Proverbs 23:18
Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Proverbs 23:18
Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The original Hebrew word translated as "end" here actually carries the sense of a "hereafter" or a "future reward." This isn't just about things eventually concluding, but about a positive outcome and a fulfilled hope that awaits those who trust God, even when present circumstances seem bleak.
This verse appears within a section of Proverbs advising against envy of the wicked and encouraging trust in God's justice. Just before, the writer urges the reader to return to the "fear of the Lord," implying that observing the temporary success of evildoers might cause distress or doubt. This verse then provides the ultimate reassurance: though the wicked may flourish for a season, there is a destined "end" and a future where the righteous hope will ultimately be fulfilled.
Life can feel unfair, with the wicked prospering while the faithful suffer. This verse speaks to a powerful truth about what 'an end' truly means.
The Hebrew word translated as 'an end' here (acharith) doesn't just mean a conclusion; it points to a 'hereafter,' a future outcome, or a final result.
A Divine Adjustment
The commentators highlight that this 'end' speaks to a future time when apparent injustices will be set right. It’s a divine promise that God’s moral government will ultimately prevail. The prosperity of the wicked is temporary and deceptive, while the faithful can anticipate a glorious future, even if their present circumstances are difficult.
More Than Just a Close
This 'end' isn't simply the closing of a chapter but the dawning of a new reality. For believers, it’s a hopeful anticipation of peace, reward, and the ultimate realization of God’s promises – a stark contrast to the fleeting gains of those who disregard God.
What does it mean for our 'expectation' to be 'cut off'? This verse promises the opposite for those who trust God.
The verse powerfully states that our 'expectation' or 'hope' will not be cut off. This speaks to the certainty and resilience of the hope found in God.
A Foundation of Faith
Unlike the dashed hopes of the wicked, the believer's expectation is anchored in God's character and promises. It's described as a hope that is sure, steadfast, and like an anchor. This isn't wishful thinking; it's a confident anticipation based on divine faithfulness.
Guaranteed Realization
This expectation encompasses both present comfort and future glory. It’s the assurance that God will provide grace for today and eternal reward for tomorrow. Our hope isn't fragile; it's built on the solid ground of Christ, ensuring that what we expect in Him will ultimately be realized.
Understand the original words
achariyth · Hebrew Noun
A Hebrew term indicating a 'latter end' or 'after-part,' frequently used in wisdom literature to describe the outcome, destiny, or reward that awaits those who follow God's path, in contrast to the wicked.
tiqvah · Hebrew Noun
A confident, expectant trust in God and His promises. It is not merely wishful thinking but a secure reliance on God's character and faithful action in the lives of His people.
karath · Hebrew Verb
To cut off, terminate, or destroy. In a theological sense, it refers to the removal of existence, covenantal standing, or the loss of one's future or inheritance.
This psalm speaks directly about the 'upright' and 'blameless' having a future and an 'end' that is peace, mirroring Proverbs' promise of a hopeful future.
Jeremiah 29:11God assures Jeremiah of His plans for Israel, which are for welfare and not for disaster, giving them a future and a hope – a divine perspective on 'an end' and 'expectation'.
Romans 8:19This New Testament passage talks about the 'eager expectation' of creation waiting for the revealing of God's children, highlighting a future hope that is deeply intertwined with God's ultimate plan.
1 John 3:2It describes our future hope of being like Christ when He appears, showing that our 'expectation' is ultimately tied to our transformation in His presence, giving us assurance of a glorious future.
jfbProverbs 23:18: "For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off."
- an end—or, "hereafter," another time, when apparent inequalities shall be adjusted (compare Ps 37:28-38).
clarkeProverbs 23:18: "For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off."
Surely there is an end - יש אחרית yesh acharith, there is another life; "and thy expectation" of the enjoyment of a blessed immortality "shall not be cut off." The Old MS. Bible reads thus: For thou schalt hab hop in the last: and thin abiiding schal not ben taken awei. "For the ende is not yet come; and thy patient abydinge shal not be in vayne." - Coverdale.
The original Hebrew word translated as "end" here actually carries the sense of a "hereafter" or a "future reward." This isn't just about things eventually concluding, but about a positive outcome and a fulfilled hope that awaits those who trust God, even when present circumstances seem bleak.
This verse appears within a section of Proverbs advising against envy of the wicked and encouraging trust in God's justice. Just before, the writer urges the reader to return to the "fear of the Lord," implying that observing the temporary success of evildoers might cause distress or doubt. This verse then provides the ultimate reassurance: though the wicked may flourish for a season, there is a destined "end" and a future where the righteous hope will ultimately be fulfilled.
This verse appears within a section of Proverbs advising against envy of the wicked and encouraging trust in God's justice. Just before, the writer urges the reader to return to the "fear of the Lord," implying that observing the temporary success of evildoers might cause distress or doubt. This verse then provides the ultimate reassurance: though the wicked may flourish for a season, there is a destined "end" and a future where the righteous hope will ultimately be fulfilled.
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"Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off." — The original Hebrew word translated as "end" here actually carries the sense of a "hereafter" or a "future reward." This isn't just about things eventually concluding, but about a positive outcome an…