Proverbs 21:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, and the traitor for the upright.

NIV: The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the upright.

NASB: The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, And the treacherous is in the place of the upright.

CSB: The wicked are a ransom for the righteous, and the treacherous, for the upright.

NLT: The wicked are punished in place of the godly, and traitors in place of the honest.

KJV: The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.

NKJV: The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, And the unfaithful for the upright.

Throughout history God's people have suffered at the hands of wicked people, but someday God's people will be avenged. The wicked will be punished, and the righteous will be free of suffering. The meaning of this proverb seems to be that God's holy anger will turn to those who defy Him, and away from those who seek to honor His name. An earlier proverb echoed this concept in broad terms (Proverbs 11:8). When the wicked fall under God's wrath, they can no longer persecute believers, and those believers are "ransomed" from their hardships.

When Achan was punished for his treacherous act of stealing what was devoted to the Lord for destruction, he was a ransom for Israel. Israel was then able to defeat the men of Ai (Joshua 7:1—8:29). The book of Esther provides another example of the wicked becoming a ransom for the righteous. Wicked Haman passionately tried to kill righteous Mordecai. He even prepared gallows for Mordecai's execution. However, in the end Haman perished on the gallows he had built for Mordecai. God's people will not suffer forever. Someday God will wipe all tears from their eyes and punish the wicked. Until that day, we have the assurance that "the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness an unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth" (Romans 1:18).

This chapter begins and ends with a declaration of God's sovereignty. He alone judges the heart; the Lord considers intentions just as important as physical actions. Other comments include statements about unpleasant spouses, proper perspectives on wealth, work ethic, and the essential nature of godly wisdom. Human wisdom is no match for the sovereign Lord, who alone is ultimately responsible for victory in battle.

This is part of the second major section of the book (Proverbs 10—22) featuring nearly four hundred statements. Most of these are two-line comments presenting common sense and general wisdom. The vague theme of chapter 21 is God's control. Man may believe he is in control of his circumstances, but God superintends everything. The chapter begins and ends by assuring the readers that God holds ultimate sway over all things.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.