Proverbs 11:10 — Word Study
WLCבְּט֣וּב צַ֭דִּיקִים תַּעֲלֹ֣ץ קִרְיָ֑ה וּבַאֲבֹ֖ד רְשָׁעִ֣ים רִנָּֽה׃
BSAWhen the righteoustsaddîyq [just, morally upright] thriveṭûwb [prosper, experience goodness] the cityqiryâh [town, community] rejoicesʻâlats▸ [exults, jumps for joy] and when the wickedrâshâʻ [morally wrong, guilty] perishʼâbad [are destroyed, lost] there are shouts of joyrinnâh [cries, ringing cries, gladness, triumph]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| בְּט֣וּב | in [the] prosperity of | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| צַ֭דִּיקִים | righteous [people] | Adj |
| תַּעֲלֹ֣ץ | it rejoices | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person feminine singular |
| קִרְיָ֑ה | a town | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| וּבַאֲבֹ֖ד | and when perish | Conjunction, preposition, verb qal infinitive construct common |
| רְשָׁעִ֣ים | wicked [people] | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| רִנָּֽה׃ | a shout of joy | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | When the righteous thrive, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy. |
| KJV | When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting. |
| ASV | When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth; And when the wicked perish, there is shouting. |
| YLT | In the good of the righteous a city exulteth, And in the destruction of the wicked [is] singing. |
| WEB | When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices. When the wicked perish, there is shouting. |
| BBE | When things go well for the upright man, all the town is glad; at the death of sinners, there are cries of joy. |
Where they part company is רִנָּה — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has two main clauses connected by 'and', each describing different outcomes based on the moral state of individuals.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectקִרְיָה
verbעָלַץ
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Proverbs 11:10
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Impact of Righteousness on a Communitygenerated
Proverbs 11:10 highlights the connection between the moral conduct of individuals and the overall joy or sorrow within a city. The verse contrasts the flourishing of the righteous with the demise of the wicked, illustrating how their actions influence the community's well-being. This theme resonates throughout Proverbs, emphasizing the consequences of righteousness and wickedness as seen in surrounding verses like Proverbs 11:9 and 11:11.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 28:12–28 | When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves. |
| 2 | Esther 8:15–16 | Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal garments of blue and white, with a large gold crown and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced. |
| 3 | Exodus 15:21 | And Miriam sang back to them: “Sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted; the horse and rider He has thrown into the sea.” |
| 4 | Judges 5:31 | So may all your enemies perish, O LORD! But may those who love You shine like the sun at its brightest.” And the land had rest for forty years. |
| 5 | Job 27:23 | It claps its hands at him and hisses him out of his place. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — צַדִּיקִים, Tza.di.kimgenerated
The word צַדִּיק (tsaddiyq) refers to individuals who are just or morally upright, often in a legal or ethical sense. It is derived from a root that implies righteousness and is used to describe those who align with God's standards.
In this verse, it emphasizes the positive impact of the righteous on their community, suggesting that their moral integrity leads to prosperity and joy. The plural form indicates a collective group of righteous individuals contributing to the city's well-being.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb is תַּעֲלֹ֣ץ (it rejoices), which governs the entire sentence. The structure includes a prepositional phrase indicating the condition of the city, a noun phrase describing the subjects, and a contrasting clause about the wicked.
The sentence is structured to highlight the cause-and-effect relationship between the actions of the righteous and the resulting joy in the city, with the wicked's fate presented as a contrasting outcome.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew צַדִּיקִים is rendered as δικαίων (dikaiōn), which maintains the meaning of righteousness but may imply a broader ethical standard in the Greek context.
The use of κατώρθωσεν for תַּעֲלֹ֣ץ suggests a focus on successful outcomes, emphasizing the joy that arises from the thriving of the righteous.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 11:10 tells us that when good people do well, the city is happy, and when bad people are gone, there is celebration. This shows how the actions of individuals can affect the whole community.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that the good actions and character of righteous people lead to positive outcomes for themselves and their community.
The removal of wicked individuals is seen as a cause for celebration, as their actions often bring harm and distress.
The verse illustrates the interconnectedness of individual morality and community well-being, showing that the behavior of its members directly impacts the overall atmosphere.
Joy is a response to the positive influence of the righteous and the absence of the wicked, highlighting the emotional state of the community based on moral conduct.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I see the impact of righteous behavior in my own community?
- How can I contribute to the joy and well-being of those around me?
- What are some examples of how wickedness has led to negative consequences in society?
- How can understanding this verse influence my own moral choices?
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 11:10 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleWhen it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth,.... As it always does, even in the worst of times; in times of public calamity and distress, and when enemies rise up on all hands; it is
Read John Gill on Proverbs 11 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryWhen it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting. When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 11 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleWhen it goeth well with the righteous, when such men are encouraged and advanced into places of power and trust, the city rejoiceth; the citizens or subjects of that government rejoice, because they confidently expect justice and tranquillity, and many other benefits, by their administration of public affairs. There is shouting; a common rejoicing, partly for the just vengeance of God upon them who have been the instruments of so much mischief; and partly for their deliverance from such public grievances and burdens of the land.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 11 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 11:10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, [there is] shouting.Ver. 10. When it goeth well with the righteous.] When they are set in place of authority, all the country fare the better for it. All cannot choose but do well, so long as thou rulest well, said the senate to Severus the emperor. And Ita nati estis, said he in Tacitus, ut bona malaque vestra ad rempublicam pertineant. Public persons are either a great mercy or a great misery to the whole country. And when the wicked perish, there is shouting. For by their fall the people rise, and their ruin is the repair of the city. " Cum mors crudelem rapuisset saeva Neronem…
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 11 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 10. When it goeth well] An upright, pious, sensible man is a great blessing to the neighbourhood where he resides, by his example, his advice, and his prayers. The considerate prize him on these accounts, and rejoice in his prosperity. But when the wicked perish, who has been a general curse by the contagion of his example and conversation, there is not only no regret expressed for his decease, but a general joy because God has removed him.
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 11 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible10. Goeth well — When they prosper, especially when they are advanced to power and office. Rejoiceth — Exults. The wicked perish — Are cast down from high positions which they unworthily occupied and abused.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 11 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
When the righteous thrive, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices. When the wicked perish, there is shouting.
When the righteous thrive, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
When the righteous do well, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there is joy.
Tyndale line
When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth; And when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
When the righteous prosper, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
In the prosperitie of the righteous the citie reioyceth, and when the wicked perish, there is ioye.
Strictly literal
When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth; and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
In the good of the righteous a city exulteth, And in the destruction of the wicked [is] singing.
A city exults in the good of the righteous, || And in the destruction of the wicked [is] singing.
When it goeth well with the righteous, the town rejoiceth loudly: and when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.
When righteous people prosper, a city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
From the Latin
When it goeth well with the just the city shall rejoice: and when the wicked perish there shall be praise.
Simplified
The whole town celebrates when good people are successful; they also shout for joy when the wicked die.
When things go well for the upright man, all the town is glad; at the death of sinners, there are cries of joy.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text of Proverbs 11:10 reads, 'בְּט֣וּב צַ֭דִּיקִים תַּעֲלֹ֣ץ קִרְיָ֑ה וּבַאֲבֹ֖ד רְשָׁעִ֣ים רִנָּֽה׃' which translates to 'When the goodness of the righteous increases, the city rejoices, but when the wicked perish, there is joy.' The Septuagint closely matches this text, with six out of seven words corresponding to the Hebrew, indicating a high level of agreement. However, the Septuagint's wording and structure differ from the Masoretic Text, as it presents the verse in its own unique sentence form. The Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls do not provide additional variants for this verse, reinforcing the consistency found in the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint.
בְּט֣וּב צַ֭דִּיקִים תַּעֲלֹ֣ץ קִרְיָ֑ה וּבַאֲבֹ֖ד רְשָׁעִ֣ים רִנָּֽה׃
6 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 11:10
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
טוּב (tuv) refers to goodness in various forms, including good things, property, beauty, and joy. It encompasses both concrete and abstract notions of goodness, such as welfare and the goodness of God. The word is derived from a root meaning 'good' and is used broadly in the Old Testament to express positive qualities.
טוּב n.m. good things, goods, goodness
base
H2898 טוּב good things, goods, goodness
2898 tuwb toob
from 2895; good (as a noun), in the widest sense, especially
goodness (superlative concretely, the best), beauty, gladness,
welfare:--fair, gladness, good(-ness, thing, -s), joy, go well
with.
see HEBREW for 02895
טוּב (tuv) — goodness.
1) goods, good things, goodness
1a) good things
1b) goods, property
1c) fairness, beauty, joy, prosperity, goodness (abstract)
1d) goodness (of taste, discernment)
1e) goodness (of God) (abstract)
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular constructHR/Ncmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
צַדִּיק (tsaddiyq) means just or righteous, covering various aspects such as lawful behavior, moral conduct, and being justified by God. It is derived from a related root and is used to describe individuals who are upright in character and actions.
צַדִּיק 206 adj. just, righteous
base
H6662 צַדִּיק just, righteous
6662 tsaddiyq tsad-deek'
from 6663; just:--just, lawful, righteous (man).
see HEBREW for 06663
צַדִּיק (tsad.diq) — righteous.
1) just, lawful, righteous
1a) just, righteous (in government)
1b) just, right (in one's cause)
1c) just, righteous (in conduct and character)
1d) righteous (as justified and vindicated by God)
1e) right, correct, lawful
Adj — AdjHAampa
pe'-p'-l: In English Versions of the Bible represents something over a dozen Hebrew and Greek words. Of these, in the Old Testament, `am, is overwhelmingly the most common (about 2,000 times), with le'om, and goy, next in order; but the various Hebrew words are used with very little or no difference in force (e.g. Pr 14:28; but, on the other hand, in Ps 44 contrast verses 12 and 14). Of the changes introduced by the Revised Version (British and American) the only one of significance (cited explicitly in the Preface to the English Revised Version) is the frequent use of the plural "peoples" (strangely avoided in the King James Version except Re 10:11; 17:15), where other nations than Israel are in question. So, for instance, in Ps…
עָלַץ (alats) is a primitive root meaning to rejoice or exult. It conveys a sense of jumping for joy or triumphing, primarily found in the Qal form. The entries consistently emphasize its joyful connotation without notable disagreement.
עָלַץ vb. rejoice, exult
base
H5970 עָלַץ rejoice, exult
5970 `alats aw-lats'
a primitive root; to jump for joy, i.e. exult:--be joyful,
rejoice, triumph.
עָלַץ (a.lats) — to rejoice.
1) to rejoice, exult
1a) (Qal) to exult
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person feminine singularHVqi3fs
קִרְיָה (qiryah) means 'town' or 'city' and is derived from the root associated with building. It covers general, specific, collective, and indefinite uses of the term. The Aramaic equivalent is also קִרְיָה (qir.yah).
קִרְיָה n.f. town, city
base
H7151 קִרְיָה town, city
7151 qiryah kir-yaw'
from 7136 in the sense of flooring, i.e. building; a
city:--city.
see HEBREW for 07136
קִרְיָה (qir.yah) — town.
1) city, town
1a) in general
1b) in specific
1c) collective
1d) indefinite
Aramaic equivalent: qir.yah (קִרְיָה "town" H7149)
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
toun: This word is used to represent a number of different Hob terms in the Old Testament.
(1) When any explanatory word or attendant circumstances show that a "city" was unwalled, and sometimes in the contrary case (1Sa 23:7), the Hebrew `ir is translated "town" by the King James Version, and the Revised Version (British and American) generally agrees with it (De 3:5; 1Sa 27:5; Es 9:19).
(2) Both the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) translate chawwoth by "towns" (Nu 32:41; Jos 13:30; 1Ki…
→ See CITY
אָבַד (abad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to perish or be lost. It encompasses a range of meanings, including dying, vanishing, and destruction, often in a moral or judgment context. The word appears in various forms in the Old Testament, with uses related to individuals, nations, and inanimate objects. The lexicons indicate that it can also imply causing something to perish or stray.
אָבַד vb. perish (M I אבד, As. abâtu Dl W 184 Aram אֲבַד, Syriac).—
Qal Pf. א׳ Nu 21:30 +; אָבְדוּ ψ 10:16 + (+ Ez 6:3 𝔊 Co) etc.; Impf. יֹאבַד Jb 3:3 Je 4:9; יֹאבֵ֑ד Jb 20:7 + 2t.; 3fs. תֹּאבַד Dt 22:3 + 4t.; תֹּאבֵ֑ד Jb 8:13 + 3t.; יֹאבְדוּ Ju 5:31 + 3t.; יֹאבֵ֑דוּ Jb 4:9 +; 3fpl. וַתֹּאבַדְנָה֙ I S 9:3; תֹּאבֵדוּן Dt 4:26 +; נֹאבֵ֑ד Jon 1:6…
Read the full entry →H6 אָבַד perish .. perish, die, of individuals
. fig. perish, vanish, subj. memory
. be lost, strayed
. . cause to perish, destroy, kill
. fig. cause to vanish, blot out, do away with
. cause to stray, lose
. . destroy, put to death, in judgment
. fig. obj. name of kings; hope; voice of mirth etc.
6 'abad aw-bad'
a primitive root; properly, to wander away, i.e. lose
oneself; by implication to perish (causative,
destroy):--break, destroy(- uction), + not escape, fail,
lose, (cause to, make) perish, spend, X and surely, take, be
undone, X utterly, be void of, have no way to flee.
אָבַד (a.vad) — to perish.
1) perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) perish, die, be exterminated
1a2) perish, vanish (fig.)
1a3) be lost, strayed
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to destroy, kill, cause to perish, to give up (as lost), exterminate
1b2) to blot out, do away with, cause to vanish, (fig.)
1b3) cause to stray, lose
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to destroy, put to death
1c1a) of divine judgment
1c2) object name of kings (fig.)
Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (אֲבַד "to destroy" H0007)
Conj | Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a — Conjunction · preposition · verb qal infinitive construct commonHC/R/Vqcc
רָשָׁע (rasha`) refers to someone who is wicked or criminal, encompassing meanings such as guilty and ungodly. It is derived from a root that implies moral wrongdoing. The term is used to describe individuals who are hostile to God or guilty of sin against others.
רָשָׁע 263 adj. wicked, criminal
base
H7563 רָשָׁע wicked, criminal
7563 rasha` raw-shaw'
from 7561; morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad
person:--+ condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did
wrong.
see HEBREW for 07561
רָשָׁע (ra.sah) — wicked.
1) wicked, criminal
1a) guilty one, one guilty of crime (subst)
1b) wicked (hostile to God)
1c) wicked, guilty of sin (against God or man)
Adj — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
רִנָּה (rinnah) refers to a ringing cry, often associated with joy, grief, or proclamation. It is derived from the root meaning to creak or make a shrill sound. The term encompasses various expressions of emotion, including gladness and triumph, and can denote both joyful singing and cries of supplication.
רִנָּה n.f. ringing cry
base
H7440 רִנָּה ringing cry
7440 rinnah rin-naw'
from 7442; properly, a creaking (or shrill sound), i.e. shout
(of joy or grief):--cry, gladness, joy, proclamation,
rejoicing, shouting, sing(-ing), triumph.
see HEBREW for 07442
רִנָּה (rin.nah) — cry.
1) ringing cry
1a) of entreaty, supplication
1b) in proclamation, joy, praise
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
joi (simchah; chara):
1. Terms:
The idea of joy is expressed in the Old Testament by a wealth of synonymous terms that cannot easily be differentiated. The commonest is simchah (1Sa 18:6, etc.), variously translated in English Versions of the Bible "joy," "gladness," "mirth"; from sameah, properly "to be bright," "to shine" (Pr 13:9, "The light of the righteous rejoiceth," literally, "is bright"), but generally used figuratively "to rejoice," "be glad" (Le 23:40 and very frequent).
Other nouns are masos and sason, both from sus, properly "to spring," "leap," hence, "exult," "rejoice"; rinnah, "shouting." "joy"; gil, from verb gil or gul, "to go in a circle," hence, "be excited" (dancing round for joy), "rejoice." In the New…