Job 21 30

Job 21:30 kjv

That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.

Job 21:30 nkjv

For the wicked are reserved for the day of doom; They shall be brought out on the day of wrath.

Job 21:30 niv

that the wicked are spared from the day of calamity, that they are delivered from the day of wrath?

Job 21:30 esv

that the evil man is spared in the day of calamity, that he is rescued in the day of wrath?

Job 21:30 nlt

Evil people are spared in times of calamity
and are allowed to escape disaster.

Job 21 verses

Job 21 30 Meaning

Job 21:30 conveys Job's conviction that the wicked, despite their apparent prosperity in this life, are nonetheless set apart or destined for a future divine reckoning. He states they are reserved and will be brought forth to a specific time of judgment, referred to as the "day of destruction" and "day of wrath," thus affirming God's ultimate justice, even if it is not immediately visible.

Job 21 30 Context

Job 21 finds Job countering the simplified retribution theology put forth by his three friends (Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar). His friends persistently argued that suffering is direct evidence of sin, and prosperity indicates righteousness. In chapter 21, Job presents empirical evidence to the contrary: the wicked often prosper, live long, enjoy peace, and die comfortably (vv. 7-16), while the righteous can suffer immensely. This challenges their notion of immediate, visible justice. In verse 30, Job reconciles this apparent discrepancy by shifting the locus of definitive justice from this earthly life to a future, divine day of reckoning. He acknowledges that ultimately, the wicked will face judgment, but the timing is God's and often transcends human observation in the present. This statement serves as Job's sophisticated theological response, affirming ultimate divine sovereignty over justice.

Job 21 30 Word analysis

• כִּֽי (ki-): "For," "surely," "indeed." This opening particle introduces an explanatory or emphatic statement, indicating that Job is presenting a foundational truth or a counter-argument to his friends' assertions about immediate retribution. It affirms the certainty of what follows.
• לְי֥וֹם (le'yom): "For the day of" or "to the day of." The preposition לְ (le-) indicates destination or purpose, emphasizing that the "day" is the appointed target or occasion for the wicked's fate. It signifies a specific, destined time rather than an ongoing process.
• אֵ֭יד ('eyd): "Destruction," "calamity," "disaster." This word denotes severe, often sudden and overwhelming ruination. Its presence highlights the destructive and terminal nature of the judgment awaiting the wicked, indicating not merely consequence but eradication.
• יֵחָשֵׂ֣ך (yeḥasakh): "Is reserved," "is withheld," "is stored up." This verb is in the Niphal (passive) stem from the root חָשַׂךְ (ḥāsaḵ), meaning "to restrain," "withhold," "keep back." The passive voice implies a divine agent. It suggests that judgment is not a random event but purposefully kept and designated for a specific time by God.
• רָ֑ע (raʿ): "The wicked one," "evil (person)." Refers to individuals who actively embody and pursue wickedness. Job speaks generally, encapsulating all those whose ways are antithetical to God's standards, irrespective of their worldly success.
• עַ֝בְר֗וֹת ('avroth): "Wrath," "furies," "outbursts of anger." This is a plural form of עֶבְרָה (‘evrāh), emphasizing the intensity, manifold nature, and completeness of God's righteous indignation. It portrays an overflowing measure of divine anger.
• יוּבָֽלוּ (yuvālū): "They will be brought forth," "they will be led." This verb is in the Niphal (passive) stem from the root יָבַל (yāval), meaning "to bring," "lead," "carry." Similar to "yeḥasakh," the passive voice points to an external, divine power that will actively seize and usher the wicked into judgment, not allowing them to escape or postpone it.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• כִּֽי־לְי֥וֹם אֵ֭יד יֵחָשֵׂ֣ך רָ֑ע (ki-le'yom 'eyd yeḥasakh raʿ): "For the wicked is reserved for the day of destruction." This phrase introduces Job's counter-theology. It directly confronts the idea of immediate earthly retribution by positing a divine reservation for a future judgment. The wicked's current well-being does not negate their ultimate fate, which is specifically "stored up" by God Himself.
• לְי֥וֹם עַ֝בְר֗וֹת יוּבָֽלוּ (le'yom 'avroth yuvālū): "They will be brought forth to the day of wrath." This parallels and intensifies the first part of the verse, using different but related terms. "Day of wrath" emphasizes the source of destruction as God's righteous anger, while "brought forth" underscores the unavoidable nature of this divine summons. The repetition strengthens the certainty of future accountability, moving from the abstract "reserved" to the concrete "brought forth."

Job 21 30 Bonus section

This verse signifies a significant theological maturation in the Book of Job. It moves beyond a solely temporal and earthly retribution model, common in ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature and adhered to by Job's friends, to encompass an eschatological dimension of justice. Job here articulates a more profound understanding of divine sovereignty and timing, where God "holds back" His full wrath until a determined "day," illustrating His patience and absolute control over justice. This perspective prefigures later biblical revelations regarding the final judgment and the "Day of the Lord." Job’s argument here elevates divine justice to a level of transcendent certainty, reassuring that justice will indeed prevail, regardless of immediate earthly observations.

Job 21 30 Commentary

Job 21:30 serves as a crucial point in Job's complex theological argument. He is not denying divine justice, but refining the understanding of its execution against the overly simplistic views of his friends. While they insist on immediate, observable suffering for the wicked as proof of sin, Job counters that God’s justice operates on a larger, often unseen timeline. The wicked are "reserved" and "brought forth" for a future "day of destruction" and "day of wrath," emphasizing God’s active, sovereign role in their ultimate fate. This verse acknowledges the apparent prosperity of the wicked in this life but firmly asserts that their reckoning is not escaped but merely deferred to an appointed time by God. It affirms the final triumph of divine justice beyond human perception, assuring that no one escapes ultimate accountability before God. This perspective encourages faith in God's perfect timing and deeper understanding of His ways, which often extend beyond the present moment. For practical usage, this verse reminds believers not to be dismayed by the temporary success of the wicked or to envy them (Ps 37:1), nor to rush to judge others based solely on their earthly circumstances (1 Cor 4:5), trusting instead in God’s perfect, ultimate judgment.