The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Proverbs 10:27
What does Proverbs 10:27 mean?
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Proverbs 10:27
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This verse highlights that "fear of the LORD" isn't just about being scared; it's about a reverence that actively guides you away from destructive habits and anxieties, thereby promoting a longer, healthier life. The wicked, on the other hand, are depicted as cutting their own lives short through the very nature of their sinful pursuits.
The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse is part of a larger section in Proverbs where wisdom and folly, or righteousness and wickedness, are starkly contrasted through short, memorable sayings. It directly follows the idea that the mouth of the righteous springs forth life and that oppression crushes it, setting up a consequence-based worldview. The verse immediately before (10:26) talks about a lazy servant being a source of trouble and ruin, and the verse after (10:28) speaks of the hope of the righteous bringing joy while the wicked perish.
We often hear that fearing God is about avoiding bad stuff. But Proverbs paints a richer picture. What does 'fear of the LORD' really mean here?
In Proverbs, the 'fear of the LORD' isn't just about being scared of punishment. It's a deep reverence and awe that shapes your entire life. It’s about recognizing God’s absolute authority and goodness, which then guides your choices. This profound respect motivates you to live wisely, stay away from destructive paths, and embrace the goodness God offers. It's less about trembling and more about trusting and obeying.
The verse promises longer life for those who fear God. But is it a magic spell, or is there a more practical reason?
The promise of 'prolonged days' connected to fearing God isn't necessarily a guarantee of escaping all hardship or a supernatural exemption from death. Instead, it often points to a life lived in a way that naturally tends toward greater well-being and longevity.
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The contrast is stark: the righteous live longer, the wicked are cut short. What causes this difference?
The 'shortened years' of the wicked aren't just a random punishment. It speaks to a pattern of self-destruction inherent in a life lived apart from God's wisdom.
Understand the original words
yirah · Hebrew Noun
This signifies a reverent, worshipful, and obedient awe toward God. It is the beginning of wisdom and describes a life lived in humble submission to His authority and character.
rasha · Hebrew Adjective
A person who is morally corrupt, rebellious against God, or lacking in spiritual discernment; they are characterized by their active rejection of divine wisdom.
This Psalm speaks of casting anxieties on the Lord, which aligns with the idea that fearing the Lord preserves us from worries that can shorten life, contrasting with the fate of the wicked.
Proverbs 3:2This passage directly promises that fearing the Lord will 'add length of days and years to your life,' reinforcing the core message of Proverbs 10:27 about the benefits of godly living.
Proverbs 14:27This verse states that 'the fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death,' providing a powerful image for how reverence for God protects and extends life.
Ecclesiastes 7:17While cautioning against extreme wickedness or righteousness, this verse notes that 'be not exceedingly wicked, neither be a fool. Why die before your time?' This echoes Proverbs 10:27 by suggesting that foolish or wicked ways can lead to an untimely end.
Romans 6:23This New Testament passage contrasts the 'wages of sin' which is death, with the 'free gift of God' which is eternal life, offering a spiritual dimension to the idea that wicked choices lead to destruction while faithfulness leads to true life.
ellicottProverbs 10:27: "The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened."
(27) The fear of the Lord prolongeth days.— The special Old Testament blessing for obedience (comp. Proverbs 9:11 ), often fulfilled now, too, in the case of those who live on to old age, in the quiet fulfilment of duty; while others are shortening their lives by excessive anxieties, or the pursuit of pleasure.
bensonProverbs 10:27: "The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened."
Proverbs 10:27-28 . The fear of the Lord prolongeth days — For it gives those who are influenced by it a title to the promise of long life, as well as to other promises; it gladdens their hearts, which does good like a medicine, Proverbs 17:22 ; and it preserves them from those wicked practices which tend to the shortening of a man’s days. The hope of the righteous shall be gladness — Though…
This verse highlights that "fear of the LORD" isn't just about being scared; it's about a reverence that actively guides you away from destructive habits and anxieties, thereby promoting a longer, healthier life. The wicked, on the other hand, are depicted as cutting their own lives short through the very nature of their sinful pursuits.
This verse is part of a larger section in Proverbs where wisdom and folly, or righteousness and wickedness, are starkly contrasted through short, memorable sayings. It directly follows the idea that the mouth of the righteous springs forth life and that oppression crushes it, setting up a consequence-based worldview. The verse immediately before (10:26) talks about a lazy servant being a source of trouble and ruin, and the verse after (10:28) speaks of the hope of the righteous bringing joy while the wicked perish.
This verse is part of a larger section in Proverbs where wisdom and folly, or righteousness and wickedness, are starkly contrasted through short, memorable sayings. It directly follows the idea that the mouth of the righteous springs forth life and that oppression crushes it, setting up a consequence-based worldview. The verse immediately before (10:26) talks about a lazy servant being a source of trouble and ruin, and the verse after (10:28) speaks of the hope of the righteous bringing joy while the wicked perish.
"The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short." — This verse highlights that "fear of the LORD" isn't just about being scared; it's about a reverence that actively guides you away from destructive habits and anxieties, thereby promoting a longer, he…
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Last reviewed October 2026