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Selected Verse: Psalms 37:20 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ps 37:20	Strong Concordance	But the wicked [07563] shall perish [06], and the enemies [0341] of the LORD [03068] shall be as the fat [03368] of lambs [03733]: they shall consume [03615]; into smoke [06227] shall they consume away [03615].
	King James	But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
While the wicked, however mighty, are destroyed, and that utterly, as smoke which vanishes and leaves no trace.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

While the wicked, however mighty, are destroyed, and that utterly, as smoke which vanishes and leaves no trace.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
But the wicked shall perish - The general sentiment here is the same as in Psa 1:1-6, that the righteous shall be prospered and saved, and that the wicked shall perish. See the notes at Psa 1:4-5. The word "perish" here would be applicable to any form of destruction - death here, or death hereafter - for it is equivalent to the idea that they shall be "destroyed." Whether the psalmist means here to refer to the fact that they will be cut off from the earth, or will be punished hereafter in the world of woe, cannot be determined from the word itself. It is most probable, as appears from other parts of the psalm, that he refers particularly to the fact that they will be cut down in their sins; that their lives will be shortened by their crimes; that they will by their conduct expose themselves to the displeasure of God, and thus be cut off. The "word" used, however, would also express the idea of destruction in the future world in any form, and may have a significance beyond anything that can befall men in this life. Compare Th2 1:8; Mat 25:46. And the enemies of the Lord - All the enemies of God; all who can properly be regarded as his foes. Shall be as the fat of lambs - Margin, "the preciousness of lambs." Gesenius renders this, "like the beauty of the pastures." Prof. Alexander, "like the precious" (part) "of lambs;" that is, the sacrificial parts, or the parts that were consumed in sacrifice. De Wette, "as the splendor of the pasture." The Vulgate and the Septuagint render it: "the enemies of the Lord, as soon as they are honored and exalted, shall fail as if they were smoke." Rosenmuller renders it as it is in our common version. It is not easy to determine the meaning. The word rendered "fat" - יקר yâqâr - means properly that which is precious, costly, weighty, as precious gems; then, anything dear, beloved, or valuable; then, that which is honored, splendid, beautiful, rare. It is in no other instance rendered "fat;" and it cannot be so rendered here, except as "fat" was considered valuable or precious. But this is a forced idea. The word כר kar, properly and commonly means a "lamb;" but it also may the "pasture" or "meadow" where lambs feed. Psa 65:13 : "the "pastures" - כרים kariym - are clothed with flocks." Isa 30:23, "in that day shall thy cattle feed in large "pastures" - where the same word occurs. It seems to me, therefore, that the interpretation of Gesenius, DeWette, and others, is the correct interpretation, and that the idea is, that the wicked in their pride, beauty, and wealth, shall be like the meadow covered with grass and flowers, soon to be cut down by the scythe of the mower, or by the frosts of winter. This image often occurs: Mat 6:30; Psa 90:5-6; Isa 40:6-8; Jam 1:10; Pe1 1:24. They shall consume - The word used here means to be completed or finished; to be consumed or spent, as by fire, or in any other manner; to pine away by weeping, Lam 2:11; to vanish as a cloud or smoke, Job 7:9. Into smoke - The meaning here is not that they will vanish as the fat of lambs does in sacrifice, but simply that they will pass away as smoke entirely disappears. All that there was of them - their wealth, their splendor, their power - shall utterly vanish away. This is spoken in contrast with what would be the condition of the righteous.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

But the wicked shall perish - The general sentiment here is the same as in Psa 1:1-6, that the righteous shall be prospered and saved, and that the wicked shall perish. See the notes at Psa 1:4-5. The word "perish" here would be applicable to any form of destruction - death here, or death hereafter - for it is equivalent to the idea that they shall be "destroyed." Whether the psalmist means here to refer to the fact that they will be cut off from the earth, or will be punished hereafter in the world of woe, cannot be determined from the word itself. It is most probable, as appears from other parts of the psalm, that he refers particularly to the fact that they will be cut down in their sins; that their lives will be shortened by their crimes; that they will by their conduct expose themselves to the displeasure of God, and thus be cut off. The "word" used, however, would also express the idea of destruction in the future world in any form, and may have a significance beyond anything that can befall men in this life. Compare Th2 1:8; Mat 25:46.

And the enemies of the Lord - All the enemies of God; all who can properly be regarded as his foes.

Shall be as the fat of lambs - Margin, "the preciousness of lambs." Gesenius renders this, "like the beauty of the pastures." Prof. Alexander, "like the precious" (part) "of lambs;" that is, the sacrificial parts, or the parts that were consumed in sacrifice. De Wette, "as the splendor of the pasture." The Vulgate and the Septuagint render it: "the enemies of the Lord, as soon as they are honored and exalted, shall fail as if they were smoke." Rosenmuller renders it as it is in our common version. It is not easy to determine the meaning. The word rendered "fat" - יקר yâqâr - means properly that which is precious, costly, weighty, as precious gems; then, anything dear, beloved, or valuable; then, that which is honored, splendid, beautiful, rare. It is in no other instance rendered "fat;" and it cannot be so rendered here, except as "fat" was considered valuable or precious. But this is a forced idea. The word כר kar, properly and commonly means a "lamb;" but it also may the "pasture" or "meadow" where lambs feed. Psa 65:13 : "the "pastures" - כרים kariym - are clothed with flocks." Isa 30:23, "in that day shall thy cattle feed in large "pastures" - where the same word occurs. It seems to me, therefore, that the interpretation of Gesenius, DeWette, and others, is the correct interpretation, and that the idea is, that the wicked in their pride, beauty, and wealth, shall be like the meadow covered with grass and flowers, soon to be cut down by the scythe of the mower, or by the frosts of winter. This image often occurs: Mat 6:30; Psa 90:5-6; Isa 40:6-8; Jam 1:10; Pe1 1:24.

They shall consume - The word used here means to be completed or finished; to be consumed or spent, as by fire, or in any other manner; to pine away by weeping, Lam 2:11; to vanish as a cloud or smoke, Job 7:9.

Into smoke - The meaning here is not that they will vanish as the fat of lambs does in sacrifice, but simply that they will pass away as smoke entirely disappears. All that there was of them - their wealth, their splendor, their power - shall utterly vanish away. This is spoken in contrast with what would be the condition of the righteous.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
With כּי the preceding assertion is confirmed by its opposite (cf. Psa 130:4). כּיקר בּרים forms a fine play in sound; יקר is a substantivized adjective like גּדל ekil evitcejda, Exo 15:16. Instead of בעשׁן, it is not to be read כּעשׁן, Hos 13:3; the ב is secured by Psa 102:4; Psa 78:33. The idea is, that they vanish into smoke, i.e., are resolved into it, or also, that they vanish in the manner of smoke, which is first thick, but then becomes thinner and thinner till it disappears (Rosenm׬ller, Hupfeld, Hitzig); both expressions are admissible as to fact and as to the language, and the latter is commended by בּהבל, Psa 78:33, cf. בּצלם, Psa 39:7. בעשׁן belongs to the first, regularly accented כּלוּ; for the Munach by בעשׂן is the substitute for Mugrash, which never can be used where at least two syllables do not precede the Silluk tone (vid., Psalter ii. 503). The second כּלוּ has the accent on the penult. for a change (Ew. 194, c), i.e., variation of the rhythm (cf. למה למה, Psa 42:10; Psa 43:2; עורי עורי, Jdg 5:12, and on Psa 137:7), and in particular here on account of its pausal position (cf. ערוּ, Psa 137:7).

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Fat - Which in an instant melts before the fire.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
The enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs - This verse has given the critics some trouble. Several of the Versions read thus: "But the enemies of the Lord, as soon as they are exalted to honor, shall vanish; like smoke they vanish." If we follow the Hebreto, it intimates that they shall consume as the fat of lambs. That is, as the fat is wholly consumed in sacrifices by the fire on the altar, so shall they consume away in the fire of God's wrath.

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⁹ As the cloud [06051] is consumed [03615] and vanisheth away [03212]: so he that goeth down [03381] to the grave [07585] shall come up [05927] no more.

¹¹ Mine eyes [05869] do fail [03615] with tears [01832], my bowels [04578] are troubled [02560], my liver [03516] is poured [08210] upon the earth [0776], for the destruction [07667] of the daughter [01323] of my people [05971]; because the children [05768] and the sucklings [03243] swoon [05848] in the streets [07339] of the city [07151].

²⁴ For [1360] all [3956] flesh [4561] is as [5613] grass [5528], and [2532] all [3956] the glory [1391] of man [444] as [5613] the flower [438] of grass [5528]. The grass [5528] withereth [3583], and [2532] the flower [438] thereof [846] falleth away [1601]:

¹⁰ But [1161] the rich [4145], in [1722] that he [846] is made low [5014]: because [3754] as [5613] the flower [438] of the grass [5528] he shall pass away [3928].

⁶ The voice [06963] said [0559], Cry [07121]. And he said [0559], What shall I cry [07121]? All flesh [01320] is grass [02682], and all the goodliness [02617] thereof is as the flower [06731] of the field [07704]:
⁷ The grass [02682] withereth [03001], the flower [06731] fadeth [05034]: because the spirit [07307] of the LORD [03068] bloweth [05380] upon it: surely [0403] the people [05971] is grass [02682].
⁸ The grass [02682] withereth [03001], the flower [06731] fadeth [05034]: but the word [01697] of our God [0430] shall stand [06965] for ever [05769].

⁵ Thou carriest them away as with a flood [02229]; they are as a sleep [08142]: in the morning [01242] they are like grass [02682] which groweth up [02498].
⁶ In the morning [01242] it flourisheth [06692], and groweth up [02498]; in the evening [06153] it is cut down [04135], and withereth [03001].

³⁰ Wherefore [1161], if [1487] God [2316] so [3779] clothe [294] the grass [5528] of the field [68], which to day [4594] is [5607], and [2532] to morrow [839] is cast [906] into [1519] the oven [2823], shall he not [3756] much [4183] more [3123] clothe you [5209], O ye of little faith [3640]?

²³ Then shall he give [05414] the rain [04306] of thy seed [02233], that thou shalt sow [02232] the ground [0127] withal; and bread [03899] of the increase [08393] of the earth [0127], and it shall be fat [01879] and plenteous [08082]: in that day [03117] shall thy cattle [04735] feed [07462] in large [07337] pastures [03733].

¹³ The pastures [03733] are clothed [03847] with flocks [06629]; the valleys [06010] also are covered over [05848] with corn [01250]; they shout for joy [07321], they also sing [07891].

⁴⁶ And [2532] these [3778] shall go away [565] into [1519] everlasting [166] punishment [2851]: but [1161] the righteous [1342] into [1519] life [2222] eternal [166].

⁸ In [1722] flaming [5395] fire [4442] taking [1325] vengeance [1557] on them that know [1492] not [3361] God [2316], and [2532] that obey [5219] not [3361] the gospel [2098] of our [2257] Lord [2962] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547]:

⁴ The ungodly [07563] are not so: but are like the chaff [04671] which the wind [07307] driveth away [05086].
⁵ Therefore the ungodly [07563] shall not stand [06965] in the judgment [04941], nor sinners [02400] in the congregation [05712] of the righteous [06662].

¹ Blessed [0835] is the man [0376] that walketh [01980] not in the counsel [06098] of the ungodly [07563], nor standeth [05975] in the way [01870] of sinners [02400], nor sitteth [03427] in the seat [04186] of the scornful [03887].
² But his delight [02656] is in the law [08451] of the LORD [03068]; and in his law [08451] doth he meditate [01897] day [03119] and night [03915].
³ And he shall be like a tree [06086] planted [08362] by the rivers [06388] of water [04325], that bringeth forth [05414] his fruit [06529] in his season [06256]; his leaf [05929] also shall not wither [05034]; and whatsoever he doeth [06213] shall prosper [06743].
⁴ The ungodly [07563] are not so: but are like the chaff [04671] which the wind [07307] driveth away [05086].
⁵ Therefore the ungodly [07563] shall not stand [06965] in the judgment [04941], nor sinners [02400] in the congregation [05712] of the righteous [06662].
⁶ For the LORD [03068] knoweth [03045] the way [01870] of the righteous [06662]: but the way [01870] of the ungodly [07563] shall perish [06].

⁷ Remember [02142], O LORD [03068], the children [01121] of Edom [0123] in the day [03117] of Jerusalem [03389]; who said [0559], Rase [06168] it, rase [06168] it, even to the foundation [03247] thereof.

¹² Awake [05782], awake [05782], Deborah [01683]: awake [05782], awake [05782], utter [01696] a song [07892]: arise [06965], Barak [01301], and lead thy captivity [07628] captive [07617], thou son [01121] of Abinoam [042].

² For thou art the God [0430] of my strength [04581]: why dost thou cast me off [02186]? why go [01980] I mourning [06937] because of the oppression [03906] of the enemy [0341]?

¹⁰ As with a sword [07524] in my bones [06106], mine enemies [06887] reproach [02778] me; while they say [0559] daily [03117] unto me, Where is thy God [0430]?

⁷ And now, Lord [0136], what wait [06960] I for? my hope [08431] is in thee.

³³ Therefore their days [03117] did he consume [03615] in vanity [01892], and their years [08141] in trouble [0928].

⁴ My heart [03820] is smitten [05221], and withered [03001] like grass [06212]; so that I forget [07911] to eat [0398] my bread [03899].

³ Therefore they shall be as the morning [01242] cloud [06051], and as the early [07925] dew [02919] that passeth away [01980], as the chaff [04671] that is driven with the whirlwind [05590] out of the floor [01637], and as the smoke [06227] out of the chimney [0699].

¹⁶ Fear [0367] and dread [06343] shall fall [05307] upon them; by the greatness [01419] of thine arm [02220] they shall be as still [01826] as a stone [068]; till thy people [05971] pass over [05674], O LORD [03068], till the people [05971] pass over [05674], which [02098] thou hast purchased [07069].

⁴ But there is forgiveness [05547] with thee, that thou mayest be feared [03372].