Job 15 23

Job 15:23 kjv

He wandereth abroad for bread, saying, Where is it? he knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.

Job 15:23 nkjv

He wanders about for bread, saying, 'Where is it?' He knows that a day of darkness is ready at his hand.

Job 15:23 niv

He wanders about for food like a vulture; he knows the day of darkness is at hand.

Job 15:23 esv

He wanders abroad for bread, saying, 'Where is it?' He knows that a day of darkness is ready at his hand;

Job 15:23 nlt

They wander around, saying, 'Where can I find bread?'
They know their day of destruction is near.

Job 15 verses

Job 15 23 Meaning

Job 15:23 is spoken by Eliphaz the Temanite, who is depicting the plight of the wicked person. He portrays them as desperately searching for basic sustenance, highlighting a state of extreme poverty and instability. This person, due to their sin, faces an inescapable reality: they are fully aware that a day of severe affliction, judgment, and ultimately ruin is imminent and unavoidable. It illustrates a life characterized by insecurity, culminating in certain divine reckoning.

Job 15 23 Context

Job 15:23 occurs during Eliphaz's second speech in his attempt to respond to Job's lamentations and assertions of innocence. The broader context of the Book of Job introduces a man of blameless character who suffers immense loss and physical agony despite his righteousness. Eliphaz and Job's other friends operate under the traditional theological framework of retribution: God directly blesses the righteous and curses the wicked. Therefore, in their minds, Job's immense suffering must be a direct consequence of his hidden sin. Eliphaz's speech in chapter 15 is increasingly accusatory, portraying a generic "wicked man" whose description subtly but firmly implicates Job. Verse 23 details the miserable future Eliphaz envisions for such a wicked individual—a life of desperate struggle and certain, unavoidable judgment, serving as a rhetorical tool to convince Job that he is, indeed, this wicked man. Historically, this perspective was common in the Ancient Near East, where cause-and-effect morality was a prevalent belief system concerning divine justice.

Job 15 23 Word analysis

• He wanders abroad (נוּד, nûd): This Hebrew verb denotes a restless, unsettled movement, often associated with grief, instability, or exile. It signifies not just physical travel, but a lack of a permanent dwelling or secure position. In this context, it emphasizes the wicked person's desperate and unending search, stripped of all security and belonging, contrasting sharply with the security Eliphaz implies the righteous enjoy.
• for bread (לֶחֶם, laḥem): Literally "bread," but refers more broadly to food, sustenance, and the very necessities of life. The focus is on the most basic survival needs. The phrasing emphasizes a state of profound deprivation where even fundamental provisions are not readily available.
• saying, ‘Where is it?’ (איהוּ, ’ayyêhû): This interrogative cry reflects extreme scarcity and a desperate search for what is missing. It highlights an anxious and futile pursuit, underscoring their chronic lack and uncertainty. The very utterance signifies distress and profound need.
• He knows (יָדַע, yâḏaʿ): This verb means to know, to perceive, to recognize. It implies a clear, undeniable understanding or awareness. The wicked person is not merely caught by surprise; they have a certain, internal conviction about their impending doom, suggesting that their lifestyle has led them to this realization.
• that a day of darkness (יוֹם־חֹשֶׁךְ, yôm-ḥōšēḵ): "Day" refers to a specific time or period, while "darkness" universally symbolizes calamity, judgment, grief, chaos, or death. This phrase is a common biblical metaphor for a period of intense divine judgment and affliction. It is a time of God's wrath, stripping away all comfort and light.
• is ready at his hand (נָכוֹן עַל־יָדוֹ, nāḵôn ‘al-yāḏōw):
  • ready (נָכוֹן, nāḵôn): This means fixed, established, prepared, or ready. It emphasizes the absolute certainty and inevitability of the impending "day of darkness." It's not a remote possibility but an assured future event.
  • at his hand (עַל־יָדוֹ, ‘al-yāḏōw): Literally "on his hand" or "by his side." This idiomatic expression denotes imminence, proximity, and being close at hand or easily within reach. The judgment is not far off; it is hovering over him, ready to be executed.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "He wanders abroad for bread, saying, ‘Where is it?’": This phrase paints a vivid picture of destitution, instability, and a life consumed by the desperate, unfruitful pursuit of basic survival. It speaks of a rootless existence driven by want, a life without peace or security.
• "He knows that a day of darkness is ready at his hand.": This emphasizes the internal, terrifying awareness of impending doom. It implies a lack of surprise; the wicked are fully conscious that their actions have set them on an irreversible course toward judgment, which is now alarmingly near. Their fear stems from this certain knowledge, rather than being caught unaware.

Job 15 23 Bonus section

While Eliphaz presents this as a universal truth, the Book of Job itself subtly critiques his perspective. His pronouncements, like those of the other friends, ultimately prove inadequate to explain Job's situation or God's ways. The dramatic irony for the reader is that Job is explicitly declared righteous by God in the narrative prologue (Job 1:1, 8), making Eliphaz's accusations misguided. Eliphaz's words, though common in human understanding of cause-and-effect, are not the full measure of divine justice or the multifaceted reasons for human suffering. The truth is more complex: the wicked often prosper, and the righteous often suffer, confounding such simplistic schemes.

Job 15 23 Commentary

Eliphaz, steeped in the conventional wisdom of his time, presents a chilling picture of the wicked man's destiny. His statement in Job 15:23 is not a theological proposition from God's perspective, but rather Eliphaz's interpretation of divine justice as it relates to human suffering. He asserts that the wicked are characterized by material insecurity and ultimately, an undeniable, dreadful certainty of future judgment. The vivid imagery of "wandering abroad for bread" signifies utter destitution and chronic need, a stark contrast to the divine provision he assumes for the righteous. This isn't just about lack, but about a frantic, undignified search, highlighting the psychological torment of constant deprivation.

Furthermore, Eliphaz stresses the "knowledge" of the wicked, indicating their own premonition of their end. This implies a culpability beyond mere ignorance, suggesting they recognize the impending "day of darkness"—a biblical euphemism for divine retribution, severe calamity, or death. This day is "ready at his hand," emphasizing its immediacy and inevitability. Eliphaz's intention is to implicitly warn Job, asserting that Job's current state of suffering mirrors this very description of the wicked, and thus must be a result of his own sin. However, the broader narrative of Job ultimately challenges Eliphaz's narrow theology, showing that suffering is not always a direct punitive consequence of sin.