Ibn Kathir (Abridged)
Hafiz Ibn Kathir · English
This tafsir covers verses 17:37, 17:38 together.
Condemnation of strutting
Allah forbids His servants to strut and walk in a boastful manner:
وَلاَ تَمْشِ فِى الاٌّرْضِ مَرَحًا
(And walk not on the earth with conceit and arrogance.) meaning, walking in boastful manner and acting proud, like those who are arrogant oppressors.
إِنَّكَ لَن تَخْرِقَ الاٌّرْضَ
(Verily, you can neither rend nor penetrate the earth) means, you cannot penetrate the earth with your walking. This was the opinion of Ibn Jarir.