Job 20 24

Job 20:24 kjv

He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.

Job 20:24 nkjv

He will flee from the iron weapon; A bronze bow will pierce him through.

Job 20:24 niv

Though he flees from an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow pierces him.

Job 20:24 esv

He will flee from an iron weapon; a bronze arrow will strike him through.

Job 20:24 nlt

When they try to escape an iron weapon,
a bronze-tipped arrow will pierce them.

Job 20 verses

Job 20 24 Meaning

Job 20:24 portrays the inescapable nature of divine judgment for the wicked. It suggests that even if an unrighteous person attempts to flee from a common, visible danger (represented by an "iron weapon"), they will inevitably be struck down by a more powerful, distant, or unseen instrument of retribution (symbolized by a "bronze bow" or "arrow"). Zophar uses this imagery to emphasize that no escape or evasion is possible when one faces the consequences of their actions, aligning with his perspective on God's unwavering justice against the wicked.

Job 20 24 Context

Job 20:24 is part of Zophar the Naamathite's second and final speech, found in Job 20:1-29. Zophar delivers a strong rebuttal to Job's earlier assertion of innocence and his lament against God. His speech, like those of Eliphaz and Bildad, relies on the conventional ancient Near Eastern wisdom doctrine of divine retribution: the righteous prosper, and the wicked suffer. Zophar presents a rigid, absolute picture of the wicked person's ultimate demise, insisting that any success they achieve is fleeting. The verse in question serves to amplify his argument that the wicked, no matter how clever or evasive, cannot escape the comprehensive and relentless hand of divine justice. He contrasts an "iron weapon" (perhaps implying a more direct, common threat or close combat) with a "bronze bow" or "arrow" (suggesting a more sophisticated, powerful, and distant means of execution). Zophar applies these generalized truths directly to Job, subtly implying Job's supposed wickedness given his dire circumstances, without fully comprehending the unique nature of Job's suffering.

Job 20 24 Word analysis

• He: Refers to the wicked man whom Zophar is describing, representing a generalized person facing the consequences of unrighteousness.
• may flee: (Hebrew: יִבְרַח, yivraḥ) From the root בָּרַח (baraḥ), meaning "to flee," "escape," "get away." It denotes an attempt to escape or evade, highlighting the wicked person's effort to avoid inevitable doom. The use of "may" in some translations suggests a hypothetical scenario or an attempted, but ultimately futile, action.
• from the iron: (Hebrew: מִנֶּשֶׁק בַּרְזֶל, min-nesheq barzel)
  • Nesheq (נֶשֶׁק): Refers generally to "arms" or "weaponry." It encompasses instruments of warfare or harm.
  • Barzel (בַּרְזֶל): Means "iron." In ancient times, iron was a common, foundational metal for tools and weapons, often signifying robustness and ubiquity. The phrase "iron weapon" suggests a common or easily recognized threat, perhaps one encountered in close quarters.
• weapon; (Included in "iron weapon" above)
• a bronze: (Hebrew: נְחוּשָׁה, nəḥushāh) "Bronze" or "copper." Bronze was a significant advancement in metallurgy in the ancient world, often harder and more refined than early iron. As a material for weaponry, especially bows or arrowheads, it implied superior strength, precision, and penetrating power.
• bow: (Hebrew: קֶשֶׁת, qesheth) "Bow," typically referring to the archery weapon. In context with the verb "pierce," it often implicitly includes the arrow fired from it. The "bronze bow" symbolizes an instrument of great power and reach, possibly divine in its efficacy, given its rare, potent material. It represents an unavoidable, perhaps more deadly or specialized, form of judgment compared to the "iron weapon."
• may pierce him through: (Hebrew: וְתַחְלְפֵהוּ, vətaḥliphēhu) From the root חָלַף (ḥālāph), which can mean "to pass through," "pierce," "succeed," "change." Here, it signifies complete penetration, highlighting the inevitability and finality of the strike. It conveys that the attack is successful and fatal, ensuring the wicked person's destruction.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• He may flee from the iron weapon;: This phrase establishes the scenario: the wicked person's active, yet ultimately useless, attempt at evasion from a perceived threat. "Iron weapon" signifies a typical, perhaps more visible or direct, danger that one might expect to evade through speed or agility. It sets up the contrast for the subsequent, unavoidable doom.
• a bronze bow may pierce him through: This concluding phrase delivers the unavoidable reality. The "bronze bow" (or the arrow from it) represents an unexpected, more potent, and far-reaching form of judgment. Unlike a weapon for close combat (like a sword or spear, perhaps hinted by "iron weapon"), a bow delivers its payload from a distance, signifying an inescapable reach and the precision of the ensuing destruction. The imagery emphasizes that divine consequences cannot be outrun or dodged, striking from wherever necessary and with irresistible force.

Job 20 24 Bonus section

The specific mention of a "bow of bronze" (קֶשֶׁת נְחוּשָׁה) is notable in the Old Testament. It appears in Psalm 18:34 (and its parallel in 2 Sam 22:35) where it is explicitly stated that God empowers the psalmist's arms to "bend a bow of bronze." This implies a weapon of extraordinary strength and penetrating power, a skill granted by divine might. In Zophar's speech, the bronze bow is not being wielded by a human or a normal army, but seemingly represents an ultimate, unstoppable force of judgment. The rarity of a full "bronze bow" compared to iron for ordinary use or even bronze for arrowheads further emphasizes its exceptional, divinely enabled, and formidable nature in this context of judgment. This makes the defeat of the wicked person not just by any weapon, but by one associated with incredible, God-given power.

Job 20 24 Commentary

Job 20:24 is Zophar's stark declaration of the wicked person's fate. His point is not simply that the wicked will face consequences, but that these consequences are utterly unavoidable and come through diverse, often unexpected, means. The imagery of fleeing an "iron weapon" but being struck by a "bronze bow" powerfully conveys the idea of an inescapable doom. The "iron weapon" might represent direct, perhaps anticipated dangers, such as battle, legal judgment, or public disgrace. However, the "bronze bow" (a material less common for an entire bow than for specialized arrowheads, suggesting formidable power or origin) indicates a threat that is not only more formidable but potentially also more subtle, precise, or long-reaching. This could symbolize disease, sudden accident, internal turmoil, or divine intervention that overcomes all human attempts at escape. Zophar emphasizes God's sovereign and irresistible judgment. He fails, however, to acknowledge the complexity of God's ways or that innocent suffering exists, as exemplified by Job. This verse is part of the friends' flawed logic, assuming a direct, mechanical retribution for all suffering, and asserting that the wicked's flight is utterly futile against a divinely orchestrated end.