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Texts -- Job 20:1-12 (NET)

Context
Zophar’s Second Speech
20:1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered : 20:2 “This is why my troubled thoughts bring me back – because of my feelings within me. 20:3 When I hear a reproof that dishonors me, then my understanding prompts me to answer . 20:4 “Surely you know that it has been from old, ever since humankind was placed on the earth , 20:5 that the elation of the wicked is brief , the joy of the godless lasts but a moment . 20:6 Even though his stature reaches to the heavens and his head touches the clouds , 20:7 he will perish forever , like his own excrement ; those who used to see him will say , ‘Where is he?’ 20:8 Like a dream he flies away , never again to be found , and like a vision of the night he is put to flight . 20:9 People who had seen him will not see him again , and the place where he was will recognize him no longer . 20:10 His sons must recompense the poor ; his own hands must return his wealth . 20:11 His bones were full of his youthful vigor , but that vigor will lie down with him in the dust . 20:12 “If evil is sweet in his mouth and he hides it under his tongue ,

Pericope

NET

Bible Dictionary

  • Zophar

    [isbe] ZOPHAR - zo'-far (tsphar, meaning doubtful, supposed from root meaning "to leap"; Sophar): One of the three friends of Job who, hearing of his affliction, make an appointment together to visit and comfort him. He is from the...
    [smith] (sparrow), one of the three friends of Job. (Job 2:11; 11:1; 20:1; 42:9)
    [nave] ZOPHAR, one of Job's three friends, Job 2:11; 11; 20; 42:7-9.

  • Uncharitableness

    [nave] UNCHARITABLENESS. Isa. 29:20, 21; Matt. 7:1-5 Luke 6:37-42. Luke 12:57; John 7:24; John 8:7; Rom. 2:1; Rom. 14:1-15; 1 Cor. 4:3-5, 7; 1 Cor. 13:1-6; Jas. 4:11, 12 See: Accusation, False; Charitableness; Slander; Speaking, E...

  • Job

    [nave] JOB 1. A man who dwelt in Uz, Job 1:1. Righteousness of, Job 1:1, 5, 8; 2:3; Ezek. 14:14, 20. Riches of, Job 1:3. Trial of, by affliction of Satan, Job 1:13-19; 2:7-10. Fortitude of, Job 1:20-22; 2:10; Jas. 5:11. Visite...

  • Worldliness

    [nave] WORLDLINESS. 1 Sam. 8:19, 20; Job 20:4-29; Job 21:11-15; Psa. 49:16-18; Psa. 73:2-22; Prov. 14:12, 13; Prov. 15:21; Prov. 21:17; Prov. 23:20, 21; Prov. 27:1, 7; Eccl. 1:8; Eccl. 2:1-12; Eccl. 6:11, 12; Eccl. 8:15-17; Eccl. ...

  • Hypocrisy

    [nave] HYPOCRISY. Job 8:13-15; Job 13:16; Job 15:31, 33, 34; Job 17:8; Job 20:4, 5 vs. 6-18.; Job 27:8-10 vs. 13-18.; Job 31:33, 34; Job 34:30; Job 36:13, 14; Psa. 5:9; Psa. 50:16, 17; Psa. 52:4; Psa. 55:12-14, 20, 21, 23; Psa. 78...

  • Wicked

    [nave] WICKED Compared with: Abominable branches, Isa. 14:19; ashes under the feet, Mal. 4:3; bad fishes, Matt. 13:48; beasts, Psa. 49:12; 2 Pet. 2:12; the blind, Zeph. 1:17; Matt. 15:14; bronze and iron, Jer. 6:28; Ezek. 22:18; br...

  • Death

    [nave] DEATH. Called in some versions &ld;Giving Up the Ghost,&rd; Gen. 25:8; 35:29; Lam. 1:19; Acts 5:10. King of Terrors Job 18:14. A Change Job 14:14. Going to your Fathers Gen. 15:15; 25:8; 35:29. Putting Off This Tabe...

  • Naamathite

    [isbe] NAAMATHITE - na'-a-ma-thit, na-am'-a-thit (na`amdthi, "a dweller in Naaman"; ho M(e)inaion basileus): The description of Zophar, one of Job's friends (Job 2:11; 11:1; 20:1, etc.). Naamah is too common a place-name to permit ...
    [smith] the Gentile name of one of Job?s friends, Zophar the Naamathite. (Job 2:11; 11:1; 20:1; 42:9) There is no other trace of this name in the Bible, and the town whence it is derived is unknown. (But as Uz was in Arabia, probably...
    [nave] NAAMATHITE Job 2:11; 11:1; 20:1; 42:9

  • Sin

    [nave] SIN. Index of Sub-Topics Miscellany of Minor Sub-Topics; Unclassified Scriptures Relating to, Defining, and Illustrating; Confession of; Consequences of, Entailed Upon Children; Conviction of; Forgiveness of; Fruits of; Kn...

  • Ambition

    [nave] AMBITION Falsely charged against Moses, Num. 16:13. Parable of the thistle, illustrating, 2 Kin. 14:9. Unclassified Scriptures Relating to Job 20:6, 7; Psa. 49:11-13; Isa. 5:8; Hab. 2:5, 6, 9; Matt. 4:8-10 Luke 4:5-8. Mat...

  • Dream

    [nave] DREAM Evanescent, Job 20:8. Vanity of, Eccl. 5:3, 7. Revelations by, Num. 12:6; Job 33:15-17; Jer. 23:28; Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17. The dreams of the butler and baker, Gen. 40:8-23; Pharaoh, Gen. 41:1-36. Interpreted by Jose...

  • Children

    [nave] CHILDREN In answer to prayer: To Abraham, Gen. 15:2-5, with Gen. 21:1, 2; Isaac, Gen. 25:21; Leah, Gen. 30:17-22; Rachel, Gen. 30:22-24; Haah, 1 Sam. 1:9-20; Zacharias, Luke 1:13. Treatment of, at birth, Ezek. 16:4-6; Luke ...

  • Happiness

    [nave] HAPPINESS. Of the Wicked Limited to this life, Psa. 17:14; Luke 16:25; short, Job 20:5; uncertain, Luke 12:20; vain, Eccl. 2:1; 7:6. Is derived from their wealth, Job 21:13; Psa. 52:7; their power, Job 21:7; Psa. 37:35; t...

  • Pleasure

    [nave] PLEASURE. Worldly Job 20:12-16; Job 21:12, 13; Prov. 9:17; Prov. 15:21; Prov. 21:17; Eccl. 1:17; Eccl. 2:1-13; Isa. 5:11, 12; Isa. 22:12, 13; Isa. 47:8, 9; Amos 6:1; Luke 8:14; Rom. 1:32; 2 Thess. 2:12; 1 Tim. 5:6; 2 Tim. ...

  • Joy

    [nave] JOY Attributed to God, Deut. 28:63; 30:9; Jer. 32:41. In heaven, Luke 15:10-32. See: Shouting. Unclassified Scriptures Relating to Deut. 12:18; 1 Sam. 2:1; 1 Chr. 16:27; 2 Chr. 7:10; Ezra 6:22; Neh. 8:10, 12; Neh. 12:43;...

  • Dung

    [nave] DUNG Deut. 23:13; 1 Sam. 2:8; 1 Kin. 14:10; 2 Kin. 6:25; 18:27; Neh. 2:13; 3:13, 14; 12:31; Job 20:7; Psa. 113:7; Prov. 30:12; Isa. 4:4; 25:10; 28:8; 36:12; Lam. 4:5; Ezek. 4:12, 15; Nah. 3:6; Zeph. 1:17; Luke 13:8; Jas. 1:...

  • ADAM IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

    [isbe] ADAM IN THE OLD TESTAMENT - (Evolutionary Interpretation): (NOTE: It ought to be superfluous to say that the unfolding or development of the human personality here identified with evolution is something far higher, deeper, a...

  • FLY

    [isbe] FLY - (Verb; `uph petaomai, or, contracted, ptaomai): Used in preference to "flee" when great speed is to be indicated. "To fly" is used: (1) Literally, of birds, `uph (Gen 1:20; Ps 55:6); da'ah (Dt 28:49), of sparks (Job 5:...

  • GODLESS

    [isbe] GODLESS - god'-les: This word is not found in the text of the King James Version. It is found, however, in Apocrypha (2 Macc 7:34, "O godless (the Revised Version (British and American) "unholy") man"). the Revised Version (...

  • EXCELLENCY

    [isbe] EXCELLENCY - ek'-se-len-si (ga-on, ga'awah; huperbole): "Excellency" in the Old Testament is chiefly the translation of ga'on, "mounting," "swelling" (Ex 15:7; Job 37:4 the King James Version; Ps 47:4 the King James Version;...
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Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • What this book is all about has been the subject of considerable debate. Many people think God gave it to us to provide His answer to the age-old problem of suffering. In particular, many believe it is in the Bible to help us...
  • I. Prologue chs. 1-2A. Job's character 1:1-5B. Job's calamities 1:6-2:101. The first test 1:6-222. The second test 2:1-10C. Job's comforters 2:11-13II. The dialogue concerning the basis of the divine-human relationship 3:1-42...
  • The writer composed the prologue and epilogue of this book in prose narrative and the main body (3:1-42:6) in poetry. The prologue and epilogue form a frame around the main emphasis of the revelation, the poetic section, and ...
  • The two soliloquies of Job (chs. 3 and 29-31) enclose three cycles of dialogue between Job and his three friends. Each cycle consists of speeches by Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar in that order interspersed with Job's reply to e...
  • Three steps would bring Job back to where he should be, said Zophar: repentance (v. 13), prayer (v. 13), and reformation (v. 14). He also painted the fruits of conversion for Job. These benefits were a clear conscience, faith...
  • "But it is just here, when everything is blackest, that his faith . . . like the rainbow in the cloud . . . shines with a marvelous splendor."89This short section contains probably the best known verses in the book (vv. 23-27...
  • "Therefore"(v. 2) must refer to what Job had said. Job had previously asked why his friends answered him (16:3). Zophar replied that the spirit of his understanding made him answer (v. 3b). Again he seems to be claiming innat...
  • Job's friends had been selective in their observations regarding wicked people. They had pointed out only the cases in which God judged them on earth. Job now presented the other side of the story. There were many wicked who ...
  • Elihu began by voicing his respect for Job's three friends (vv. 6-10). They were older than he, and for this reason he said he had refrained from speaking until now. However he had become convinced that advancing age does not...
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