The Meaning of Psalms 37:2 Explained

Psalms 37:2

KJV: For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

YLT: For as grass speedily they are cut off, And as the greenness of the tender grass do fade.

Darby: for they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and fade as the green herb.

ASV: For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For they shall soon  be cut down  like the grass,  and wither  as the green  herb. 

What does Psalms 37:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 37:1-17 - A Sure Cure For Fretting
This is an acrostic psalm, grappling with the problem of the inequality of human life and the apparent failure of God to reward His servants and punish His enemies as they deserve. Life and immortality, where we know that the balance will be readjusted, had not then been brought to light, and therefore the solution was far harder before the advent of our Lord than for us.
But though the psalmist's solution is therefore not complete, his teaching of the blessedness of absolute trust in God's providence is very delightful. Fret not thyself; that is, do not give way to passionate resentment or bitter disappointment. Live in God; find your delight in contemplating His nature and His works; roll on Him the decision of your life-choices; trust in Him to supply all your need and work in your behalf. Be silent and rest!
How dramatically this picture of the happy, restful child of God is contrasted with the wicked and his certain doom-like barren pastures scorched by heat, or thin smoke-columns vanishing in the air! "Wait and trust! [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 37

1  David persuades to patience and confidence in God,
12  by the different estate of the godly and the wicked

What do the individual words in Psalms 37:2 mean?

For like the grass soon they shall be cut down and as green the herb wither
כִּ֣י כֶ֭חָצִיר מְהֵרָ֣ה יִמָּ֑לוּ וּכְיֶ֥רֶק דֶּ֝֗שֶׁא יִבּוֹלֽוּן

כֶ֭חָצִיר  like  the  grass 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חָצִיר 
Sense: grass, leek, green grass, herbage.
מְהֵרָ֣ה  soon 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מְהֵרָה  
Sense: haste, speed.
יִמָּ֑לוּ  they  shall  be  cut  down 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: מָלַל 
Sense: (Qal) to circumcise, become clipped, be circumcised, be cut off.
וּכְיֶ֥רֶק  and  as  green 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: יֶרֶק  
Sense: green, greenness, green plants, greenery.
דֶּ֝֗שֶׁא  the  herb 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: דֶּשֶׁא  
Sense: grass, new grass, green herb, vegetation, young.
יִבּוֹלֽוּן  wither 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, Paragogic nun
Root: נָבֵל 
Sense: to be senseless, be foolish.