Advanced Commentary

Texts -- Job 20:1-23 (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 , 20:13 if he retains it for himself and does not let it go , and holds it fast in his mouth , 20:14 his food is turned sour in his stomach ; it becomes the venom of serpents within him. 20:15 The wealth that he consumed he vomits up , God will make him throw it out of his stomach . 20:16 He sucks the poison of serpents ; the fangs of a viper kill him. 20:17 He will not look on the streams , the rivers , which are the torrents of honey and butter . 20:18 He gives back the ill-gotten gain without assimilating it; he will not enjoy the wealth from his commerce . 20:19 For he has oppressed the poor and abandoned them; he has seized a house which he did not build . 20:20 For he knows no satisfaction in his appetite ; he does not let anything he desires escape . 20:21 “Nothing is left for him to devour ; that is why his prosperity does not last . 20:22 In the fullness of his sufficiency , distress overtakes him. the full force of misery will come upon him. 20:23 “While he is filling his belly , God sends his burning anger against him, and rains down his blows upon him.

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.

  • 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...

  • 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...

  • 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. ...

  • 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...

  • 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...

  • 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...

  • Gall

    [ebd] (1) Heb. mererah, meaning "bitterness" (Job 16:13); i.e., the bile secreted in the liver. This word is also used of the poison of asps (20:14), and of the vitals, the seat of life (25). (2.) Heb. rosh. In Deut. 32:33 and Job...
    [isbe] GALL - gol: (1) ro'sh, or rosh (Dt 32:32 only, "grapes of gall"): Some very bitter plant, the bitterness as in (2) being associated with the idea of poison. Dt 29:18 margin "rosh, a poisonpus herb"; Lam 3:5,19; Jer 8:14; 9:1...
    [smith] Mereerah , denoting "that which is bitter;" hence the term is applied to the "bile" or "gall" (the fluid secreted by the liver), from its intense bitterness, (Job 16:13; 20:25) it is also used of the "poison" of serpents, (J...
    [nave] GALL Any bitter or poisonous substance, as the bile, Job 16:13; venom of serpents, Job 20:14. A bitter herb, Deut. 29:18. Given Jesus, Psa. 69:21; Matt. 27:34. Figurative Gall of bitterness, Acts 8:23.

  • Asp

    [ebd] (Heb. pethen), Deut. 32:33; Job 20:14, 16; Isa. 11:8. It was probably the Egyptian cobra (Naja haje), which was very poisonous (Rom. 3:13; Gr. aspis). The Egyptians worshipped it as the uraeus, and it was found in the desert...
    [isbe] ASP - (pethen (Dt 32:33; Job 20:14,16; Isa 11:8); aspis (Rom 3:13)); Any poisonous snake, or even poisonous snakes in general, would satisfy the context in all the passages cited. Pethen is also translated ADDER (which see) ...
    [nave] ASP A venomous serpent, Deut. 32:33; Job 20:14, 16; Isa. 11:8; Rom. 3:13. Venom of, illustrates the speech of the wicked, Psa. 140:3; Rom. 3:13; injurious effects of wine, Deut. 32:33; Prov. 23:32. Deprived of venom, illus...

  • 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. ...

  • Poor

    [isbe] POOR - poor ('ebhyon, dal, `ani, rush; ptochos): I. In the Old Testament. The poor have great prominence in the Bible; it is said, indeed, that there should be no poor among the Hebrews because Yahweh should so greatly bless...
    [nave] POOR Atonement money of, uniform with that of the rich, Ex. 30:15. Inexpensive offerings of the poor, Lev. 5:7; 12:8; 14:21, 22. See: Beneficence; Giving; Liberality; Orphans; Poverty; Widow. Also See: Rich; Riches. Uncl...

  • 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...

  • Creditor

    [nave] CREDITOR. Laws Concerning Ex. 21:2-6; Ex. 22:25-27; Lev. 25:14-17, 35-37; Deut. 15:2, 3; Deut. 23:19, 20; Deut. 24:6, 10-13, 17; Matt. 5:42; Luke 6:34 Oppressions of 2 Kin. 4:1; Neh. 5:1-13; Job 20:18-20; Job 22:6; Job 2...

  • Serpent

    [isbe] SERPENT - sur'-pent: 1. General: Serpents are not particularly abundant in Palestine, but they are often mentioned in the Bible. In the Hebrew there are 11 names. The New Testament has four Greek names and the Septuagint emp...
    [smith] The Hebrew word nachash is the generic name of any serpent. The following are the principal biblical allusions to this animal its subtlety is mentioned in (Genesis 3:1) its wisdom is alluded to by our Lord in (Matthew 10:18) ...
    [nave] SERPENT Satan appears in the form of, to Eve, Gen. 3:1-15; 2 Cor. 11:3. Subtlety of, Gen. 3:1; Eccl. 10:8; Matt. 10:16. Curse upon, Gen. 3:14, 15; 49:17. Feeds upon the dust, Gen. 3:14; Isa. 65:25; Mic. 7:17. Unfit for f...

  • 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

  • Butter

    [ebd] (Heb. hemah), curdled milk (Gen. 18:8; Judg. 5:25; 2 Sam. 17:29), or butter in the form of the skim of hot milk or cream, called by the Arabs kaimak, a semi-fluid (Job 20:17; 29:6; Deut. 32:14). The words of Prov. 30:33 have...
    [smith] Curdled milk. (Genesis 18:8; 32:14; Judges 5:25; Job 20:17) Milk is generally offered to travellers in Palestine in a curdled or sour state, leben , thick, almost like butter. Hasselquist describes the method of making butter...
    [nave] BUTTER, Gen. 18:8; Deut. 32:14; Judg. 5:25; 2 Sam. 17:29; Job 20:17; Isa. 7:15, 22. Made by churning, Prov. 30:33.

  • Viper

    [ebd] In Job 20:16, Isa. 30:6; 59:5, the Heb. word eph'eh is thus rendered. The Hebrew word, however, probably denotes a species of poisonous serpents known by the Arabic name of 'el ephah. Tristram has identified it with the sand...
    [isbe] VIPER - vi'-per ('eph`eh (Job 20:16; Isa 30:6; 59:5); echidna (Mt 3:7 = Lk 3:7; Mt 12:34; 23:33; Acts 28:3)): Several vipers are found in Palestine, but it is not certain that 'eph`eh referred definitely to any of them. See ...
    [nave] VIPER A serpent, Job 20:16; Isa. 30:6; 59:5. Fastens on Paul's hand, Acts 28:3. See: Serpent. Figurative Matt. 3:7; 23:33; Luke 3:7.

  • Belly

    [isbe] BELLY - bel'-i: gachon = "the external abdomen" (Gen 3:14; Lev 11:42). qobhah = "the abdominal cavity" (Nu 25:8 the American Standard Revised Version "body"). beTen = "the internal abdomen," "the womb" (1 Ki 7:20; Job 15:2,3...
    [nave] BELLY, used figuratively for the seat of the affections, Job 15:2, 35; 20:20; Psa. 44:25; Prov. 18:20; 20:27, 30; Hab. 3:16; John 7:38; Tit. 1:12.

  • RIVER

    [ebd] (1.) Heb. 'aphik, properly the channel or ravine that holds water (2 Sam. 22:16), translated "brook," "river," "stream," but not necessarily a perennial stream (Ezek. 6:3; 31:12; 32:6; 34:13). (2.) Heb. nahal, in winter a "t...
    [isbe] RIVER - riv'-er: (1) The usual word is nahar (Aramaic nehar (Ezr 4:10, etc.)), used of the rivers of Eden (Gen 2:10-14), often of the Euphrates (Gen 15:18, etc.), of Abana and Pharpar (2 Ki 5:12), the river of Gozan (2 Ki 17...

  • Debtor

    [nave] DEBTOR, Laws Concerning Ex. 21:2-6; Ex. 22:10-15; Lev. 25:14-17, 25-41, 47-55; Neh. 10:31; Matt. 5:25, 26, 40; Matt. 18:25 Unclassified Scriptures Relating to 2 Kin. 4:1-7; Neh. 5:3-5; Job 20:18, 19; Matt. 18:23-33; Luke...
more

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...
  • Verse 16 pictures the wicked eating his delicacies but finding that they have turned to poison in his stomach and are killing him (v. 14). Ancient Near Easterners considered honey and curds (the part of milk from which cheese...
  • Zophar explained that while the wicked greedily fill their own bellies, God sends His anger into their bowels (v. 23). In other words, the poor health that accompanies over indulgence is God's instrument of judgment on the we...
  • 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...
Back to Commentary Page
Display Bible



Universal Search:

NET Only
Exact Search
Commentary
Study Dictionary
Word Study
Lexicon
Study Maps System
Sermon Illustrations
Expository
Arts
Resource
Daily Bible Reading
Training Video
Classic NET Bible
iPhone NET Bible
Mobile Bible
TIP #07: Click the Audio icon (NT only) to listen to the NET Bible Audio New Testament. [ALL]
created in 0.05 seconds
powered by
bible.org - YLSA