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righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.” The expectation of the righteous
includes God’s judgment on the “wicked” in this life that they might be ashamed (Ps.
31:17), be overcome by sorrows (Ps. 32:10), fall by their devices (Ps. 141:10), and die a
premature death (Prov. 10:27), and that their remembrance will be no more (Prov. 10:7).
It is expected that at the time of their death there will be great shouting: “When it goeth
well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: when the wicked perish, there is shouting”
(Prov. 11:10).
The judgment upon the “wicked” is particularly strong in Proverbs, where the authors
contrast the advantages of wisdom and righteousness and the disadvantages of the
“wicked” (cf. 2:22: “But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors
shall be rooted out of it”). In Job another theme finds expression: why are the “wicked”
not cut off? “Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?”
(21:7). There is no clear answer to this question in the Old Testament. Malachi predicts a
new age in which the distinction of the righteous and the “wicked” will be clear and
where the righteous will triumph: “Then shall ye return, and discern between the
righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that seNeth him not”
(Mal. 3:18).
The Septuagint has three translations of
&
(“godless; impious”);
(“sinner; sinful”), and
(“lawless”).
Two other related nouns occur in the Old Testament.
, which is found about 30
times, usually means “wickedness”: “Remember thy servants, Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob; look not unto the stubborness of this people, nor to their wickedness, nor to their
sin” (Deut. 9:27).
, which appears about 15 times, refers to “wickedness” or
“guilt”: “For my righteousness the Lord hath brought me in to possess this land: but for
the wickedness of these nations the Lord doth drive them out from before thee” (Deut.
9:4).
B. Adjective.
(
, 7563), “wicked; guilty.” This word may also be used as an adjective.
In some cases a person is so guilty that he deserves death: “… If the wicked man be
worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before
his face … by a certain number” (Deut. 25:2). The characteristics of a “wicked” person
qualify him as a godless, impious man: “How much more, when wicked men have slain a
righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his
blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?” (2 Sam. 4:11; cf. Ezek. 3:18-19).
C. Verb.
(
, 7561), “to be wicked, act wickedly.” This verb is derived from the
noun
!
There is a similar root in Ethiopic and Arabic, with the respective meanings
“to forget” and “to be loose.” This verb appears in 2 Chron. 6:37: “Yet if they bethink
themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn and pray unto thee in the
land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done amiss, and have dealt
wickedly.”
WICKEDNESS