Reverence for the Lord leads toward longer life, while wickedness shortens it.
In Proverbs 10:27, Solomon writes, The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be shortened (v. 27). The fear of the LORD is one of the foundational themes of Proverbs. It means living with reverence, humility, and serious regard for God and His order.
Such fear prolongs life because it leads to wise choices. A person who fears the Lord tends to avoid many self-destructive patterns that shorten life and diminish flourishing. The fear of the Lord keeps a person grounded in reality, and that reality is life-giving.
The wicked move in the opposite direction, and therefore their years...will be shortened. This may happen literally, morally, or covenantally, because sin carries ruin in itself. The broader point is that reverence for God leads toward life, while rebellion leads toward diminishment.
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Proverbs 10:27 meaning
In Proverbs 10:27, Solomon writes, The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be shortened (v. 27). The fear of the LORD is one of the foundational themes of Proverbs. It means living with reverence, humility, and serious regard for God and His order.
Such fear prolongs life because it leads to wise choices. A person who fears the Lord tends to avoid many self-destructive patterns that shorten life and diminish flourishing. The fear of the Lord keeps a person grounded in reality, and that reality is life-giving.
The wicked move in the opposite direction, and therefore their years...will be shortened. This may happen literally, morally, or covenantally, because sin carries ruin in itself. The broader point is that reverence for God leads toward life, while rebellion leads toward diminishment.