The Wicked Person
Jump to: SubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
In the Bible, the term "wicked" is used to describe individuals who live in opposition to God's laws and righteousness. The wicked person is characterized by actions, thoughts, and intentions that are contrary to the will of God. This entry explores the biblical understanding of wickedness, its characteristics, consequences, and the ultimate fate of the wicked as presented in Scripture.

Characteristics of the Wicked

The wicked are often depicted as those who reject God's commandments and pursue their own sinful desires. In the Book of Psalms, the wicked are described as those who "plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them" (Psalm 37:12). They are known for their deceitful speech, as "the mouth of the wicked conceals violence" (Proverbs 10:6). Their hearts are filled with malice, and they are quick to shed innocent blood (Proverbs 6:17).

The wicked are also characterized by their pride and arrogance. They often believe they are beyond the reach of divine judgment, as seen in Psalm 10:4: "In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God" . This pride leads them to act with impunity, disregarding the moral and ethical standards set by God.

Consequences of Wickedness

The Bible is clear about the consequences that befall the wicked. Their actions lead to spiritual and often physical ruin. Proverbs 11:21 states, "Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape" . The wicked may prosper temporarily, but their success is fleeting and ultimately leads to destruction. Psalm 73:18-19 describes their fate: "Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin. How suddenly they are laid waste, completely swept away by terrors!" .

The wicked are also separated from God, as their sin creates a barrier between them and the divine. Isaiah 59:2 declares, "But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear" . This separation results in a lack of peace and fulfillment, as "there is no peace for the wicked" (Isaiah 48:22).

Ultimate Fate of the Wicked

The ultimate fate of the wicked is one of eternal separation from God. The New Testament reinforces this idea, emphasizing the final judgment where the wicked will be held accountable for their actions. In Matthew 13:49-50, Jesus explains, "So it will be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous, and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" .

Revelation 21:8 further describes the destiny of the wicked: "But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death" . This eternal punishment underscores the seriousness of wickedness and the importance of repentance and turning towards God.

Call to Repentance

Despite the grim portrayal of the wicked, the Bible consistently offers a message of hope and redemption. God desires that the wicked turn from their ways and seek His forgiveness. Ezekiel 33:11 captures this divine longing: "As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked should turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways, for why should you die, O house of Israel?" .

The call to repentance is a central theme throughout Scripture, emphasizing God's mercy and willingness to forgive those who genuinely seek Him. Through faith in Jesus Christ, even the wicked can find redemption and be reconciled to God, as stated in 1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" .
Subtopics

The Wicked are Compared to Abominable Branches

The Wicked are Compared to Ashes Under the Feet

The Wicked are Compared to Bad Fishes

The Wicked are Compared to Beasts

The Wicked are Compared to Blind, The

The Wicked are Compared to Brass and Iron

The Wicked are Compared to Briars and Thorns

The Wicked are Compared to Bulls of Bashan

The Wicked are Compared to Carcasses Trodden Under Feet

The Wicked are Compared to Chaff

The Wicked are Compared to Clouds Without Water

The Wicked are Compared to Corn Blasted

The Wicked are Compared to Corrupt Trees

The Wicked are Compared to Deaf Adders

The Wicked are Compared to Dogs

The Wicked are Compared to Dross

The Wicked are Compared to Early Dew That Passes Away

The Wicked are Compared to Evil Figs

The Wicked are Compared to Fading Oaks

The Wicked are Compared to Fiery Oven

The Wicked are Compared to Fire of Thorns

The Wicked are Compared to Fools Building Upon Sand

The Wicked are Compared to Fuel of Fire

The Wicked are Compared to Garden Without Water

The Wicked are Compared to Goats

The Wicked are Compared to Grass

The Wicked are Compared to Grass on the Housetop

The Wicked are Compared to Green Bay-Trees

The Wicked are Compared to Green Herbs

The Wicked are Compared to Heath in the Desert

The Wicked are Compared to Horses Rushing Into the Battle

The Wicked are Compared to Idols

The Wicked are Compared to Lions Greedy of Prey

The Wicked are Compared to Melting Wax

The Wicked are Compared to Morning-Clouds

The Wicked are Compared to Moth-Eaten Garments

The Wicked are Compared to Passing Whirlwinds

The Wicked are Compared to Potsherds

The Wicked are Compared to Raging Waves of the Sea

The Wicked are Compared to Reprobate Silver

The Wicked are Compared to Scorpions

The Wicked are Compared to Serpents

The Wicked are Compared to Smoke

The Wicked are Compared to Stony Ground

The Wicked are Compared to Stubble

The Wicked are Compared to Swine

The Wicked are Compared to Tares

The Wicked are Compared to Troubled Sea

The Wicked are Compared to Visions of the Night

The Wicked are Compared to Wandering Stars

The Wicked are Compared to Wayward Children

The Wicked are Compared to Wells Without Water

The Wicked are Compared to Wheels

The Wicked are Compared to Whited Sepulchres

The Wicked are Compared to Wild Donkey's Colt

Wicked

Wicked (People): Compared With: A Wild Donkey's Colts

Wicked (People): Compared With: Abominable Branches

Wicked (People): Compared With: Animals

Wicked (People): Compared With: Ashes Under the Feet

Wicked (People): Compared With: Bad Figs

Wicked (People): Compared With: Bad Fish

Wicked (People): Compared With: Blind People

Wicked (People): Compared With: Briers Add Thorns

Wicked (People): Compared With: Bronze and Iron

Wicked (People): Compared With: Carcasses Trodden Underfoot

Wicked (People): Compared With: Chaff

Wicked (People): Compared With: Clouds Without Water

Wicked (People): Compared With: Corn (Grain) Blasted

Wicked (People): Compared With: Corrupt Trees

Wicked (People): Compared With: Deaf Adders

Wicked (People): Compared With: Disturbed Sea

Wicked (People): Compared With: Dogs

Wicked (People): Compared With: Dross

Wicked (People): Compared With: Early Dew That Passes Away

Wicked (People): Compared With: Fading Oaks

Wicked (People): Compared With: Fiery Oven

Wicked (People): Compared With: Fire of Thorns

Wicked (People): Compared With: Fools Building Upon Sand

Wicked (People): Compared With: Garden Without Water

Wicked (People): Compared With: Goats

Wicked (People): Compared With: Grass

Wicked (People): Compared With: Grass on the Housetop

Wicked (People): Compared With: Green Bay Tree

Wicked (People): Compared With: Green Herbs

Wicked (People): Compared With: Heath in the Desert

Wicked (People): Compared With: Horses Rushing Into the Battle

Wicked (People): Compared With: Lions Greedy of Prey

Wicked (People): Compared With: Melting Wax

Wicked (People): Compared With: Morning Clouds

Wicked (People): Compared With: Moth-Eaten Garments

Wicked (People): Compared With: Passing Whirlwinds

Wicked (People): Compared With: Potsherds

Wicked (People): Compared With: Raging Waves of the Sea

Wicked (People): Compared With: Reprobate Silver

Wicked (People): Compared With: Scorpions

Wicked (People): Compared With: Serpents

Wicked (People): Compared With: Smoke

Wicked (People): Compared With: Stony Ground

Wicked (People): Compared With: Stubble

Wicked (People): Compared With: Swine (Pig)

Wicked (People): Compared With: Tares

Wicked (People): Compared With: The Bulls of Bashan

Wicked (People): Compared With: The Fuel of Fire

Wicked (People): Compared With: Visions of the Night

Wicked (People): Compared With: Wandering Stars

Wicked (People): Compared With: Wayward Children

Wicked (People): Compared With: Wells Without Water

Wicked (People): Compared With: Wheels

Wicked (People): Compared With: Whited Gravesites

Wicked (People): Contrasted With Righteous People

Wicked (People): Death of

Wicked (People): Described

Wicked (People): Dreading God

Wicked (People): Eliphaz's Exhortation To

Wicked (People): False Hope of

Wicked (People): God is Angry With

Wicked (People): God's Mercy To

Wicked (People): Gospel Invitation To, Illustrated by the Parables of The Householder

Wicked (People): Gospel Invitation To, Illustrated by the Parables of The Marriage Supper

Wicked (People): Hate Reproof

Wicked (People): Hate the Righteous

Wicked (People): Love For

Wicked (People): Prayer of

Wicked (People): Prosperity of

Wicked (People): Punishment of

Wicked (People): Spirit of God Withdrawn From

Wicked (People): Temporal Punishment of

Wicked (People): Terrors of, at the Judgment

Wicked (People): Warned

Wicked (People): Worship of, offensive to God

Wicked : Present and Future State of Evil and Righteous Persons Contrasted,

Related Terms

Dissuade (2 Occurrences)

Accountable (10 Occurrences)

Speakest (30 Occurrences)

Devices (43 Occurrences)

Belial (23 Occurrences)

Delivereth (49 Occurrences)

Devises (11 Occurrences)

Plots (20 Occurrences)

Preserveth (15 Occurrences)

Snuffed (8 Occurrences)

Schemes (25 Occurrences)

Devised (35 Occurrences)

Device (17 Occurrences)

Poureth (28 Occurrences)

Deceitful (46 Occurrences)

Perverse (55 Occurrences)

Delivers (38 Occurrences)

Candle (16 Occurrences)

Vanish (21 Occurrences)

Violence (98 Occurrences)

Dregs (7 Occurrences)

Dealeth (22 Occurrences)

Melts (11 Occurrences)

Meek (23 Occurrences)

Perishes (14 Occurrences)

Perisheth (15 Occurrences)

Preserves (16 Occurrences)

Bildad (5 Occurrences)

Beset (16 Occurrences)

Condemning (6 Occurrences)

Considereth (9 Occurrences)

Casts (21 Occurrences)

Condemns (11 Occurrences)

Arrogance (30 Occurrences)

Snares (24 Occurrences)

Bend (29 Occurrences)

Devise (41 Occurrences)

Mischief (64 Occurrences)

Perversity (23 Occurrences)

Malice (24 Occurrences)

Complaint (29 Occurrences)

Cord (47 Occurrences)

Vexed (37 Occurrences)

Keepeth (60 Occurrences)

Hell (53 Occurrences)

Covers (50 Occurrences)

Balance (12 Occurrences)

Bondman (108 Occurrences)

Slay (189 Occurrences)

Vile (59 Occurrences)

Calamity (108 Occurrences)

Casteth (54 Occurrences)

Deadly (31 Occurrences)

Profane (69 Occurrences)

Alike (67 Occurrences)

Proud (96 Occurrences)

Sheol (64 Occurrences)

Arrogant (60 Occurrences)

Surround (39 Occurrences)

Present (577 Occurrences)

Preserve (61 Occurrences)

Covereth (61 Occurrences)

Polluted (80 Occurrences)

Condemn (43 Occurrences)

Corrupt (59 Occurrences)

Violent (151 Occurrences)

Vicious (3 Occurrences)

Zophar (4 Occurrences)

Knewest (11 Occurrences)

Detests (7 Occurrences)

Devising (18 Occurrences)

Dishonest (33 Occurrences)

Deviseth (12 Occurrences)

Disheartened (5 Occurrences)

Drives (17 Occurrences)

Dealers (16 Occurrences)

Malicious (13 Occurrences)

Melted (33 Occurrences)

Multiplying (23 Occurrences)

The Wicked of the Earth
Top of Page
Top of Page