Job 20 4

Job 20:4 kjv

Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,

Job 20:4 nkjv

"Do you not know this of old, Since man was placed on earth,

Job 20:4 niv

"Surely you know how it has been from of old, ever since mankind was placed on the earth,

Job 20:4 esv

Do you not know this from of old, since man was placed on earth,

Job 20:4 nlt

"Don't you realize that from the beginning of time,
ever since people were first placed on the earth,

Job 20 verses

Job 20 4 Meaning

Job 20:4 is Zophar the Naamathite's direct and rhetorical question to Job, asserting that the truth he is about to declare is not new, but a universally acknowledged principle, established since the very beginning of human existence on earth. He implies that this wisdom, regarding the temporary triumph and inevitable destruction of the wicked, is ancient and foundational, something Job should undoubtedly already know.

Job 20 4 Context

Job chapter 20 contains Zophar's second and final speech in response to Job. Job, having been afflicted with immense suffering despite his righteousness, has questioned God's justice and expressed a desire for a direct encounter with God to plead his case. His friends, Eliphaz and Bildad, have presented arguments rooted in the conventional wisdom of their time, asserting that suffering is always a direct result of sin, and thus Job must be guilty. Zophar, known for his harshness and rigidity, continues this line of reasoning with strong conviction. Verse 4 serves as the preamble to his lengthy discourse (Job 20:5-29) which elaborates on the brief and temporal prosperity of the wicked, followed by their swift and total destruction. Zophar is convinced that this is an ancient, self-evident truth, established when humanity itself began.

Job 20 4 Word analysis

• Do you not know (הֲלֹא תֵדַע, halo tedah):

  • הֲלֹא (halo): An interrogative particle "is it not...?", "surely," implying a strong affirmation, "Surely you know," or "Don't you surely know?" It carries a rhetorical, almost accusatory tone, suggesting Job's ignorance or denial of an obvious truth.
  • תֵדַע (tedah): Second person singular imperfect form of the verb יָדַע (yada'), "to know." This knowledge isn't merely intellectual recognition but implies a deep, experiential, or well-established understanding. Zophar implies this truth should be ingrained in Job's being.

• this (זֹאת, zot):

  • Refers to the general principle or "the thing" Zophar is about to describe, specifically the inevitable downfall of the wicked (detailed from verse 5 onwards). It's a broad reference to what he considers established divine justice.

• from of old (לְמִן עוֹלָם, l^emin 'olam):

  • לְמִן (l^emin): "from" or "since." It marks the temporal starting point.
  • עוֹלָם ('olam): Often translated as "eternity," "ancient time," "forever," or "always." Here, it points to a very distant past, implying a timeless or deeply entrenched truth. It suggests something that has been in existence for an exceptionally long period, beyond recent memory, deeply rooted in history or even creation.

• since man (מִשּׂוּם אָדָם, missum 'adam):

  • מִשּׂוּם (missum): Formed from מִן (min, "from/since") and שׂוּם (shum, "to place, set, lay, appoint"). It directly means "from the placing of," "since the setting of."
  • אָדָם ('adam): "Man," referring to humanity collectively, the first human being, or mankind in general. This emphasizes that the truth predates Job and applies to all humans throughout history.

• was placed on earth (עֲלֵי אָרֶץ, 'alei 'aretz):

  • עֲלֵי ('alei): A poetic form of עַל ('al), "upon" or "over."
  • אָרֶץ ('aretz): "Earth," "land." This anchors the statement to the physical realm and the creation event. It emphasizes that this truth about divine justice was instituted by God when He established the earth and put humanity upon it, linking it directly to the cosmic order from the very beginning.

• "Do you not know this from of old, since man was placed on earth":

  • This phrase acts as a foundational premise for Zophar's argument. By linking his belief to the very dawn of humanity, Zophar elevates his conventional wisdom to the level of undeniable, divinely established universal law. He is appealing to what he considers primal, creation-era wisdom, attempting to make Job's suffering appear to be an expected outcome within this ancient framework of justice. The rhetorical question implies that Job's suffering is due to an established, ancient principle, suggesting Job's perceived innocence is either a delusion or a defiance of timeless truth.

Job 20 4 Bonus section

The statement "since man was placed on earth" implies a very early, perhaps even primeval, understanding or decree from God. This perspective aligns with certain ancient Near Eastern wisdom traditions that often rooted moral order in the very act of creation. Zophar believes the "way of the wicked" and its consequences are as ancient and established as humanity's very presence on earth, implying an unchanging divine principle from the time of Adam. This contrasts with Job's own experience, which suggests a divine mystery that transcends simple human maxims of cause and effect. Zophar's insistence highlights the intellectual battle within the book, as Job's unprecedented suffering challenges established theological certainties.

Job 20 4 Commentary

Job 20:4 is not just a rhetorical question but a strategic move by Zophar to establish the bedrock of his subsequent argument. He accuses Job not just of error, but of ignorance regarding a truth that, in Zophar's view, has been known universally since humanity began. This reveals Zophar's rigid, unwavering commitment to the traditional retribution theology, where prosperity is the infallible sign of righteousness and suffering indicates sin. He positions this belief not as a debatable opinion but as an eternal, divinely ordained law woven into the fabric of creation itself, applicable to every "man... placed on earth." The irony, of course, is that the entire Book of Job will ultimately deconstruct this simplistic understanding of divine justice, demonstrating that God's ways are far more complex and multifaceted than Zophar and his friends can grasp. Zophar's words exemplify the human tendency to oversimplify God's character and purposes, trying to fit divine action into predictable human logical frameworks.