Psalm 37/Notes/Lexical.v. 37.206265
From Psalms: Layer by Layer
The precise meaning of the word אַחֲרִית is difficult to determine in this context. As Seebass writes, "it cannot be determined with certainty whether it is better to translate it by 'future' or 'posterity' in Ps. 37:37; and even more perplexing is the use of אַחֲרִית in v. 38 (future, posterity, remnant?)" (TDOT; cf. LXX ἐγκατάλειμμα ["remnant"]). The NLT translates the words as "a wonderful future... future" (cf. Jer 29:11; Prov 23:18) while the GNT translates them both as "descendants" (cf. Jer 31:17; Ps 109:13, so HALOT, BDB, DCH). However we translate the words here, both "wonderful future" and "descendants" are probably in view. Indeed, in the ancient Israelite worldview, a wonderful future entails descendants.