His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street.
Ver. 17. His remembrance shall perish from the earth] As a tree, when root and branch is gone, is clean forgotten, and no man remembereth where it grew; so shall it be with the wicked, Non celebrabitur eius nomen et fama, nisi in malum, Ecclesiastes 8:10 (Mercer). It is reckoned as a great benefit to a wicked man to have his memory die with him, which, if it be preserved, stinks in keeping, and remains as a curse and perpetual disgrace.
And he shall have no name] i.e. No honourable name, no renown. A good name only is a name, Ecclesiastes 7:1, as a good wife only is a wife, Proverbs 18:22. Every married woman is not a wife. Zillah, Lamech's wife, was but the shadow of a wife, as her name also signifieth. In like sort, those only have a name in the streets or public places who are talked about for good; like the martyrs, who have left their names for a blessing, Isaiah 65:15, when as their wretched persecutors have left a vile snuff behind, their lamps being put out in obscurity.