Proverbs 11:21

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about blessings on children:

Proverbs 11:21 (NASBStr)

Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished,

But the descendants of the righteous will be delivered.

Proverbs 11:21 (KJV)

Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished:

but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

Proverbs 11:21 (ESV)

Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished,

but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.

The KJV version of this proverb seems to expand the meaning more than the NASB  or ESV versions.   In the NASB/ESV we are talking about a single evil man as compared to the multiple descendants of the righteous.   In the KJV we are talking about multiple evil men (hand join in hand) as compared to the "seed" of the righteous (which could be singular or many).   The point of the proverb is that those who walk in evil ways will not be neglected in God's punishment.   Those who walk in God's ways, however, will not only be blessed (see numerous other proverbs) but their descendants will have some security, simply via their relationship with the righteous.    We read the following in Psalms:

Psalms 37:25-26 (ESV)

I have been young, and now am old,

yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken

or his children begging for bread.

He is ever lending generously,

and his children become a blessing.

The theme there seems to indicate that those who have faith in God are blessed by God's grace with material goodness to their descendants after them.  This is not true with the wicked.   The "many" that form an allegiance, attempting by their combined effort to over-through God, will not win (think Tower of Babel - Genesis 10).  God's people sanctify their children (1 Corinthians 7).   Although a father can't save a son the son can experience blessings simply because he is related to the Godly father.   That is typically true because the evil man teaches their children their evils ways (see Nahum ... written to the Nineivtes who failed to pass the repentance in Jonah's day to their children).  It is true for the righteous because they teach their children to walk in their righteous ways.