“The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.”
My Notes
What Does Proverbs 13:9 Mean?
"The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out." The righteous person's light REJOICES — it burns bright, dances, celebrates. The wicked person's lamp is extinguished. The contrast isn't just between light and darkness but between expanding light and terminated light. One grows brighter. The other goes out.
The phrase "light of the righteous rejoiceth" (or tzaddiqim yismach — the light of the righteous is glad/joyful) personifies the light as happy: the righteous person's light doesn't just shine — it REJOICES. The light itself celebrates. The brightness is joyful. The illumination has emotion. The life of the righteous radiates a gladness that's visible to everyone around them.
The "lamp of the wicked shall be put out" (ner resha'im yid'ak — the candle of the wicked is extinguished) uses the smaller word for light — ner (lamp/candle) vs. or (light/flame). The wicked don't even have a full light. They have a lamp — a smaller, artificial, dependent source. And even that gets snuffed out. The wicked's small, borrowed light doesn't last.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Is your light rejoicing and growing — or is your lamp slowly dimming?
- 2.What does the righteous person's light REJOICING teach about the connection between righteousness and joy?
- 3.How does the contrast between 'light' (or — natural, expansive) and 'lamp' (ner — artificial, small) describe two kinds of lives?
- 4.What's fueling your light — and will the fuel last?
Devotional
The righteous person's light REJOICES — it burns, it dances, it celebrates. The wicked person's lamp goes out. Two lights. Two futures. One grows brighter with joy. The other is extinguished.
The 'light of the righteous' is OR — the Hebrew word for natural light, daylight, the light God created in Genesis 1:3. The righteous person carries the kind of light that's powerful, natural, and expansive. And it REJOICES — the light itself is happy. The brightness isn't grim or dutiful. It's joyful. The righteous person's life radiates a gladness that makes the light itself seem alive.
The 'lamp of the wicked' is NER — a candle, a lamp, a small artificial light. The wicked don't even have the same KIND of light. Their source is smaller, weaker, dependent on fuel. The lamp needs oil. The lamp needs a wick. The lamp can be knocked over, blown out, or simply run dry. The wicked's light is borrowed and diminishing.
The contrast is between expanding joy and diminishing flame: the righteous person's light gets brighter over time — it rejoices, it grows, it celebrates. The wicked person's lamp gets dimmer until it's extinguished. One trajectory goes up. The other goes out. The direction determines the destination.
Is your light rejoicing — growing brighter with joy — or is your lamp slowly going out?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
The light of the righteous rejoiceth,.... The light of joy and gladness, which is sown for them, and arises to them; the…
Very beautiful in its poetry is the idea of the light “rejoicing” in its brightness (compare Psa 19:5; Job 38:7). Note…
Here is, 1. The comfort of good men flourishing and lasting: The light of the righteous rejoices, that is, it increases,…
light … lamp The change of word is doubtless designed. So our Lord is φῶς, and John Baptist λύχνος (Joh 8:12; Joh…
Cross References
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