Job 15 28

Job 15:28 kjv

And he dwelleth in desolate cities, and in houses which no man inhabiteth, which are ready to become heaps.

Job 15:28 nkjv

He dwells in desolate cities, In houses which no one inhabits, Which are destined to become ruins.

Job 15:28 niv

he will inhabit ruined towns and houses where no one lives, houses crumbling to rubble.

Job 15:28 esv

and has lived in desolate cities, in houses that none should inhabit, which were ready to become heaps of ruins;

Job 15:28 nlt

But their cities will be ruined.
They will live in abandoned houses
that are ready to tumble down.

Job 15 verses

Job 15 28 Meaning

Job 15:28 portrays the tragic fate of the wicked according to Eliphaz. It suggests that even if they seem to dwell in established places, their habitations are in reality like desolate cities or houses already destined for ruin. This imagery conveys a sense of instability, emptiness, and an ultimate lack of true, lasting security or heritage for those who forsake God's ways.

Job 15 28 Context

Job 15 opens Eliphaz's second round of speeches. Having previously focused on the general principles of divine justice and Job's supposed hidden sins, Eliphaz here adopts a harsher, more condemnatory tone. He directly challenges Job's wisdom and suggests Job's words are reckless and blasphemous. From Job 15:20 onwards, Eliphaz details the certain doom of the wicked, outlining their fear, constant suffering, lack of security, and ultimate destruction. Verse 28 specifically emphasizes the transience and futility of the wicked person's dwelling places, describing them as effectively ruined from the outset, highlighting the inevitable collapse of their superficial achievements and security. This perspective reflects the traditional, retributive theology held by Job's friends, which posits a direct correlation between sin and suffering, prosperity and righteousness.

Job 15 28 Word analysis

• He lives (יִשְׁכּוֹן - yishkon): From the root שׁכן (shakan), "to dwell, to abide, to settle." While literally meaning "he dwells" or "he will dwell," in context, it speaks of the apparent dwelling of the wicked. Eliphaz uses this to contrast the perceived stability with the actual instability and ultimate destruction that awaits them. It implies a sense of establishing a permanent home, but paradoxically, their 'home' is not permanent.
• in desolate cities (בְּעָרִים נִשְׁמַמּוֹת - b'arim nishmamôt):
  • עָרִים (arim): Plural of עִיר (ir), "city, town." This term indicates significant, often fortified, centers of human habitation and societal organization.
  • נִשְׁמַמּוֹת (nishmamôt): Feminine plural participle from שׁמם (shamem), "to be desolated, to be horrified, to be appalled." It implies being laid waste, uninhabited, forlorn. This is a powerful descriptor of abandonment and destruction, often linked to divine judgment (e.g., Jer 9:11). The use of 'desolate cities' suggests that even in their prime, the places of the wicked are inwardly cursed, destined for ruin, or that the wicked inhabit places already touched by decay.
• in houses (בָתִּים - battim): Plural of בַּיִת (bayit), "house, dwelling, home, family." These are individual homes, intimate spaces of habitation. Eliphaz extends the judgment from entire cities to the private dwellings of the wicked, indicating total and pervasive ruin.
• no one inhabits (לֹא יֵשְׁבוּ בָם - lo yeshvu vam):
  • לֹא (lo): "No, not."
  • יֵשְׁבוּ (yeshvu): Plural verb from יָשַׁב (yashab), "to sit, to dwell, to inhabit."
  • בָם (vam): "In them."The phrase emphasizes absolute emptiness. The houses are not merely empty temporarily, but fundamentally uninhabitable, underscoring the completeness of the desolation and judgment.
• which are destined to become (אֲשֶׁר חָצְבוּ לְגַלִּים - asher chatzvu l'gallim):
  • אֲשֶׁר (asher): "Which, that."
  • חָצְבוּ (chatzvu): From חָצַב (chatzav), "to hew, cut out, dig." This verb implies a deliberate action of shaping or carving. Here, it suggests that the houses or dwellings of the wicked are "hewn out" or "carved out" with the express purpose or destiny of becoming ruins. It's a striking and vivid metaphor for an inevitable, built-in doom. It implies a predetermined fate, not accidental collapse.
  • לְגַלִּים (l'gallim): "For heaps."
• heaps of ruins (גַלִּים - gallim): Plural of גַל (gal), "heap, mound, ruin." This term specifically refers to mounds of rubble, typically the remains of a destroyed city or structure (e.g., Josh 8:28 after the fall of Ai; Isa 25:2 referring to ruined cities). It signifies utter and permanent destruction, with nothing but debris remaining.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "He lives in desolate cities, in houses no one inhabits": This phrase paints a picture of isolation and ultimate futility. Even if the wicked acquire properties, they are ultimately uninhabitable, devoid of true life or legacy. This implies that their outward success is illusory, built upon a foundation of divine disfavor, leading to a void where true thriving should be. It challenges the common ancient perception of wealth and grand dwelling as signs of divine favor.
• "which are destined to become heaps of ruins": This powerful statement reveals the inevitable and pre-ordained end of the wicked's establishments. The metaphor of "hewing out for ruins" means their very construction and foundation carry the seed of their destruction. It's not a question of if but when and that it's their intended end. This underlines a severe judgment, asserting that nothing they build will stand.

Job 15 28 Bonus section

• The concept of "desolate cities" and "houses no one inhabits" often serves as a powerful biblical metaphor for comprehensive divine judgment, whether upon individuals, nations, or even spiritual entities. It signifies abandonment, absence of life, and the reversal of created order when covenant stipulations are broken.
• Eliphaz's words, while harsh and not fully aligned with God's complex sovereignty shown in Job, echo warnings found throughout Scripture concerning the impermanence of wealth and the folly of building an earthly kingdom apart from God. His rigid interpretation, however, fails to account for the righteous who suffer or the complexities of God's ways.
• The phrase "hewn out for ruins" can be seen as an intentional prophetic curse embedded in the very foundations of the wicked's possessions. It’s not just decay, but a preordained collapse as part of their righteous condemnation. This stands in direct contrast to the eternal "house not made with hands" (2 Cor 5:1) promised to believers.
• This verse can be a polemic against ancient Near Eastern prosperity cults that believed material success equated to divine blessing without regard for ethical conduct. Eliphaz, even in his misguided attempt to apply traditional wisdom to Job's unique case, upholds the truth that ill-gotten or unrighteous gains will not lead to true or lasting inheritance.

Job 15 28 Commentary

Job 15:28 is Eliphaz's stern pronouncement on the fate of the wicked, reflecting the conventional wisdom of his time. He claims that the wicked, even if they accumulate possessions and dwellings, are merely inhabiting places already marked by divine curse and destined for ultimate desolation. Their supposed security is an illusion, their grand homes nothing more than mounds of future ruins. This imagery strips the wicked of any pretense of lasting prosperity or stability, portraying their end as absolute destruction and emptiness.

This verse exemplifies the limited, retributive theology of Job's friends. For them, every misfortune or lack of permanent inheritance is a direct result of personal sin. The "desolate cities" and "heaps of ruins" serve as potent symbols of divine judgment that leaves nothing intact for the unrighteous. Eliphaz asserts that the very "construction" of the wicked's dwellings has judgment woven into its fabric. The irony is poignant: they strive to build, yet their creations are intrinsically doomed to become mere debris, without an inheritor or inhabitant. This stands in stark contrast to the divine promise of a lasting inheritance for the righteous.