Job 20 25

Job 20:25 kjv

It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him.

Job 20:25 nkjv

It is drawn, and comes out of the body; Yes, the glittering point comes out of his gall. Terrors come upon him;

Job 20:25 niv

He pulls it out of his back, the gleaming point out of his liver. Terrors will come over him;

Job 20:25 esv

It is drawn forth and comes out of his body; the glittering point comes out of his gallbladder; terrors come upon him.

Job 20:25 nlt

The arrow is pulled from their back,
and the arrowhead glistens with blood.
The terrors of death are upon them.

Job 20 verses

Job 20 25 Meaning

Job 20:25 is part of Zophar's second speech, where he articulates the certain and horrific doom awaiting the wicked. This specific verse paints a vivid and violent image of the swift, internal, and inescapable judgment that befalls a person due to their wickedness. It describes an internal collapse and destruction, as if a sharp, shining weapon, indicative of divine judgment, pierces the individual from within, striking their very core and emerging with fatal precision, leaving them overwhelmed by terror. Zophar argues that this agonizing and sudden demise is the inevitable consequence of a wicked life.

Job 20 25 Context

Job chapter 20 presents Zophar the Naamanite's second and most aggressive speech, in response to Job's eloquent self-defense. Zophar, like Bildad and Eliphaz, is a firm proponent of conventional retribution theology, asserting that the wicked are always punished in this life, and severely. His speech vividly details the transience of the wicked's prosperity, which is described as fleeting and followed by devastating judgment. Verse 25 intensifies this imagery by focusing on the ultimate physical and mental collapse of the wicked man, where divine retribution becomes intensely personal, penetrating the very core of his being. This immediate and dreadful end is presented as inescapable proof of his wickedness, directly challenging Job's claim of innocence while experiencing intense suffering. The historical context reflects ancient Near Eastern beliefs in divine justice meting out immediate rewards for good and swift punishment for evil in the earthly realm.

Job 20 25 Word analysis

• It is drawn out (יֵאָק / ye'āq): Derived from a root meaning "to draw out, to pull away suddenly or forcefully." This signifies a swift, involuntary extraction, often implying a painful and fatal removal of something vital, or the sudden, forcible withdrawal of a weapon that has pierced. It emphasizes the immediacy and power of the divine action, not a gradual decline but a rapid, definitive event.
• and comes forth (וְיֵצֵא / və·yē·tsē’): From the verb יָצָא (yatsa'), meaning "to go out, to come forth, to emerge." The repetition here (paired with "comes out" later) stresses the clear, visible expulsion. It’s not just a wound, but something having passed through the body.
• from his body (מִגֵּוָהוּ / mig·gê·vâ·hû): From within his 'body' or 'midst'. The Hebrew term literally means "from within him" or "from his inwards." This indicates an internal penetration, not merely an external attack, signifying a blow that reaches the very core of one's being, leaving no part untouched.
• Even the glittering point (וּבָרָק / u·ḇâ·rāq): The Hebrew word בָרָק (baraq) typically means "lightning" or "flash." In this context, it refers to the sudden, dazzling gleam of a weapon—a spearhead, sword, or arrow. This imagery emphasizes the swiftness, brightness, and formidable nature of the divine weapon of judgment. It highlights the weapon's fatal trajectory and destructive power.
• comes out (יֵצֵא / yē·tsê’): Again from יָצָא (yatsa'). The emphatic repetition of "comes forth/out" underscores the definitive and complete nature of the penetration and expulsion. The weapon has passed through and done its destructive work.
• of his gall (מִמְּרֹרָתוֹ / mim·mə·rō·râ·ṯōw): From m'rorah, meaning "gall" or "bitter bile," usually referring to the gallbladder or perhaps the liver, both considered vital organs in ancient physiology. This choice of organ points to a wound that is intrinsically fatal and agonizing, striking at the very seat of life and inflicting bitter, internal suffering. It's a wound to the vitals, leading to an immediate and painful death.
• Terrors (אֵימִים / 'eimim): From the root for "dread" or "terror." This denotes extreme fright, overwhelming horror, or panic. It indicates a psychological and spiritual collapse, as severe as the physical one.
• are over him (עָלָיו / ʿā·lāw): "Upon him" or "over him." This suggests an enveloping, pervasive state. The terror is not just felt, but it completely surrounds and overwhelms the individual, indicating utter desolation and dread that accompanies their final moments.

• "It is drawn out and comes forth from his body...": This initial phrase establishes the core imagery of something piercing deeply and then exiting. It evokes the image of a deadly projectile, a spear or arrow, entering from one side and exiting another, confirming a mortal wound. This is a dramatic and irreversible action.
• "...Even the glittering point of the spear comes out of his gall...": This clarifies the specific instrument of destruction (a "glittering point" or a flash-like weapon, possibly a divine arrow) and its fatal trajectory. The "gall" as the exit point emphasizes the extreme pain and internal corruption. The weapon's flash highlights its divine origin and unerring accuracy. The internal devastation implies not only physical death but an inner breaking apart of the wicked.
• "...Terrors are over him.": This concludes the verse by describing the complete psychological and existential dread that accompanies the physical destruction. The terrors are not merely internal feelings but are described as "over him," implying an overwhelming, enveloping reality that seals his fate. It shows the emotional consequence of facing sudden divine wrath. This is the culmination of the physical destruction and a terrifying mental state.

Job 20 25 Bonus section

The concept of "gall" (מְרֹרָה / m'rorah) in the Old Testament, beyond its physiological meaning, is deeply associated with bitterness, poison, and deep suffering (e.g., Deut 29:18; Lam 3:19). For the divine weapon to emerge from the "gall" suggests not only a fatal wound but also that the very substance of bitterness—perhaps that which the wicked harbored or inflicted upon others—becomes the conduit or location of their ultimate destruction. It's as if their own internal "bitterness" is what precipitates and demonstrates their undoing. The swift, shining nature of the "point" aligns with numerous biblical portrayals of God's judgment being sudden and visible, often linked with light and storm elements (like Ps 18:14; Zech 9:14). This passage is a strong reflection of conventional wisdom theology, common in Job's time, which presented a direct, observable, and timely causal link between action and consequence in this earthly life.

Job 20 25 Commentary

Zophar's words in Job 20:25 illustrate a harrowing vision of the wicked's end, marked by the swift, inescapable, and agonizing nature of divine judgment. The imagery of a weapon piercing through the very core, exiting from the 'gall' – a vital and pain-sensitive organ – underscores a fatal, internal collapse. This is not merely an external blow, but an inherent, inescapable unraveling driven by the consequences of a wicked life, symbolizing total inner destruction and the bitter pain of consequences. The "glittering point" suggests a divine weapon, perhaps a bolt of lightning or a supernaturally aimed arrow, indicating that this demise is no accident but a purposeful act of divine retribution. The subsequent overwhelm by "terrors" emphasizes the profound psychological dread and ultimate desolation that accompanies such judgment. While Zophar errs in applying this strict retribution to Job's innocent suffering, the verse vividly portrays the biblical concept that unrepentant wickedness carries with it seeds of internal destruction and an inescapable reckoning from the Creator. For a follower of God, this imagery reminds one of the severe spiritual and relational consequences of unrepented sin, often leading to internal distress and ultimate separation from the Divine. It underscores the severity of God's justice and the profound need for repentance and reliance on God's mercy rather than facing judgment.