Job 20 6

Job 20:6 kjv

Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;

Job 20:6 nkjv

Though his haughtiness mounts up to the heavens, And his head reaches to the clouds,

Job 20:6 niv

Though the pride of the godless person reaches to the heavens and his head touches the clouds,

Job 20:6 esv

Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds,

Job 20:6 nlt

Though the pride of the godless reaches to the heavens
and their heads touch the clouds,

Job 20 verses

Job 20 6 Meaning

Job 20:6 articulates Zophar's firm conviction regarding the transient and ultimate futility of the wicked person's apparent success. He asserts that even if the wicked achieve the highest possible pinnacle of power, prestige, or arrogant self-exaltation—as high as the heavens and clouds—such prominence is exceedingly brief and leads directly to a catastrophic downfall. This statement serves to intensify the contrast with the wicked's swift destruction described immediately thereafter.

Job 20 6 Context

Job 20:6 is part of Zophar the Naamathite's second and final discourse (Job 20:1-29) in response to Job's latest lament (Job 19). Throughout the book, Job's three friends adhere to a rigid, conventional wisdom known as retribution theology, asserting that suffering is always a direct consequence of sin, and prosperity a reward for righteousness. Job, however, consistently maintains his innocence and questions why he, a righteous man, is suffering, and why the wicked often prosper in this life (Job 12:6, 21:7).

Zophar's speech is characterized by an unyielding condemnation of the wicked, outlining their specific crimes and foretelling their dramatic and painful demise. He cannot fathom a scenario where the wicked enjoy sustained prosperity. His primary objective is to prove Job's guilt by asserting that such terrible suffering could only befall one who has engaged in profound wickedness, no matter how elevated they once seemed. Verse 6, with its hyperbolic language, sets the stage for the swift and utter destruction that Zophar believes is the inevitable destiny of the wicked, reinforcing his dogmatic view of divine justice and acting as a direct rebuttal to Job's experience.

Job 20 6 Word analysis

• Though (ʾim, אם): A conditional particle, meaning "if" or "though." It introduces a hypothetical or concessive clause, acknowledging a premise (the wicked reaching a high point) only to swiftly counter it with an opposing consequence. It sets up a strong antithesis.
• his excellency (גְּאֹו - gāʾôn): This Hebrew word is significant. While it can denote majestic glory (especially of God), in the context of human action, it frequently carries the negative connotation of pride, arrogance, haughtiness, or overweening ambition. Here, it refers to the wicked person's self-exalted, possibly even boastful, position or reputation. It's the pinnacle of human achievement or perceived glory, often tinged with self-importance. This 'excellency' is distinct from genuine divine glory or humble blessedness.
• mount up (יַעֲלֶה - yaʿăleh): From the root ʿālâ (עלל), meaning "to go up," "ascend," "climb," or "rise." It signifies an upward trajectory, emphasizing the impressive, reaching nature of their perceived power or influence. It is a verb indicating a continuous or persistent ascent.
• to the heavens (שָׁמָיִם - šāmāyim): The highest visible realm, representing the absolute apex. It is a hyperbolic expression for extreme elevation, reaching the maximum possible human or earthly limit of power, ambition, or perceived security. It hints at an aspiration to deity or unparalleled greatness.
• and his head (וְרֹאשׁוֹ - wəroʾšô): "His head" functions as a synecdoche for the entire person or their top-most point, reinforcing the idea of supreme elevation. It parallels "his excellency," providing a physical image to match the abstract concept of high status.
• reach unto (יַגִּ֗יעַ - yaggîaʿ): From the root nāḡaʿ (נגע), meaning "to touch," "reach," "strike." It implies making contact with or coming close to a point, indicating the highest attainable touchpoint for the wicked.
• the clouds (עָֽב - ʿāḇ): Thick clouds, often associated with heights, atmospheric limits, or even divine presence (when God descends). Here, it reinforces the 'heavens' imagery, signifying the uppermost limit of the earthly realm, symbolizing the pinnacle of human achievement or power.

Words-group Analysis:

• "Though his excellency mount up to the heavens": This phrase paints a vivid picture of extreme, soaring ambition and success. The "excellency" is tied to pride and self-exaltation. Reaching "to the heavens" signifies an unmatched level of power, influence, and security, almost God-like in its reach. It alludes to ancient aspirations of constructing towers to reach the sky, representing human hubris (e.g., Babel in Gen 11).
• "and his head reach unto the clouds": This serves as a strong parallel and intensifier of the previous phrase. "His head" personifies the wicked individual, making their arrogant aspiration tangible. Reaching "the clouds" reiterates the idea of occupying the highest, seemingly impregnable position, yet one that remains firmly within the earthly or atmospheric limits, distinctly separate from true divine authority above the clouds. Both phrases use common Near Eastern hyperbolic expressions to convey ultimate human elevation.

Job 20 6 Bonus section

This verse highlights a key aspect of ancient wisdom literature concerning human aspiration and divine limitation. While humans might strive for ultimate heights and perceived omnipotence, they are always subject to a higher power. Zophar's argument, though flawed in its application to Job, reflects a theological truth about the ephemeral nature of worldly glory and the ultimate sovereignty of God over human pride. This idea is echoed in prophetic warnings against nations or rulers who boast in their own strength and elevation, such as Babylon in Isa 14. The temporary nature of this extreme 'excellency' is the key: it is an illusion of lasting power that the divine hand can and will shatter.

Job 20 6 Commentary

Job 20:6 functions as the thesis statement for Zophar's argument regarding the fate of the wicked. He employs vivid, hyperbolic imagery to set the scene for the dramatic reversal that will follow (vv. 7-9). By emphasizing the apparent maximum ascent of the wicked—their 'excellency' (often a term for pride) mounting to the very 'heavens,' their 'head' touching the 'clouds'—Zophar maximizes the subsequent contrast. This is not just a modest success, but an apex of power, influence, or haughty self-assertion. The very height they reach underscores their perceived untouchability and pride.

However, Zophar's words are a doctrinal pronouncement of the friends' fixed retribution theology: the greater the presumed ascent, the more inevitable and precipitous the fall. While the general principle that pride leads to a fall is true (Prov 16:18) and affirmed in Scripture regarding the ultimate judgment of the wicked (Ps 73), Zophar applies it with an uncompromising rigidity that does not account for God's mysterious dealings or righteous suffering, as experienced by Job. He aims to make Job's suffering fit this rigid framework, implying Job must have soared in pride before his spectacular collapse. The verse thus highlights the traditional wisdom the friends clung to, which the book of Job, in its broader scope, challenges and expands upon, demonstrating God's justice is more complex than a simplistic quid pro quo.