Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 29:16
When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall.
16. are multiplied ] “Or, are in authority,” R.V. marg. See Pro 29:2, note.
shall see ] shall look upon, R.V., with thoughtful satisfaction. Comp. Psa 37:34; Psa 112:8.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 16. When the wicked are multiplied] That, in the multiplication of the wicked transgression is increased, requires no proof; but an important doctrine attaches to this. On this account wicked nations and wicked families are cut off and rooted out. Were it not so righteousness would in process of time be banished from the earth. This will account for many of the numerous instances in which whole families fail.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Are multiplied; or rather, are advanced, because this is opposed to their
falling in the next clause; and so this Hebrew word is taken above, Pro 29:2.
Transgression increaseth; sin and sinners abound and grow impudent by impunity, and the example and encouragement of such rulers.
Their fall; the destruction of such transgressors in due time.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
16. (Compare Pro 29:2;Pro 29:12; Psa 12:1-8).
shall see . . . fallandtriumph in it (Psa 37:34-38;Psa 58:10; Psa 58:11).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
When the wicked are multiplied,…. Or “are in authority” r; as the word is rendered, Pr 29:2;
transgression increaseth; among the common people, being encouraged by their wicked rulers, whose examples they follow; or as the wicked themselves increase, in numbers, in age, in power, and riches, their sins increase too;
but the righteous shall see their fall, from their places of authority and power, of honour, riches, and grandeur, into a low and despicable condition, into ruin and destruction; and that with pleasure, because of the glory of God, his wisdom, justice, truth, and faithfulness, displayed therein; see Ps 58:10.
r “dominantibus impiis”; some in Mercerus; “quum praesunt impii”, Tigurine version.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
16 When the godless increase, wickedness increaseth;
But the righteous shall see their fall.
The lxx translation is not bad: ( vid., regarding , Pro 29:2, Pro 28:28); but in the main it is only a Binsenwahrheit , as they say in Swabia, i.e., a trivial saying. The proverb means, that if among a people the party of the godless increases in number, and at the same time in power, wickedness, i.e., a falling away into sins of thought and conduct, and therewith wickedness, prevails. When irreligion and the destruction of morals thus increase, the righteous are troubled; but the conduct of the godless carries the judgment in itself, and the righteous shall with joy perceive, in the righteous retribution of God, that the godless man will be cast down from his power and influence. This proverb is like a motto to Psa 12:1-8.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall.
Note, 1. The more sinners there are the more sin there is: When the wicked, being countenanced by authority, grow numerous, and walk on every side, no marvel if transgression increases, as a plague in the country is said to increase when still more and more are infected with it. Transgression grows more impudent and bold, more imperious and threatening, when there are many to keep it in countenance. In the old world, when men began to multiply, they began to degenerate and corrupt themselves and one another. 2. The more sin there is the nearer is the ruin threatened. Let not the righteous have their faith and hope shocked by the increase of sin and sinners. Let them not say that they have cleansed their hands in vain, or that God has forsaken the earth, but wait with patience; the transgressors shall fall, the measure of their iniquity will be full, and then they shall fall from their dignity and power, and fall into disgrace and destruction, and the righteous shall have the satisfaction of seeing their fall (Ps. xxxvii. 34), perhaps in this world, certainly in the judgment of the great day, when the fall of God’s implacable enemies will be the joy and triumph of glorified saints. See Isa 66:24; Gen 19:28.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
The Wicked Shall Fall
Verse 16 reveals a sequel to Pro 29:2 for the righteous. Although it is ill for the righteous when the wicked are in control, the righteous are assured that evil rule is only temporary and will eventually fall, Pro 21:12; Psa 37:34-36; Psa 58:10; Psa 91:8; Psa 92:11.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
MAIN HOMILETICS OF Pro. 29:16
VICTORY NOT WITH THE MAJORITY
I. There is no necessary connection between numbers and righteousness. Weeds grow faster than wheat, and are much more abundant than the grain. But the simple fact that there are more weeds than there is corn does not alter the character of either. In the same field it may happen that there is more to bind for fuel than for foodthat the tares far outnumber the ears of wheatand in this case the worth is on the side of the smaller quantity. So is it in the moral field of the world. It is a startling fact that under the government of God the wicked are permitted to multiplythat when a man sets himself in opposition to his Maker, he is not at once removed from the earth, but is permitted to live and use his life to make other men wicked like himself. We may sometimes be inclined to ask with the patriarch, Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power (Job. 21:7), and the question may be difficult for us to answer: but this we must never forget, that neither with man nor with God is there any necessary connection between quantity and quality, between worth and abundance.
II. Neither are numbers any guarantee of victory. The greatness of a tree and the number of its branches do not make it certain that it will outlive the stormon the contrary, its great bulk and height are often the causes of its fall. When the wicked multiply, and so increase transgression, they sometimes lose sight of their personal sin and danger in the sin and danger of the multitude, and persuade themselves that there is safety in numbers. But the very opposite is the case. Men grow more bold in transgression in proportion as they are surrounded with other transgressors, and venture to do deeds of wickedness when in company with others that they would fear to commit alone. And so the multiplication of the wicked, as it increases transgression, is the means of hastening their fall instead of retarding it. It was when men began to multiply upon the face of the earth (Gen. 6:1) that their wickedness became so great as to compel God to destroy them by a flood. It was the combination of the entire Jewish nation that enabled them to commit the crime of crucifying the Lord of Glory, but it was this increase of transgression that led to their final fall.
OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS
Combination emboldens in sin. (Isa. 41:7.) Each particle of the mass is corrupt. The mass therefore of itself ferments with evil. Hence the prevalence of infidelity in our densely crowded districts above the more thinly populated villages. There is the same evil in individual hearts, but not the same fermentation of evil.Bridges.
The reference is, in all probability, to the influence of wicked rulers in promoting the increase of wickedness in the community, which requires not either illustration or proof.But the righteous shall see their fall.Their fall, that is, from power and authority. It is not the final fallthe perdition of the wicked, that is intended. In that the righteous have no pleasure. Herein they resemble God; are of one mind and heart with Him. He says, and confirms it by His oathAs I live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked. In the execution of the sentence against them, God glorifies Himself; and the righteous solemnly acquiesce, acknowledging and celebrating the justice of the divine administration:Even so, Lord God, Almighty, for true and righteous are Thy judgments! But pleasure in witnessing the execution of the sentence, we cannot, we must not, for a moment, imagine them to have.Wardlaw.
Cyrillus Alexandrinus tells us, when man was alone upon the earth there was then no such matter as sinning. Much company in sin ever makes more, it being the weakness of mans understanding to fear little hurt and danger, where many run into it, and it being the nature of wickedness to take strength from a multitude, as not fearing then to be opposed or resisted.Jermin.
For Homiletics on the subject of Pro. 29:17, see on chap. Pro. 19:18, page 573.
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
(16) But the righteous shall see their fall with joy (Psa. 54:7), having long expected it (ibid, Psa. 73:18, sqq.).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
16. When the wicked are multiplied Magnified, become great in power, authority, office.
Transgression increaseth Becomes great; crimes are greater in number and in enormity from the example or complicity of those in power. There appears to be a paronomasia on the words , ( birbhoth,) and , ( yirbeh,) from the same root, , ( rabhah,) which signifies either to become many, or to become great when the wicked increase, transgression increases. Comp. Pro 29:2. See their fall Their ruin. The righteous shall be there to look on. Patrick says: “Shall have pleasure to see their downfall.” There may be nothing wicked in rejoicing over the fall of bad rulers. It may proceed from benevolence rather than from malice. Compare Psa 58:10, Psa 91:8.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Pro 29:16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall.
Ver. 16. When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth. ] As saith the proverb of the ancients: Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked. Miserable man hath, by his fall from God, contracted a necessity of sinning against God. And when a rabble of rebels are gotten together, are grown many and mighty, they make account to carry all before them, and not to suffer a godly man to live – as in Spain, and where the Inquisition is admitted. But the righteous shall see their fall; shall see it and rejoice at it, as the Hebrew doctors expound this text by comparing it with Oba 1:12-13 , “Thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day of his calamity, neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah,” &c. “The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance”; being moved with a zeal of God, he shall rejoice with trembling; “he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked”; beholding their ruin he shall become more cautious; a “so that a man shall say,” – any man but of an ordinary capacity shall make this observation – “Verily, there is a reward for the righteous; verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth,” Psa 58:10-11 that will sink to the bottom the bottle of wickedness, when once filled with those bitter waters. Gen 15:16
a Alterius perditio tua cautio.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the wicked = wicked ones.
multiplied = increased in authority or position. Not necessarily in number. Compare Pro 29:2, and see note on Pro 4:10.
transgression. Hebrew. pasha’. App-44.
see their fall = see into (the symptoms and causes of) their fall: i.e. fall caused by external circumstances.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Pro 29:16
Pro 29:16
“When the wicked are increased, transgression increaseth; But the righteous shall look upon their fall.”
Other proverbs in the same vein of thought are: Pro 11:10-11; Pro 28:12; Pro 28:28; and Pro 29:2, above. See comments under those references. “Here the proverb carries the theme further than the other passages by its closing assurance.
Pro 29:16. The more wicked those people are, the more sin there will be. Sin spreads like a mighty contagion: Because iniquity shall be multiplied, the love of the many will wax cold (Mat 24:12). John tells us that there has been a big take-over of this world by sin: The whole world lieth in the evil one (1Jn 5:19). Paul speaks of this present evil world (Gal 1:4). If you follow the crowd, you will be lost, for Jesus said, Wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby (Mat 7:14). Knowing the tendency of mankind to do whatever the crowd does, Exo 23:2 says, Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to turn aside after a multitude to wrest justice. Thank God, there will always be some who will not give in to the ways of the world. They are the righteous. There will always be a Noah or a Jeremiah or an Elijah or a Daniel or a Caleb and Joshua to uphold what is right and who will be spared when the wicked fall: He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall surely abide under the shadow of the Almighty…A thousand shall fall at thy side, And ten thousand at thy right hand; But it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold, And see the reward of the wicked (Psa 91:1-8).
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
the wicked: Pro 29:2, *marg.
but: Psa 37:34, Psa 37:36, Psa 58:10, Psa 91:8, Psa 92:9, Psa 92:11, Psa 112:8, Rev 15:4, Rev 18:20
Reciprocal: Pro 18:3 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Pro 29:16. When the wicked are multiplied Or rather, are advanced, or in authority, as the word , is understood, Pro 29:2; transgression increaseth Sin and sinners abound, and grow impudent by impunity, and the example and encouragement of such rulers. But the righteous shall see their fall The destruction of such transgressors in due time.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
We must take the divine perspective here as in all the proverbs. Some individual cases may not fit the principle, but generally the principle holds true. The righteous will prevail, and the wicked will fail, eventually.