The Wicked Will Be Destroyed, and It Will Be Swift and Total

Proverbs 6:15 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
¹⁵ therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly;
    in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.

Therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly:

Therefore points to verse 15 as a conclusion to verses 12-15 that layout a description of a worthless man. Calamity (אֵיד ed) has the sense of an event that results in significant loss or misfortune, referring disaster, calamity, destruction, i.e., an act, which causes ruin, harm, and violence to people and property, distress or suffering.

In a moment he will be broken beyond healing:

The Hebrew (פֶּתַע petha) rendered in a moment means suddenly, instantly, happening unexpectedly, that is, about an extremely short period of time. 6:16b is parallel with 6:16a but adds details as to the extent of the calamity that will suddenly, instantly, unexpectedly. Broken (שָׁבַר shabar) means destroy, break, crush, that is, ruin or demolish the wicked person, as an extension of smashing them with physical impact. This could also mean a broken spirit, to be weakened, crushed, or destroyed in spirit. Beyond (אַיִן ayin) healing (מַרְפֵּא marpe) means that there is no coming back from being destroyed, broken, or crushed, be it physically or spiritually; there is no reversing it. This person will receive eternal destruction; that is, he will die and receive the punishment of eternal death. It will come as a destructive and sudden end.

Verse 15 helps us see that no lie, no deception can last forever; it all must see the light of day eventually. Suddenly, when he is exposed, the calamity of a ruined reputation is upon him. Even if such a deceiver should somehow fool everyone throughout his life, judgment will come from Jehovah God himself, and that will certainly come quickly. The deceiver and the deceived shall share the same disaster of eternal destruction, eternal death, no hope of a resurrection.

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