Job 20:7 - yet he shall perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him shall say, ‘Where is he?’
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What does "Job 20:7" mean?
Job 20:7, "Yet he shall perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him shall say, ‘Where is he?’" is part of Zophar's second speech in the Book of Job. Zophar, one of Job's friends, is arguing that Job's suffering is due to his own wickedness. This verse specifically describes the ultimate fate of the wicked in his view. Let's break down the meaning:
"Yet he shall perish forever like his own dung": This is a powerful and graphic image. Dung represents something worthless, disgusting, and easily discarded. Zophar is saying that the wicked person, despite any temporary power or riches, will ultimately be reduced to nothing. Their existence will be as insignificant and repugnant as waste. The "perish forever" aspect emphasizes that this isn't just a temporary setback, but a complete and permanent obliteration from memory and existence.
"Those who have seen him shall say, ‘Where is he?’": This line indicates that the wicked person might have been prominent or influential in their lifetime. They might have been a leader, a wealthy individual, or someone who held power. However, their end will be so complete that people will wonder where they went. They will be entirely forgotten. No trace of their existence will remain. This highlights the fleeting nature of worldly power and possessions when compared to true righteousness.
In context of Zophar's argument, the verse represents the following:
A warning to Job: Zophar is implicitly telling Job that he must be wicked, otherwise he wouldn't be suffering so much. This verse is meant to scare Job into confessing some hidden sin.
A belief in retributive justice: Zophar believes that God punishes the wicked with complete and utter destruction, and rewards the righteous with prosperity. This is the prevailing view of justice at the time of the book's writing.
A lack of understanding of God's ways: The Book of Job ultimately challenges this simplistic view of divine justice. Job is righteous, yet he suffers immensely. Zophar's words, while perhaps well-intentioned, are ultimately incorrect and fail to grasp the complexity of God's plans and the mystery of suffering.
Modern Interpretation:
While the verse paints a stark picture of the fate of the wicked, it is important to remember that this is Zophar's perspective, and the Book of Job as a whole challenges this view. We can understand the verse as:
A reminder of the fleeting nature of earthly things: Ultimately, material possessions and worldly power are temporary and will eventually fade away.
A call to focus on true values: Instead of pursuing wealth or power, we should focus on righteousness, compassion, and a relationship with God, which have lasting value.
A caution against judging others: Zophar's judgmental attitude toward Job is ultimately condemned. We should be careful not to assume that suffering is always a sign of wickedness.
In summary, Job 20:7 paints a vivid picture of the ultimate fate of the wicked, according to Zophar. He believed they would vanish from existence, leaving no trace of their former glory. While the Book of Job challenges Zophar's simplistic view of divine justice, the verse serves as a reminder of the impermanence of earthly things and the importance of pursuing lasting values.
Job 20:7 - yet he shall perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him shall say, ‘Where is he?’
What does "Job 20:7" mean?
Job 20:7, "Yet he shall perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him shall say, ‘Where is he?’" is part of Zophar's second speech in the Book of Job. Zophar, one of Job's friends, is arguing that Job's suffering is due to his own wickedness. This verse specifically describes the ultimate fate of the wicked in his view. Let's break down the meaning:
"Yet he shall perish forever like his own dung": This is a powerful and graphic image. Dung represents something worthless, disgusting, and easily discarded. Zophar is saying that the wicked person, despite any temporary power or riches, will ultimately be reduced to nothing. Their existence will be as insignificant and repugnant as waste. The "perish forever" aspect emphasizes that this isn't just a temporary setback, but a complete and permanent obliteration from memory and existence.
"Those who have seen him shall say, ‘Where is he?’": This line indicates that the wicked person might have been prominent or influential in their lifetime. They might have been a leader, a wealthy individual, or someone who held power. However, their end will be so complete that people will wonder where they went. They will be entirely forgotten. No trace of their existence will remain. This highlights the fleeting nature of worldly power and possessions when compared to true righteousness.
In context of Zophar's argument, the verse represents the following:
A warning to Job: Zophar is implicitly telling Job that he must be wicked, otherwise he wouldn't be suffering so much. This verse is meant to scare Job into confessing some hidden sin.
A belief in retributive justice: Zophar believes that God punishes the wicked with complete and utter destruction, and rewards the righteous with prosperity. This is the prevailing view of justice at the time of the book's writing.
A lack of understanding of God's ways: The Book of Job ultimately challenges this simplistic view of divine justice. Job is righteous, yet he suffers immensely. Zophar's words, while perhaps well-intentioned, are ultimately incorrect and fail to grasp the complexity of God's plans and the mystery of suffering.
Modern Interpretation:
While the verse paints a stark picture of the fate of the wicked, it is important to remember that this is Zophar's perspective, and the Book of Job as a whole challenges this view. We can understand the verse as:
A reminder of the fleeting nature of earthly things: Ultimately, material possessions and worldly power are temporary and will eventually fade away.
A call to focus on true values: Instead of pursuing wealth or power, we should focus on righteousness, compassion, and a relationship with God, which have lasting value.
A caution against judging others: Zophar's judgmental attitude toward Job is ultimately condemned. We should be careful not to assume that suffering is always a sign of wickedness.
In summary, Job 20:7 paints a vivid picture of the ultimate fate of the wicked, according to Zophar. He believed they would vanish from existence, leaving no trace of their former glory. While the Book of Job challenges Zophar's simplistic view of divine justice, the verse serves as a reminder of the impermanence of earthly things and the importance of pursuing lasting values.