Psalms 37:2
Psalms 37:2 in Multiple Translations
For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants.
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb.
For they will quickly be cut down like grass, and become dry like the green plants.
For like grass, they will quickly dry up; like plants, they will soon wither away.
For they shall soone bee cut downe like grasse, and shall wither as the greene herbe.
For as grass speedily they are cut off, And as the greenness of the tender grass do fade.
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither like the green herb.
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
Rebuke me not, O Lord, in thy indignation; nor chastise me in thy wrath.
because they will soon disappear, like grass withers in the hot sun and dries up. Just like some green plants come up but die during the hot summer, evil people will soon die also.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 37:2
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 37:2 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
כִּ֣י
כֶ֭/חָצִיר
מְהֵרָ֣ה
יִמָּ֑לוּ
וּ/כְ/יֶ֥רֶק
דֶּ֝֗שֶׁא
יִבּוֹלֽוּ/ן
כִּ֣י
kîy
H3588
for
Conj
כֶ֭/חָצִיר
châtsîyr
H2682
grass
Prep | N-ms
מְהֵרָ֣ה
mᵉhêrâh
H4120
haste
N-fs
יִמָּ֑לוּ
nâmal
H5243
to languish
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
וּ/כְ/יֶ֥רֶק
yereq
H3418
green
Conj | Prep | N-ms
דֶּ֝֗שֶׁא
desheʼ
H1877
grass
N-ms
יִבּוֹלֽוּ/ן
nâbêl
H5034
be senseless
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 37:2
כִּ֣י
kîy
H3588
"for"
Conj
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Definition: 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
Usage: Occurs in 3910 OT verses. KJV: and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 26:16; Genesis 42:15.
כֶ֭/חָצִיר
châtsîyr
H2682
"grass"
Prep | N-ms
In the Bible, this word can mean grass or a type of plant, like a leek. It appears in Numbers 5:18, describing a ritual involving holy water and a grain offering.
Definition: 1a) grass 1b) of the quickly perishing (fig.)
Usage: Occurs in 20 OT verses. KJV: grass, hay, herb, leek. See also: Numbers 11:5; Psalms 147:8; Psalms 37:2.
מְהֵרָ֣ה
mᵉhêrâh
H4120
"haste"
N-fs
The Hebrew word for haste or speed, often used to describe doing something quickly. It appears in the Old Testament, such as when David acted hastily in 1 Samuel.
Definition: 1) haste, speed 1a) hastily, speedily (as adverb) 1b) in haste (with prep)
Usage: Occurs in 20 OT verses. KJV: hastily, quickly, shortly, soon, make (with) speed(-ily), swiftly. See also: Numbers 17:11; 2 Kings 1:11; Psalms 31:3.
יִמָּ֑לוּ
nâmal
H5243
"to languish"
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
The Hebrew word for to cut or circumcise, as seen in the context of religious rituals. It means to become clipped or specifically circumcised, and is used in various biblical passages.
Definition: 1) to languish, wither, fade 1a) (Qal) to hang down, wither
Usage: Occurs in 5 OT verses. KJV: (branch to) be cut down (off), circumcise. See also: Genesis 17:11; Job 18:16; Psalms 37:2.
וּ/כְ/יֶ֥רֶק
yereq
H3418
"green"
Conj | Prep | N-ms
This Hebrew word describes the green color of plants and vegetation, like grass and young crops. It symbolizes new life and growth, as seen in Genesis and Psalms.
Definition: green, greenness, green plants, greenery
Usage: Occurs in 6 OT verses. KJV: grass, green (thing). See also: Genesis 1:30; Numbers 22:4; Psalms 37:2.
דֶּ֝֗שֶׁא
desheʼ
H1877
"grass"
N-ms
Grass or new growth is what this word refers to, often used to describe the beauty of nature and God's creation. It can also mean tender shoots or green herbs.
Definition: grass, new grass, green herb, vegetation, young Aramaic equivalent: de.te (דֶּ֫תֶא "grass" H1883)
Usage: Occurs in 15 OT verses. KJV: (tender) grass, green, (tender) herb. See also: Genesis 1:11; Psalms 23:2; Psalms 37:2.
יִבּוֹלֽוּ/ן
nâbêl
H5034
"be senseless"
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp | Suff
To wither means to lose strength or fade away, and can also describe someone acting foolishly or wickedly. It is used to convey a sense of decline or failure.
Definition: 1) to be senseless, be foolish 1a) (Qal) to be foolish 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to regard or treat as foolish 1b2) to treat with contempt
Usage: Occurs in 21 OT verses. KJV: disgrace, dishounour, lightly esteem, fade (away, -ing), fall (down, -ling, off), do foolishly, come to nought, [idiom] surely, make vile, wither. See also: Exodus 18:18; Isaiah 28:1; Psalms 1:3.
Study Notes — Psalms 37:2
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 37:2 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 37:2
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 37:2
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 37:2
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 37:2
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 37:2
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 37:2
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 37:2
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 37:2
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 37:2
- Sermons on Psalms 37:2
Context — Delight Yourself in the LORD
1Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong.
2For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants.
3Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. 4Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 92:7 | that though the wicked sprout like grass, and all evildoers flourish, they will be forever destroyed. |
| 2 | Psalms 90:5–6 | You whisk them away in their sleep; they are like the new grass of the morning— in the morning it springs up new, but by evening it fades and withers. |
| 3 | James 1:10–11 | But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its flower falls and its beauty is lost. So too, the rich man will fade away in the midst of his pursuits. |
| 4 | Job 14:2 | Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure. |
| 5 | Psalms 37:35–36 | I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted native tree, yet he passed away and was no more; though I searched, he could not be found. |
| 6 | 1 Peter 1:24 | For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, |
| 7 | Job 20:5–9 | the triumph of the wicked has been brief and the joy of the godless momentary? Though his arrogance reaches the heavens, and his head touches the clouds, he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who had seen him will ask, ‘Where is he?’ He will fly away like a dream, never to be found; he will be chased away like a vision in the night. The eye that saw him will see him no more, and his place will no longer behold him. |
| 8 | Psalms 73:17–20 | until I entered God’s sanctuary; then I discerned their end. Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin. How suddenly they are laid waste, completely swept away by terrors! Like one waking from a dream, so You, O Lord, awaken and despise their form. |
| 9 | Psalms 129:5–7 | May all who hate Zion be turned back in shame. May they be like grass on the rooftops, which withers before it can grow, unable to fill the hands of the reaper, or the arms of the binder of sheaves. |
Psalms 37:2 Summary
[This verse reminds us that people who do bad things will not last long, they will wither away like grass in the sun, as we see in Isaiah 40:6-8. It's like when you leave a plant outside without water, it will soon die. We should not worry about them or wish we could be like them because God will take care of them. Instead, we should focus on trusting in the Lord and doing good, as mentioned in Psalms 37:3, and remember that God's ways are not our ways, as seen in Isaiah 55:8-9.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for the wicked to wither quickly like grass?
This means that those who do evil will soon face the consequences of their actions and will be cut down, just like grass that withers and dies, as seen in Psalms 92:7 and Isaiah 40:6-8.
Why are the wicked compared to tender plants?
The comparison to tender plants emphasizes the fragility and vulnerability of those who do evil, highlighting that they are easily uprooted and destroyed, much like a young plant that cannot withstand harsh weather, as mentioned in Matthew 13:5-6.
How can we apply this verse to our everyday lives?
We can apply this verse by trusting in the Lord and not envying those who do wrong, knowing that their fate is sealed, as seen in Psalms 37:1 and Proverbs 24:19-20.
What is the significance of the word 'quickly' in this verse?
The word 'quickly' emphasizes the sudden and swift nature of God's judgment on the wicked, reminding us that God's timing is not our own, as seen in 2 Peter 3:9 and Ecclesiastes 8:11.
Reflection Questions
- How do I respond when I see others prospering in their wickedness, and what does this verse teach me about God's perspective on the matter?
- In what ways can I trust in the Lord and do good, even when it seems like the wicked are succeeding?
- What are some areas in my life where I need to trust in the Lord's timing and not envy those who do wrong?
- How can I cultivate faithfulness in my daily life, and what role does delighting in the Lord play in this process, as mentioned in Psalms 37:3-4?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 37:2
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 37:2
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. For they ... like the grass.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 37:2
For their happiness, the matter of thy envy, is but shortlived.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 37:2
Psalms 37:2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.Ver. 2. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass] Faenea quadam felicitate temporaliter florent, as Austin phraseth it, but their felicity is short-lived; this proud grass shall be mowed down ere long, Psalms 92:7, if not sooner, yet at death howsoever, which unto them is but a trapdoor to hell. Envy me not my grapes, said that soldier, I must die for them. So may wicked men say of their present prosperity, which is but like Haman’ s banquet before execution.
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 37:2
(2) For they . . .—This inevitable metaphor for the brevity of human life, made still more forcible in an Eastern clime where vegetation is so rapid both in growth and decay, and generally in the Bible applied, without distinction of good or bad, with a mournful sigh over human weakness, becomes here a source of comfort to the godly man. Green herb.—Literally, greenness of herbage.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 37:2
Verse 2. For they shall soon be cut down] They have their portion in this life; and their enjoyment of it cannot be long, for their breath is but a vapour that speedily vanishes away. They fall before death, as the greensward does before the scythe of the mower.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 37:2
2. The grass and the green herb are a common image for what is transient and perishable. See note on Psalms 37:20; and cp. Psalms 90:5 f.; Psalms 103:15 f.; Isaiah 40:6 ff. be cut down] Or, fade. Cp. Job 14:2; Job 18:16 (R.V. marg.).
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 37:2
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass - As the grass in the field is cut down by the mower; that is, however prosperous they may seem to be now, they are like the grass in the meadow which
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 37:2
2. They shall soon be cut down—A reason why we should not envy their prosperity.
Sermons on Psalms 37:2
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Glorious Opposites by Teresa Conlon | In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal story about his son going skydiving and the intense emotions he experienced during the jump. He relates this to the need for believers |
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The Christian in Complete Armour - Part 12 by William Gurnall | William Gurnall emphasizes the necessity of faith as a shield for Christians to quench the fiery darts of the wicked, which represent the temptations and attacks from the enemy. He |
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This Is the Portion of a Wicked Man From God. by F.B. Meyer | F.B. Meyer emphasizes the inevitable connection between wrongdoing and its consequences, as illustrated in the Book of Job. He reflects on the beliefs of Eastern peoples regarding |
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All Things Conspire for Evil to the Sinner by Charles Finney | Charles Finney delivers a powerful sermon emphasizing the dire consequences of sin, asserting that all things conspire for the ruin of the wicked. He contrasts the fate of sinners |
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How’s Your Sowing Coming Along? by Allan Halton | Allan Halton preaches about the current state of the world, highlighting the increase of evil and instability, and the imminent harvest of evil that God will eradicate. He emphasiz |
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Dirt Handsomely Fashioned by Thomas Brooks | Thomas Brooks emphasizes that our physical bodies, formed from dust, are merely 'dirt handsomely fashioned.' He warns against the tendency to pamper the body while neglecting the s |
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If God Could Keep Me From Trouble, Then Why Doesn't He? by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of trusting in the Lord and doing good. He encourages the audience to look for opportunities to do good and to rely on God's p |