Job 20 7

Job 20:7 kjv

Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?

Job 20:7 nkjv

Yet he will perish forever like his own refuse; Those who have seen him will say, 'Where is he?'

Job 20:7 niv

he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, 'Where is he?'

Job 20:7 esv

he will perish forever like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, 'Where is he?'

Job 20:7 nlt

yet they will vanish forever,
thrown away like their own dung.
Those who knew them will ask,
'Where are they?'

Job 20 verses

Job 20 7 Meaning

Job 20:7 declares the inevitable and utter destruction of the wicked, no matter how great their self-exaltation or worldly achievement. Despite their highest ambitions, reaching what seems to be the very heavens, their end is portrayed as sudden, ignominious, and eternal, comparable to being discarded as worthless refuse. This verse powerfully underscores the ephemeral nature of prideful, ungodly success in contrast to divine judgment.

Job 20 7 Context

Job chapter 20 contains Zophar's second speech to Job. He forcefully asserts that the prosperity of the wicked is exceedingly short-lived, leading inevitably to their catastrophic destruction. This entire speech serves as a counter-argument to Job's earlier lamentations and indirect accusations that God allows the wicked to prosper. Zophar, like the other friends, operates under the assumption of divine retribution: that suffering indicates sin, and prosperity indicates righteousness. In this specific verse (20:7), Zophar uses vivid, almost grotesque imagery to emphasize the utter degradation and eternal annihilation that awaits the arrogant wicked. He contends that their downfall is as certain as their fleeting rise, intended to explain Job's plight as a direct consequence of his hidden sin, a premise that the entire book of Job ultimately challenges as an oversimplification of God's ways.

Job 20 7 Word analysis

(h2)Word analysis

• Though he exalt himself (כִּי־יַעֲלֶה, ki yaʿaleh): "Though he goes up, ascends, becomes high." This denotes self-aggrandizement, prideful ambition, or the achievement of high status through illicit means. It speaks to a human aspiration for dominance, wealth, or power, often driven by a spirit contrary to God. The language suggests a deliberate and strenuous effort to elevate oneself.
• to the heavens (עַד־שָׁמָיִם, ʿad shamayim): A hyperbole indicating the absolute highest possible ascent, signifying immense power, influence, or prominence in the earthly sphere. It mirrors ancient hubris, such as the builders of the Tower of Babel seeking to reach heaven or Satan's desire to ascend above the stars of God (Gen 11:4, Isa 14:13).
• and his head reaches the clouds (וְרֹאשׁוֹ לָעָב יַגִּיעַ, vĕrōʾšō lāʿāb yaggīaʿ): This vivid imagery further amplifies the extent of the wicked's perceived might or exalted position. The "clouds" here represent the ultimate high point achievable in the earthly realm, emphasizing their temporary, visible glory, rather than any divine connection.
• he will perish forever (כְּגֶלְלוֹ לָנֶצַח יֹאבֵד, kĕḡellōw lāneṣaḥ yōʾbēd): This is the core, powerful statement.
  • כְּגֶלְלוֹ (kĕḡellōw): "Like his dung" or "like his refuse/excrement." This graphic comparison underscores the utter worthlessness and ignominy of the wicked's ultimate end. Just as refuse is repulsive and discarded, so too will their lofty aspirations and accomplishments be utterly cast aside and despised. It signifies total, irreversible degradation and oblivion in the eyes of God and all who witness His judgment.
  • לָנֶצַח (lāneṣaḥ): "Forever" or "perpetually." This term denotes an everlasting and irreversible state. It means the destruction is not temporary but ultimate and unending, establishing the permanency of their loss.
  • יֹאבֵד (yōʾbēd): "He will perish, be lost, destroyed." This verb indicates complete and utter destruction, not merely fading away but ceasing to exist in any meaningful or beneficial form, effectively being annulled from remembrance and relevance.

(ul)

• "Though he exalt himself... and his head reaches the clouds": This phrase emphasizes the arrogance and high ambition of the wicked, reaching to the utmost humanly possible, akin to a prideful rebellion against divine sovereignty.
• "like his own dung he will perish forever": This striking comparison serves as a stark metaphor for complete and shameful annihilation. It denotes that all the wicked person's accumulated glory, power, and wealth become utterly worthless and are treated with contempt, destined for eternal oblivion and dishonor. The vividness of the image is meant to shock and convey irreversible disgrace.

Job 20 7 Bonus section

The strong, vivid language used in Job 20:7—especially the graphic "like his own dung"—is typical of ancient Near Eastern rhetoric, aiming to convey profound contempt and finality. It's not merely a physical demise but a complete obliteration from any meaningful or positive remembrance, highlighting a state of ultimate disgrace. While Zophar applies this truth dogmatically and unjustly to Job, the principle resonates across the Bible: God sees the prideful from afar, and while they may momentarily flourish like grass, their destruction is both certain and eternally decreed by His righteous judgment. This verse underlines the theme of "reversal of fortunes," where those who seek to exalt themselves without God are ultimately humbled, and often by the very means they once valued.

Job 20 7 Commentary

Job 20:7 delivers a potent, almost visceral prophecy concerning the fate of the wicked. Zophar's words are characterized by an undeniable, though at times misapplied, theological truth: ultimate divine justice. He contrasts the temporary, boastful exaltation of the wicked with their definitive, degrading downfall. The vivid imagery of the wicked one ascending "to the heavens" and "his head reaching the clouds" signifies a height of worldly success, influence, and perhaps even arrogant self-deification. Yet, this peak is portrayed as precarious, an illusory triumph. The core of the verse, "like his own dung he will perish forever," serves as a stark and deliberately offensive metaphor. It strips away all pretense of grandeur, reducing their perceived achievements and their very being to something vile and utterly disposable. This is not merely cessation of life but an end steeped in dishonor, complete worthlessness, and eternal condemnation. It is a powerful affirmation of God's sovereignty over all human ambition and a chilling warning that temporary worldly success for the unrighteous holds no true, lasting value. Their memory, like their earthly accumulation, is purged from any honorable place, obliterated as if it were a foul and offensive thing.