Proverbs 13:21

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Proverbs 13:21 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Evil pursueth sinners; But the righteous shall be recompensed with good.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Evil pursueth sinners; But the righteous shall be recompensed with good.
Proverbs 13:21 — American Standard Version

Context — Proverbs 13

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
21Evil pursueth sinners; But the righteous shall be recompensed with good.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Evil pursueth sinners, etc.] They pursue the evil of sin, and the evil of punishment pursues them, and at last overtakes them; their damnation, though it may seem to slumber and linger, it does not; it is upon the full speed after them, and will quickly seize upon them. Some understand this of the evil of sin in the conscience, which pursues the sinner, and fills him with terror; but to the righteous good shall be repaid; or, “he shall recompense the righteous with good”f381, or “good to the righteous”; that is, God shall do it; for all the good things they have done, from a right principle, and to a right end; which good works of theirs will pursue and follow them; and for all the ill…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“(Compare Pro 11:31). good . . . repaid--or, "He (God) will repay good."”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Evil - Punishment proportionable to their sin. Proverbs 13:23”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“pursueth: Gen 4:7; Num 32:23; Psa 32:10, Psa 140:11; Act 28:4 righteous: Isa 3:10, Isa 3:11; Rom 2:7-10 Proverbs 13:22”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“21 Evil pursueth sinners, And the righteous is repaid with good. To תּרדּף of the punishment which follows after sinners at their heels, cf. Nah 1:8. Greek art gives wings to Nemesis in this sense. To translate 21b, with Lwenstein, "The pious, the good rewards them," is untenable, for טוב, the good (e.g., Pro 11:27), never appears personified, only טוב, goodness, Psa 23:6, according to which the lxx τοὺς δὲ δικαίους καταλήψεται (ישׂיג) ἀγαθά. Still less is טוב meant personally, as the Venet. τὰ δὲ δίκαια ἀποδώσει χρηστός, which probably means: righteous conduct will a good one, viz., God, reward. טוב .dr is an attribute of God, but never the name of God. So the verb שׁלּם, after…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification