Job 15 20

Job 15:20 kjv

The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor.

Job 15:20 nkjv

The wicked man writhes with pain all his days, And the number of years is hidden from the oppressor.

Job 15:20 niv

All his days the wicked man suffers torment, the ruthless man through all the years stored up for him.

Job 15:20 esv

The wicked man writhes in pain all his days, through all the years that are laid up for the ruthless.

Job 15:20 nlt

"The wicked writhe in pain throughout their lives.
Years of trouble are stored up for the ruthless.

Job 15 verses

Job 15 20 Meaning

Eliphaz declares that the wicked individual perpetually experiences inner turmoil and anguish throughout their life. Furthermore, the number of their years is determined to be short, or abruptly cut off, particularly for those who are oppressive and violent. This statement posits a direct, immediate, and lifelong consequence of wickedness in the form of suffering and a truncated lifespan.

Job 15 20 Context

Job chapter 15 records Eliphaz's second response to Job, escalating his accusations. While Job maintained his innocence and sought understanding from God, Eliphaz, representative of the conventional wisdom of his day, doubles down on the theological tenet that suffering is a direct consequence of sin. He accuses Job of presumptuous talk and folly (v. 2-6), claiming Job speaks against God (v. 7-8), and states that no one, not even "morning stars," is pure in God's sight (v. 14-16). He then embarks on a lengthy description of the fate of the wicked, into which he subtly weaves the implicit charge that Job's experiences align with such a description. Verse 20 specifically is part of Eliphaz's discourse on the wretched life and eventual demise of the unrighteous, framed as an undeniable truth observed throughout history and handed down by the wise. This verse serves to reinforce his argument that Job, enduring such pain and distress, must inherently belong to the category of the "wicked" or "oppressor." Historically and culturally, this view of immediate, observable retribution for sin was widely held, challenging Job's personal narrative.

Job 15 20 Word analysis

• The wicked man: (Hebrew: רָשָׁע - rasha) - Refers to one who is guilty, in the wrong, unrighteous, or evil, often in an active sense against God or fellow humans. It implies a moral state that violates divine law and social harmony. Eliphaz uses this term as a general descriptor, subtly painting Job into this category. The concept of the "wicked" (rasha) vs. "righteous" (tzaddiq) is foundational to wisdom literature, delineating two distinct paths and their outcomes.
• travails with pain: (Hebrew: יִתְחוֹלֵל - yithcholēl) - From the root חול (chul), meaning to writhe, twist, travail, or be in agony, like a woman in childbirth. It suggests intense, continuous, physical or psychological suffering. It conveys a restless, agitated state, implying inner turmoil and unceasing distress rather than a singular event. Eliphaz means this as an internal state, not just external hardship.
• all his days: (Hebrew: כָּל יָמָיו - kol yamav) - Emphasizes the unending duration and continuity of this suffering throughout the individual's entire lifespan. It underlines Eliphaz's belief that the consequence of wickedness is an inescapable, perpetual affliction, leaving no moment of peace.
• and the number of years: (Hebrew: וּמִסְפַּר שָׁנִים - u·mispar shanim) - Refers to the determined length of one's life. This highlights the concept that lifespan is not arbitrary but counted and decreed.
• is hidden to / are few: (Hebrew: נִגְזְרוּ - nigzru, from גָּזַר - gazar, meaning "to cut off," "to decree," "to determine"; and לֶעָרִיץ - le'arits, meaning "to/for the oppressor" or "ruthless one").
  • nigzru: The passive form indicates that the years are "cut off" or "cut short" by a higher power (God), or that their fate is "decreed" or "determined." It strongly leans towards the years being short rather than merely hidden. The idea is of an abruptly concluded or diminished life, aligning with divine judgment.
  • le'arits: The term עָרִיץ (arits) signifies a powerful, violent, cruel person; a tyrant or oppressor. By adding this specific qualifier, Eliphaz points to the ultimate end of those who abuse power and ruthlessly wield authority over others, suggesting their years are cut short precisely because of their oppressive nature. This subtly targets Job's past status as a powerful landowner.
• Words-group Analysis:
  • "The wicked man travails with pain all his days": This phrase encapsulates Eliphaz's doctrine of retributive suffering. It portrays wickedness as an intrinsically painful and unceasing state, contrasting sharply with the notion that the wicked might prosper. It implies an inescapable consequence built into the moral order.
  • "the number of years is hidden to the oppressor" / "the years allotted to the ruthless are few": This second clause asserts a divinely ordained limitation on the oppressor's life. Whether the years are suddenly cut off (NIV's "few") or their precise ending is concealed and unexpectedly comes (KJV's "hidden"), the underlying message is that the powerful but unrighteous will not enjoy a long or stable existence. This functions as a warning against earthly power that neglects divine justice.

Job 15 20 Bonus section

The Septuagint (LXX), an ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament, renders nigzru as "their number is hidden," aligning more with the KJV translation. However, the root meaning in Hebrew, "to cut," heavily supports the idea of brevity or sudden curtailment, as found in the NIV and many modern translations. This interpretive difference highlights the ancient scholarly struggle with a nuanced Hebrew verb. Eliphaz's perspective aligns with traditional ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature, where proper conduct (righteousness) often led to a long and prosperous life, while wickedness was seen as a cause for a short and painful existence. This verse thus echoes and reinforces those cultural-religious norms that Job's experience fundamentally challenged.

Job 15 20 Commentary

Job 15:20 represents Eliphaz's firmly held, though in Job's case misapplied, belief in immediate and ongoing divine retribution. He asserts that inner torment is the inherent lot of the wicked throughout their entire lives, a form of perpetual spiritual and psychological anguish. This pain is not merely external affliction but a deeply ingrained suffering linked to their character. Moreover, Eliphaz claims that the wicked, especially the tyrannical or ruthless, will have their lifespan curtailed; their days are counted and abruptly cut short by a divine decree. This statement serves to bolster Eliphaz's argument against Job by describing a suffering and curtailed existence which mirrors Job's situation, thereby implicitly accusing Job of being this "wicked man" or "oppressor." It's a classical articulation of the Deuteronomic principle of direct consequence, albeit failing to account for complexities of God's ways or innocent suffering. Eliphaz's theological framework lacked the nuance to understand Job's unique trial, making this universal pronouncement inapplicable to Job himself, yet it accurately reflects a biblical truth concerning the general destiny of persistent wickedness, especially oppressor, albeit not in the simplistic and direct causality Eliphaz proposes for every suffering individual.