Job 4 20

Job 4:20 kjv

They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it.

Job 4:20 nkjv

They are broken in pieces from morning till evening; They perish forever, with no one regarding.

Job 4:20 niv

Between dawn and dusk they are broken to pieces; unnoticed, they perish forever.

Job 4:20 esv

Between morning and evening they are beaten to pieces; they perish forever without anyone regarding it.

Job 4:20 nlt

They are alive in the morning but dead by evening,
gone forever without a trace.

Job 4 verses

Job 4 20 Meaning

Job 4:20 describes the fate of those Eliphaz perceives as wicked, asserting that their demise is both sudden and complete. It paints a picture of intense suffering culminating in an unregarded and everlasting end. The phrase "Between morning and evening they are crushed" conveys extreme fragility and rapid destruction, while "they perish forever without anyone regarding it" emphasizes the lack of pity, notice, or remembrance for their ultimate downfall, fitting within Eliphaz's retributive theology.

Job 4 20 Context

Job 4:20 forms part of Eliphaz the Temanite's first speech, responding to Job's profound lament and existential crisis. Eliphaz represents the conventional wisdom of his time, holding firmly to the belief in immediate and discernible divine retribution: the righteous prosper, and the wicked suffer. In this chapter, Eliphaz details a vision he experienced (vv. 12-16) to buttress his argument that mortals are inherently flawed and incapable of righteousness before God (vv. 17-19). Verse 20 serves as a summary of his understanding of the wicked's fate—they are like insects, easily crushed and quickly forgotten, implicitly suggesting that Job's suffering must stem from some unacknowledged sin. His polemic is directly against Job's claims of innocence and indirectly against any belief that God might permit prolonged suffering for the righteous or delayed justice for the wicked.

Job 4 20 Word analysis

• Between morning and evening (מִבֹּקֶר לָעֶרֶב - mibboqer la'erev): This phrase signifies an extremely short duration, the span of a single day, from sunrise to sunset. It conveys the idea of swift, sudden, and perhaps even daily or continual destruction. It emphasizes the immediacy and brevity of their existence or the duration of their downfall.
• they are crushed (יֻכַּתּוּ - yukkattu): The Hebrew verb is in the Pual stem, indicating an intensive passive action. It means "to be violently smitten," "to be bruised," "broken into pieces," or "utterly destroyed." It highlights a comprehensive and often brutal obliteration, suggesting an external force is at play in their ruin.
• they perish (יֹאבֵדוּ - yo'vedu): This Qal imperfect verb means "to be lost," "to be destroyed," "to vanish," or "to cease to exist." It underscores the finality and complete loss of being for those described.
• forever (לָנֶצַח - lanetzah): While נֶצַח (netzakh) can mean "eternity" or "perpetuity," in this context, when combined with "perish," it indicates absolute, irreversible, and complete destruction with no hope of return or recovery. It means their perishing is total and permanent.
• without anyone regarding it (מִבְּלִי מֵשִׂים - mibeli mesim):
  • מִבְּלִי (mibeli): "without," implying absence or lack.
  • מֵשִׂים (mesim): From the verb שִׂים (sim) "to put," "to place," "to set." Here, in the participle form, it carries the sense of "anyone giving attention," "taking notice," "caring," or "laying it to heart." It signifies that their end is so insignificant or swift that no one—human or divine—acknowledges, grieves over, or even pays heed to it. It conveys a complete lack of concern or remembrance for their demise.
• Words-group Analysis:
  • "Between morning and evening they are crushed": This powerful temporal marker with the passive, intensive verb conveys absolute vulnerability and sudden, devastating divine judgment that allows no time for recovery or escape. It speaks to a rapid collapse.
  • "they perish forever without anyone regarding it": This phrase highlights the absolute finality and lack of enduring consequence or memory for the individuals in question. It suggests their extinction is not only complete but also inconsequential in the eyes of others, solidifying the idea of a neglected, utter annihilation.

Job 4 20 Bonus section

Eliphaz's assertion about the unregarded perishing (מִבְּלִי מֵשִׂים) points to a crucial aspect of conventional retribution theology: not only is the wicked punished, but their existence and their end are rendered insignificant. This belief often fueled a desire for immediate, visible vindication for the righteous and equally swift, public punishment for the unrighteous, failing to account for divine patience, the complexities of free will, or a suffering that serves a purpose beyond retribution. This verse contrasts starkly with God's attention to even a single sparrow falling (Mt 10:29) and later divine compassion and meticulous record-keeping (Rev 20:12), showing Eliphaz's limited perception of divine sovereignty and care.

Job 4 20 Commentary

Job 4:20 serves as a pivotal statement in Eliphaz's argument, crystallizing his conventional understanding of divine justice. He articulates a perspective where the wicked, regardless of their seeming prosperity, are ultimately subject to a sudden, devastating, and irreversible end that passes unnoticed. This swift, unnoticed destruction implies a lack of value, pity, or lasting impact, essentially saying they are so worthless that even their demise elicits no concern. While the biblical narrative often confirms the ultimate downfall of the wicked, the book of Job critically examines Eliphaz's simplistic cause-and-effect framework, demonstrating that righteous suffering does occur and that God's ways are far more complex than human wisdom can fully grasp. Eliphaz's declaration, though accurate for some wicked individuals, wrongly applies this universal truth to Job, failing to recognize Job's innocence or the deeper purposes of God.