Proverbs 11:21 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Though hand join in hand— Most interpreters, by hand in hand, understand the hands of divers persons; but some take it for the hands of one and the same person, and accordingly understand the passage thus; either that, though a sinner endeavour to hide his sin as a man does the thing which he holds in one hand, and covers with the other, he shall, notwithstanding, be found out, and suffer for it; or that, though wicked men do nothing, but like an idle person have their hands folded one in the other, yet they are not free from sin, which they are devising in their mind, and which will draw a just vengeance upon them. Houbigant renders the next clause, But the arm of the righteous shall deliver them. See chap. Proverbs 16:5. The plain meaning of the verse seems to be, that the wicked, though uniting all his efforts, and strengthening himself by every possible means, shall find all his earthly hopes and reliances vain. He shall certainly meet with condign punishment; while the arm of the righteous, strengthened by the invincible protection of God, shall deliver him from every danger.