Wisdom of solomon 10:7 - To whose wickedness a smoking waste still witnesseth, And plants bearing fair fruit that comes not to ripeness; Yes and a disbelieving soul has a memorial there, a pillar of salt still standing.

Generated Verse: Wisdom of solomon 10:7

What does "Wisdom of solomon 10:7" mean?


This verse from Wisdom of Solomon 10:7 is part of a section discussing God's judgment on the wicked and his deliverance of the righteous. It's a veiled reference to the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. Let's break down the meaning:

"To whose wickedness a smoking waste still witnesseth...": This directly refers to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The "smoking waste" is the desolate landscape left behind after the cities were destroyed by fire and brimstone due to their extreme wickedness. The landscape itself serves as a permanent testament to the magnitude of their sin.

"And plants bearing fair fruit that comes not to ripeness...": This describes a unique ecological consequence of the disaster. It could be literal or symbolic. Literally, it suggests that the soil and air were so poisoned by the destruction that, even if plants started to grow, they couldn't fully mature and bear edible fruit. Symbolically, it represents the futility of wickedness. It may start with promise ("fair fruit") but ultimately leads to nothing ("comes not to ripeness"), being unable to produce anything of lasting value.

"Yes and a disbelieving soul has a memorial there, a pillar of salt still standing.": This alludes to the story of Lot's wife, who disobeyed the angels' instructions and looked back at the destruction of Sodom, and was turned into a pillar of salt. The "disbelieving soul" refers to her lack of faith and obedience to God's warning. Her transformation into a pillar of salt serves as a perpetual reminder (a "memorial") of the consequences of disbelief and disobedience. It also symbolizes the preserving power of judgment, eternally exhibiting the fate of the faithless.

In essence, the verse is a poetic and symbolic reminder of the consequences of wickedness and disbelief. The destroyed cities, the barren landscape, and the pillar of salt all serve as enduring warnings about the judgment that awaits those who turn away from God. It also is used as an example of God's power and his ability to punish those who defy him.

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