Job 20 19

Job 20:19 kjv

Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;

Job 20:19 nkjv

For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor, He has violently seized a house which he did not build.

Job 20:19 niv

For he has oppressed the poor and left them destitute; he has seized houses he did not build.

Job 20:19 esv

For he has crushed and abandoned the poor; he has seized a house that he did not build.

Job 20:19 nlt

For they oppressed the poor and left them destitute.
They foreclosed on their homes.

Job 20 verses

Job 20 19 Meaning

Job 20:19 describes the actions of the wicked as Zophar perceives them: relentlessly oppressing the poor and seizing what rightfully belongs to others, particularly their homes and livelihoods, through unjust means rather than honest effort. This verse encapsulates Zophar's argument that the wicked thrive temporarily by exploiting the vulnerable, accumulating wealth and property through fraud and violence, actions which ultimately lead to their divine downfall.

Job 20 19 Context

Job 20:19 is part of Zophar the Naamathite's second speech in the book of Job (Job 20:1-29). Zophar is responding to Job's earlier assertion that the wicked often prosper and escape immediate punishment (Job 21:7). Zophar maintains the traditional retributive theology of his friends: that the wicked inevitably receive their just desserts swiftly and severely from God. He portrays a stark contrast between the fleeting success of the wicked and their inevitable downfall, meticulously detailing the characteristics and consequences of such a person's life. Verse 19 specifically details one aspect of the wicked person's moral corruption: their direct, aggressive exploitation of the vulnerable. This aligns with the common understanding of divine justice in Zophar's worldview, where actions against the poor were seen as a direct offense against God, inviting immediate judgment. Historically and culturally, a man's house was not merely a dwelling but represented his security, his family's continuity, and his legacy. Seizing it implied destroying a person's very foundation and future.

Job 20 19 Word analysis

• For he has crushed (כִּ֤י רִצַּ֣ץ / kî riṣṣaṣ):
  • riṣṣaṣ (רִצַּץ) from the root רָצַץ (râṣaṣ): "to crush," "to break in pieces," "to oppress," "to maltreat." This implies violent, overwhelming force applied to the weaker party. It suggests utter devastation, leaving nothing intact. It’s not a mere burden, but destruction.
  • Significance: This active, forceful verb emphasizes the aggressive nature of the wicked man's exploitation. It portrays a direct, physical, or systematic subjugation of the vulnerable.
• and abandoned (עָזַב / ‘āzaḇ):
  • ‘āzaḇ (עָזַב): "to leave," "to forsake," "to abandon," "to cast off." This is not just physical leaving, but leaving in a state of helplessness or destitution.
  • Significance: Following "crushed," this signifies a complete lack of concern or mercy. The wicked not only inflict harm but also leave their victims without recourse, utterly desolate. It speaks to a profound callousness.
• the poor; (דַּלִּ֗ים / dallîm):
  • dallîm (דַּלִּים) from dal (דַּל): "poor," "weak," "helpless," "lowly." This refers to those at the lowest rung of society, often vulnerable due to lack of resources, social standing, or protection.
  • Significance: Throughout the Bible, "the poor" are a specific group under God's special care and protection. Exploiting them is a grave sin, directly opposed to God's character and covenant laws.
• he has seized (סָחַף / sāḥap̄):
  • sāḥap̄ (סָחַף): "to sweep away," "to carry away," "to scrape off," "to strip bare." In this context, it denotes a violent, comprehensive taking away, an appropriation by force or deceit. It's an aggressive act of dispossession.
  • Significance: This highlights the active act of theft or fraudulent acquisition, rather than earning or rightful inheritance. It points to a parasitic relationship where the wicked gain by stripping others bare.
• a house (בָּ֑יִת / bayiṯ):
  • bayiṯ (בָּיִת): "house," "dwelling," "home," also extended to "household" or "family." In ancient Near Eastern culture, a house represented security, heritage, a family's foundation, and often a family's primary asset or land.
  • Significance: Seizing a house means stripping a person of their basic security, their place in society, and their lineage's future. It's an act of profound injustice, undermining the victim's very existence.
• that he did not build. (לֹ֖א בָּנָֽה / lō’ bānâ):
  • lō’ bānâ (לֹא בָּנָה): "did not build." bānâ (בָּנָה): "to build," "to construct," "to establish."
  • Significance: This phrase directly underscores the unjust nature of the acquisition. The wicked person did not labor for, inherit, or legitimately purchase the property. Instead, they took what was someone else's by force or trickery, reflecting illicit gain and a profound lack of respect for property rights and legitimate labor. It is a complete inversion of righteous enterprise.

Words-group analysis:

• "For he has crushed and abandoned the poor;": This powerful parallel emphasizes the twin actions of violent oppression and subsequent merciless neglect. The wicked first inflict severe damage and then leave their victims to suffer, signifying a complete dehumanization of the vulnerable and a disregard for divine mandates concerning them. It’s a complete and utterly destructive act.
• "he has seized a house that he did not build.": This highlights the specific target and nature of the injustice. It's not just generic ill-gotten gains, but specifically property—a house—which represents security and inheritance. The fact that "he did not build" it immediately signals that this is not about honest labor or fair exchange but about usurpation, fraud, or violence, making the acquisition illegitimate and morally condemned. This action strips another of their foundational security and dignity.

Job 20 19 Bonus section

The charges laid out by Zophar, particularly concerning the exploitation of the poor and the illicit seizure of property, reflect deeply held biblical values that permeate both the Mosaic Law and the prophetic tradition. The covenantal stipulations frequently emphasize God's concern for the vulnerable—the sojourner, the orphan, and the widow—and severe warnings are issued against those who defraud them. This verse resonates with the "Woes" declared by later prophets against those who built wealth through injustice (e.g., Amos, Micah, Habakkuk). While Zophar applies this truth incorrectly to Job's situation, the principle itself remains a cornerstone of biblical ethics concerning social justice. It is not only an Old Testament theme but also echoes in the New Testament warnings against the dangers of ill-gotten wealth and the oppression of workers, reinforcing that righteous living includes compassionate and just dealings with all, especially the vulnerable.

Job 20 19 Commentary

Zophar's words in Job 20:19 are a sharp, condemning indictment of the wicked man, portraying him as an active perpetrator of injustice against society's most vulnerable. He describes a person who not only "crushes" the poor, implying direct and severe oppression, but then "abandons" them, demonstrating a cold lack of compassion. The specific example of seizing a house not built by oneself speaks volumes about the nature of this wickedness: it's a transgression against honest labor, legitimate ownership, and basic human security. Such an act represents a deep moral failing, illustrating that the wicked acquire wealth not through diligence and integrity, but through predatory means—depriving others of their livelihoods and very homes. This forms the basis for Zophar's assertion that divine retribution must inevitably follow such blatant exploitation, even though in Job's immediate case, this direct link to personal suffering is what the narrative ultimately disproves as the sole explanation. It nevertheless accurately describes a category of biblical sin repeatedly condemned throughout Scripture.