But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth. The punishment of the wicked is contrasted with the blessings that are promised to the upright. Shall be cut off; יִפָרֵתוּ (yikkarethu), niph. future of כָרַת (karath), "to cut off, or destroy." LXX; ὀλοῦνται; Vulgate, perdentur.;The expression is used to convey the idea of extermination, as in Psalms 37:9 (cf. Job 18:17; Psalms 37:28; Psalms 104:35). The verb is found also in Genesis 17:14; Exodus 12:15. The earth; properly, the land. The same word ( אַרֶץ, arets) is used as in Exodus 12:21. The transgressors ( בּוֹגְדִים, bog'dim); here employed synonymously with "the wicked" ( יְשָׁעִים, y'shaim), "the impious." The primary meaning of the verb from which it is derived ( בָגַד, bagad) is "to cover," "to deal treacherously," and hence the word signifies those who act treacherously or perfidiously, the faithless. They are those who perfidiously depart from God, and break away from the covenant with Jehovah. LXX; παράνομοι (cf. Proverbs 11:3, Proverbs 11:6; Proverbs 13:2, Proverbs 13:25; Proverbs 22:12; Psalms 25:3; Psalms 59:5; Isaiah 33:1). Shall be rooted out ( יסֶּחוּ, yiss'khu). This word is taken by Davidson as the future kal of נסַה (nasah), "to pluck up," and hence is equivalent to "they shall pluck up," or, passively, "they stroll be plucked up." Delitzsch remarks that it is as at Proverbs 15:25 and Psalms 52:7, active, "they shall pluck up," and this with the subject remaining indefinite is equivalent to the passive form, "they shall be plucked up." This indefinite "they" can be used of God, as also in Job 7:3 (Fleischer). The expression has been understood as referring to being driven into exile (Gesenius), and this view would be amply justified by the fate which overtook the apostate nation when both the kingdoms of Israel and Judah suffered this fate (cf. LXX. ἐξωθήσονται, "they shall be driven out"). It also derives colour from the language of the preceding verse, but the imagery appears to be derived from the cutting down and rooting up of trees. The destruction of the wicked and transgressors will be complete. They shall be exterminated (cf. Targum, eradicabuntur; Syriac evellentur; and Arabic, exterminabuntur).
HOMILETICS