Job 22 20

Job 22:20 kjv

Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth.

Job 22:20 nkjv

'Surely our adversaries are cut down, And the fire consumes their remnant.'

Job 22:20 niv

'Surely our foes are destroyed, and fire devours their wealth.'

Job 22:20 esv

saying, 'Surely our adversaries are cut off, and what they left the fire has consumed.'

Job 22:20 nlt

They will say, 'See how our enemies have been destroyed.
The last of them have been consumed in the fire.'

Job 22 verses

Job 22 20 Meaning

Job 22:20 captures Eliphaz's confident assertion that the wicked are definitively destroyed and their prosperity consumed by divine judgment. He states this as a universal truth and an observable fact, intending it as a direct rebuttal to Job's earlier claim in Job 21 that the wicked often prosper and escape judgment. For Eliphaz, the suffering of an individual like Job is evidence of hidden wickedness, as God, by His very nature, swiftly punishes evildoers.

Job 22 20 Context

Job chapter 22 marks Eliphaz's final and most direct accusation against Job. After Job's persistent pleas of innocence and his challenging questions regarding divine justice (particularly in Job 21, where he pointed out that the wicked often prosper), Eliphaz abandons subtlety. He directly accuses Job of specific moral failures (e.g., denying water to the thirsty, Job 22:5-9), believing these sins are the root cause of Job's suffering.

Verse 20 comes within this heated exchange. Some translations interpret Eliphaz as sarcastically quoting Job's supposed 'secret thought' (similar to 22:17-18) where Job, or those like him, allegedly mock divine justice, thinking, "Our adversaries are not cut off, and their abundance the fire has not consumed." However, the prevailing and more straightforward interpretation, supported by the larger context of Eliphaz's argument for retributive justice, is that Eliphaz is stating this as a firm declaration of God's action—namely, that the wicked are indeed cut off, and their wealth is consumed. Eliphaz presents this as an irrefutable fact of divine judgment, which directly contradicts Job's observation in chapter 21, serving as a basis for Eliphaz's demand for Job's confession and repentance (22:21-23). He is reinforcing his unwavering belief in strict retributive justice, implying Job's experience is merely a manifestation of this justice applied to him because he is among the "adversaries" due to his perceived sins and impenitence.

Job 22 20 Word analysis

• "Surely" (כִּי, ki): This Hebrew particle introduces a strong affirmation, indeed, or truly. It indicates that Eliphaz is presenting a statement of fact or a firm conviction. It emphasizes the certainty in his declaration regarding the fate of the wicked.
• "our adversaries" (קָמֵ֣נוּ, qāmēnū): This comes from the root קוּם (qūm), meaning "to rise up" or "to stand." Here, it signifies "those who rise against us" or "our opponents/enemies." In Eliphaz's worldview, these "adversaries" are typically the wicked who oppose God's righteous ways, and implicitly, those who question divine justice or God's appointed order (which, from Eliphaz's perspective, includes Job). The pronoun "our" aligns Eliphaz with God and the righteous, subtly placing Job on the side of the adversaries if he does not align himself with Eliphaz's perspective.
• "are cut off" (נִכְחַ֑ד, nikhḥad): From the root חָדַד (khadad), which implies cutting, sharpening, or being sharp. In the Niphal stem (passive form, as used here), it means "to be cut off," "be destroyed," "be exterminated," or "perish." This vividly portrays a complete and decisive termination, indicating that God's judgment is absolute and final against the wicked.
• "and their abundance" (וְיִתְרָם֙, wəyitrām): The word יֶתֶר (yeter) refers to "remainder," "surplus," "excellence," or "abundance." In this context, it speaks of the vast wealth, possessions, or prosperity that the wicked might accumulate. Eliphaz specifically targets their material well-being, suggesting that it too, will not endure but be subjected to God's destructive judgment. This directly counters Job's observation in chapter 21 where he points out the enduring prosperity of some wicked individuals.
• "the fire has consumed" (אָכְלָ֖ה אֵ֑שׁ, ’ākhəlâ ’ēsh): The verb אָכַל (’ākhál) means "to eat," "devour," or "consume." "Fire" (אֵ֑שׁ, ’ēsh) is a powerful biblical symbol of divine judgment, purification, and destruction. Here, it signifies complete annihilation. The fire is portrayed as actively devouring and eradicating their amassed wealth. This imagery underscores the finality and thoroughness of God's wrath upon the wicked and their gains.

Words-group analysis:

• "Surely our adversaries are cut off": This phrase asserts God's decisive act of judgment against those who oppose Him or His ways. It reflects a theology of immediate retribution, where the wicked face swift and irreversible destruction. For Eliphaz, this is an undeniable principle of divine justice.
• "and their abundance the fire has consumed": This parallel statement confirms the totality of divine judgment. Not only are the wicked themselves destroyed ("cut off"), but even their accumulated wealth and prosperity, often seen as a mark of blessing, are not spared. The "fire" metaphor vividly portrays a thorough and devastating eradication, leaving nothing behind. It directly challenges Job's observation about the sustained prosperity of some wicked individuals in Job 21. Eliphaz uses this image to cement his argument that God consistently punishes all aspects of the wicked life.

Job 22 20 Bonus section

The Hebrew word for "adversaries" (qāmēnū) carries a connotation of "those who rise against us," often implying a rebellion or a standing in opposition. In Eliphaz's mindset, this refers not just to physical enemies but to spiritual ones—those whose conduct or even thoughts are against God's established order. Job's questioning of divine justice would, to Eliphaz, place Job among such "adversaries." This word choice thus implicitly includes Job within the scope of divine judgment in Eliphaz's argument.

The phrase "the fire has consumed" suggests a powerful and supernatural destruction, emphasizing God's direct agency in this judgment. It resonates with Old Testament narratives where God’s immediate fiery judgment falls upon rebellion or wickedness (e.g., Sodom and Gomorrah, Nadab and Abihu, Korah’s rebellion). For Eliphaz, this is not a general decline or misfortune but a specific, identifiable act of divine intervention, supporting his view of immediate retribution.

This verse serves as a crucial point of theological divergence between Job and his friends. Eliphaz and the friends are convinced of immediate and discernible retribution; Job insists that such clear, cause-and-effect justice is not always apparent in this life, at least for the wicked's prosperity. The entire book of Job then proceeds to dismantle the simplistic view that Job's friends express in this verse.

Job 22 20 Commentary

Job 22:20 is a pivotal verse, encapsulating Eliphaz's core theological stance regarding divine justice. It reveals his unshakeable conviction in the principle of strict retributive justice: God consistently and decisively punishes the wicked, cutting them off and consuming their wealth with fire. This conviction stands in direct opposition to Job's experience and his bewildered cries that the wicked sometimes prosper.

Eliphaz presents this verse as an unchallengeable truth, potentially an eyewitness account, or a shared common wisdom, meant to highlight the self-evident nature of God's dealings. He frames it in a way that implies Job's suffering is simply the inevitable outcome of his own unconfessed sin. The imagery of "cutting off" and "fire consuming" their "abundance" points to a comprehensive destruction not only of the person but also of all their earthly achievements and gains, emphasizing God's complete victory over evil.

However, Eliphaz's rigid theology, while containing elements of truth about God's justice (God does punish the wicked), fails to account for the complexities of suffering, particularly righteous suffering. He mistakenly applies a universal principle to an individual situation without discernment, thus misinterpreting Job's unique trial. He effectively declares that Job, by suffering, must belong to the class of "adversaries" whose abundance is consumed. The irony, which the wider narrative of Job later reveals, is that Job's experience is not a consequence of being an adversary cut off by divine judgment, but part of a cosmic test of his integrity. This verse highlights the profound theological error of Job's friends, who judged based on overly simplistic theological premises rather than discerning God's deeper purposes.