Job 20 21

Job 20:21 kjv

There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.

Job 20:21 nkjv

Nothing is left for him to eat; Therefore his well-being will not last.

Job 20:21 niv

Nothing is left for him to devour; his prosperity will not endure.

Job 20:21 esv

There was nothing left after he had eaten; therefore his prosperity will not endure.

Job 20:21 nlt

Nothing is left after they finish gorging themselves.
Therefore, their prosperity will not endure.

Job 20 verses

Job 20 21 Meaning

This verse describes the fate of the wicked man as envisioned by Zophar: his rapacious consumption leaves nothing behind for him or anyone else. As a direct consequence of this extreme self-serving destruction, his ill-gotten gains and seemingly successful life will be stripped away, and his prosperity will not last. It encapsulates the traditional understanding of retributive justice where unrighteous wealth is transient and destructive behavior leads to self-ruin.

Job 20 21 Context

Job chapter 20 presents Zophar's second discourse, in which he relentlessly reiterates the traditional wisdom that prosperity is a clear sign of righteousness, and suffering is an unequivocal consequence of wickedness. He believes Job's suffering must therefore be due to great sin. This verse is part of Zophar's vivid portrayal of the wicked man's ultimate downfall, asserting that even if he seemingly flourishes, his ill-gotten gains will lead to his inevitable ruin. Zophar, like the other friends, applies a rigid formula of divine retribution, overlooking God's complex sovereignty and purposes behind suffering, especially innocent suffering. Historically, this perspective was common, where a direct causal link between earthly events and divine justice was assumed, though the book of Job critically examines and ultimately challenges this simplistic view.

Job 20 21 Word analysis

• לֹא (lō’): "no," "not"

  • Significance: An absolute negative, emphasizing complete absence or denial.

• שָׁרִיד (šārîḏ): "survivor," "remnant," "anything left"

  • Significance: Typically refers to a remainder after destruction. Here, its use highlights the totality of consumption; not even a fragment remained from what the wicked possessed or consumed. It underscores the ruthlessness of their rapacity.

• לְאָכְלֽוֹ (lə’oḵlô): "for him to devour/eat/consume" (from אָכַל, 'akal: to eat, consume)

  • Significance: The verb 'akal is often used for consuming food, but here metaphorically describes the wicked person's insatiable appropriation of wealth and resources, often at the expense of others. It implies not just eating, but completely consuming, leaving nothing for others.

• עַל־כֵּ֝ן (‘al-kēn): "therefore," "because of this"

  • Significance: A logical connector establishing cause and effect. It explicitly links the wicked person's destructive consumption to their consequent downfall.

• יָק֥וּם (yāqûm): "stand," "endure," "arise" (from קוּם, qûm: to rise, stand, endure)

  • Significance: In this context, used with the negative, it conveys the idea of not standing firm, not being established, or not lasting. It speaks to the impermanence and lack of stability for the wicked person's gains.

• טוֹבֽוֹ (ṭôḇô): "his good," "his prosperity," "his well-being" (from טוֹב, ṭôḇ: good, pleasing, welfare, prosperity)

  • Significance: Refers to the perceived or acquired benefits, possessions, or general welfare of the wicked. This is the very "prosperity" that Zophar declares will not endure, specifically linking the end of his goodness to his preceding greedy actions.

• "There was nothing left for him to devour": This phrase portrays the wicked person as having been utterly consumed by greed, taking everything and leaving nothing behind. It emphasizes their self-centered nature and how their destructive habits depleted all resources, implying both literal material possessions and the welfare of others affected by their rapaciousness. The result is a barrenness brought on by their own doing.

• "Therefore his prosperity will not endure": This directly states the divine judgment or natural consequence of such unchecked greed. Because the wicked one devoured everything without regard, their ill-gotten "goodness" (wealth, success, pleasure) will be fleeting. It highlights the biblical principle that gains acquired unjustly or consumed self-destructively cannot be sustained.

Job 20 21 Bonus section

Zophar's speech is notable for its hyperbolic and vivid imagery concerning the wicked, including consuming his own wealth (Job 20:15) and perishing swiftly. This verse continues that pattern, emphasizing the completeness of the consumption ("nothing left") and the certainty of the judgment ("will not endure"). While Zophar's application of this principle to Job is flawed, the underlying truth about the transient nature of unrighteous wealth and the consequences of selfish living resonates throughout Scripture. The language implies that the "devouring" is not only an action on things but also an internal characteristic that defines the wicked and leads to self-consumption and desolation. This suggests a spiritual bankruptcy alongside material loss, as the greedy heart consumes itself.

Job 20 21 Commentary

Job 20:21 captures Zophar’s rigid theological premise: unchecked avarice and rapacious living, though they may seem to bring temporary "prosperity," ultimately lead to total ruin and an absolute end to one's perceived good fortune. The verse underscores the futility of gains made through consuming everything without leaving a "remnant," illustrating a justice where the very abundance the wicked man hoarded will evaporate. This emphasizes the volatile and transient nature of prosperity not built on righteous foundations, ultimately proving unsatisfying and perishable.

• Example: A corrupt businessman who corners all markets, enriching himself by ruining competitors and exploiting employees, eventually faces legal and financial collapse, losing all his ill-gotten empire.
• Example: One who uses every relationship and resource for personal gain, never giving back, often finds themselves alone and bereft when in need.