Job 27 20

Job 27:20 kjv

Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night.

Job 27:20 nkjv

Terrors overtake him like a flood; A tempest steals him away in the night.

Job 27:20 niv

Terrors overtake him like a flood; a tempest snatches him away in the night.

Job 27:20 esv

Terrors overtake him like a flood; in the night a whirlwind carries him off.

Job 27:20 nlt

Terror overwhelms them like a flood,
and they are blown away in the storms of the night.

Job 27 verses

Job 27 20 Meaning

Job 27:20 describes the swift, overwhelming, and unexpected judgment that overtakes the wicked. It emphasizes the suddenness and finality of divine retribution, portraying it with powerful imagery of natural calamities. This verse underscores the inescapable fate of those who disregard God, asserting that their demise will be catastrophic and without warning, leaving them no escape.

Job 27 20 Context

Job 27 stands as Job's concluding defense, distinct from the preceding dialogue cycles. Here, Job reaffirms his integrity and his unyielding trust in God's righteousness, even amidst his inexplicable suffering. Crucially, he articulates a belief in the eventual downfall of the wicked, outlining their disastrous end. Verse 20 is part of this powerful declaration, serving as a pronouncement on the inevitable fate of the godless, which Job argues aligns with divine justice. This segment of Job's discourse directly refutes his friends' simplistic insistence that his suffering must be due to wickedness, by asserting that he, Job, certainly is not one of these wicked ones who meet such a catastrophic end. It reflects Job's deep theological conviction about God's ultimate moral order despite immediate appearances.

Job 27 20 Word analysis

• Terrors (בַּלָּהוֹת, ballahot): This Hebrew plural noun signifies sudden, dreadful calamities, ruination, or horrific events. It suggests overwhelming psychological distress coupled with physical destruction. Its usage implies an abrupt onset of horrifying conditions, catching the wicked off guard.
• overtake him (יַשִּׂגֻהוּ, yaśśiḡuhū): From the root nasag (נָשַׂג), meaning to reach, catch up with, or attain. The word denotes an active, pursuing force that relentlessly closes in and seizes its target. It underscores the inescapable nature of the judgment; the terrors actively pursue and eventually lay hold of the wicked, leaving no avenue for evasion.
• like a flood (כַּמַּיִם, kammayim): Literally "like waters." This vivid simile conjures the image of a raging torrent or deluge, representing an overwhelming, destructive, and uncontrollable force. A flood wipes away everything in its path, suggesting total annihilation and utter helplessness in the face of judgment.
• a tempest (סוּפָה, sūp̄â): A violent, whirling storm, whirlwind, or tempest. This natural phenomenon is characterized by its suddenness, destructive power, and disorienting effect. It sweeps away objects indiscriminately, signifying swift, chaotic, and forceful removal.
• snatches him away (תִּגְנְבֵהוּ, tiḡnəḇēhū): From the verb ganab (גָּנַב), meaning "to steal" or "carry away secretly." This term emphasizes the unexpected and swift manner of removal, almost stealthily, in a way that provides no opportunity for resistance or escape. It can imply a sudden, unnoticed disappearance or death, like an object snatched by a thief.
• in the night (בַּלַּיְלָה, ballaylâ): Signifies the period of darkness. This adds dimensions of vulnerability, secrecy, and unexpectedness to the judgment. It is when one is most exposed and least prepared, aligning with a sudden, unannounced blow. Darkness can also symbolize ignorance, spiritual blindness, or absence of divine favor.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Terrors overtake him like a flood": This phrase combines existential dread with physical devastation. The "terrors" are not just internal fear but manifest destruction. The "flood" metaphor powerfully illustrates the magnitude, speed, and all-consuming nature of this judgment. It's an unstoppable wave.
• "a tempest snatches him away in the night": This second part reiterates and intensifies the theme of sudden, overwhelming destruction, using different yet complementary imagery. The "tempest" represents the violent, uncontrollable force, while "snatches him away" implies a sudden, often unnoticed disappearance or demise. The addition of "in the night" emphasizes vulnerability, surprise, and a lack of defense, leaving the wicked no chance to prepare or escape their doom. This highlights the unexpected and final nature of the judgment.

Job 27 20 Bonus section

• Contrast with Job's own experience: While Job laments the slow, drawn-out nature of his suffering, he prophesies a quick and complete end for the truly wicked, highlighting a tension in his understanding that eventually resolves in divine sovereignty.
• Divine Active Agent: The verbs "overtake" and "snatches away" depict terrors and tempests as agents of divine judgment. While personified as natural forces, they are instruments of God's sovereign decree.
• Fulfilment in other narratives: The suddenness of judgment echoes through biblical accounts such as the Flood of Noah (Gen 7), the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19), or the judgment on Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5). These historical events underscore the truth of Job's pronouncement.
• Apocalyptic overtones: The imagery of flood and tempest often appears in prophetic literature and apocalyptic visions of final judgment, suggesting an ultimate, cosmic fulfillment of such divine actions against wickedness.

Job 27 20 Commentary

Job 27:20 offers a stark theological affirmation from Job concerning the inevitable fate of the wicked, demonstrating his deep-seated conviction in God's ultimate justice, even while questioning His current ways with him. The verse does not present the gradual decay of evil, but its catastrophic and sudden annihilation. The double metaphor of "flood" and "tempest" creates a composite image of total, overwhelming ruin that cannot be resisted or escaped. The "snatches him away" further highlights the swiftness and decisiveness, implying a final, absolute removal without trace, often associated with a thief who takes without warning. The inclusion of "in the night" underscores the vulnerability of the wicked when divine judgment comes, illustrating that their seemingly secure state is utterly precarious and subject to sudden, unannounced demise when they least expect it. This prophecy against the wicked ultimately reinforces Job's own righteous standing by contrast.