Psalms 37:20

My Notes

What Does Psalms 37:20 Mean?

"But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away." The wicked perish like lamb fat burning on the altar: consumed completely, dissolving into smoke, leaving nothing behind. The image borrows from the sacrificial system — the fat that burns on the altar disappears entirely. Not even ash remains of fat consumed by fire.

The phrase "as the fat of lambs" (kimqar karim — like the preciousness/fat of lambs) uses sacrificial terminology: the fat was the portion given to God on the altar (Leviticus 3:16). It was the first thing consumed and the most completely consumed. The wicked's destruction follows the same pattern — total, visible, and final.

The double "consume" with "into smoke" traces the complete dissolution: they consume (burn), they consume away (dissolve), into smoke (become invisible). The process is: solid to burning to smoke to nothing. The wicked don't just die. They dissolve like sacrificial fat — present, then burning, then smoke, then gone.

Reflection Questions

• 1.What looks permanent and powerful right now — and does this verse change your assessment?
• 2.How does the altar-fire image connect the wicked's destruction to divine judgment rather than natural causes?
• 3.What does the progression from solid to burning to smoke to nothing teach about the temporality of evil?
• 4.Where have you seen something intimidating dissolve like fat on an altar?

Devotional

Like lamb fat on the altar — burning, dissolving, disappearing into smoke. The wicked perish the way sacrificial fat is consumed: completely, visibly, leaving nothing behind. The fire takes everything. The smoke carries it away. Nothing remains.

The fat-on-the-altar image is deliberately chosen: the fat was the most completely consumed part of the sacrifice. The meat could be shared. The bones remained. But the fat — it melted, burned, and vanished into smoke. Nothing was left. That's the wicked's future: total dissolution. Not partial decline. Total disappearance.

The 'into smoke shall they consume away' traces the arc of dissolution: first they're solid (present, visible, intimidating). Then they burn (declining, weakening, deteriorating). Then they become smoke (insubstantial, rising, dispersing). Then they're gone (invisible, scattered, vanished). The progression is beautiful and terrifying: the most intimidating person alive is one altar-fire away from being smoke.

The sacrificial imagery carries a theological edge: the fat was God's portion. It was consumed ON GOD'S ALTAR. The wicked are consumed by divine fire — not accidental fire, not natural fire, but the fire that burns on God's altar. Their destruction is sacrificial in nature. It's consumed by the same fire that accepts worship.

What looks permanent and powerful to you right now — and does this verse change your assessment of its durability?

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture