terminates the wicked man's expectations and his reliance on his own strength. It requires the reader to acknowledge that earthly power offers no enduring security when mortality arrives.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 10:28 The hope of the righteous is joy, but the expectations of the wicked will perish.
- Job 8:13 Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so the hope of the godless will perish.
- Job 11:20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; they will hope for their last breath.”
- Exodus 15:9 The enemy declared, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword; my hand will destroy them.’
- Psalms 146:4 When his spirit departs, he returns to the ground; on that very day his plans perish.
- Proverbs 14:32 The wicked man is thrown down by his own sin, but the righteous man has a refuge even in death.
- Luke 12:19 Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’
- Ezekiel 28:9 Will you still say, ‘I am a god,’ in the presence of those who slay you? You will be only a man, not a god, in the hands of those who wound you.