King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he prolong the perfection thereof upon the earth.
Complete Jewish Bible:
therefore he will not remain rich, his wealth will not endure, his produce will not bend [the grain stalks] to the earth.
Berean Standard Bible:
He will no longer be rich; his wealth will not endure. His possessions will not overspread the land.
American Standard Version:
He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, Neither shall their possessions be extended on the earth.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
He shall not be rich{H6238}, neither shall his substance{H2428} continue{H6965}, neither shall he prolong{H5186} the perfection{H4512} thereof upon the earth{H776}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Job 27:16
- Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;
Job 27:17
- He may prepare [it], but the just shall put [it] on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.
James 1:11
- For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
Luke 16:19
- ¶ There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
Luke 16:22
- And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
James 5:1
- ¶ Go to now, [ye] rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon [you].
James 5:3
- Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Job 15:29
Job 15:29 is part of the dialogue in the Book of Job, a poetic narrative that explores the themes of suffering, faith, and the nature of divine justice. In this verse, Eliphaz, one of Job's friends, is speaking. He is responding to Job's lamentations over his undeserved suffering. Eliphaz, along with the other friends, operates under the traditional wisdom of the time which held that prosperity was a sign of righteousness and suffering a consequence of sin.
In the historical context of the Ancient Near East, this belief was prevalent and is reflected in the literature of the time, including the wisdom literature of the Bible. Eliphaz's statement in Job 15:29 reflects this perspective: he asserts that a wicked man—implying that Job must have sinned to deserve his fate—will not enjoy lasting wealth or stability. The verse suggests that the wicked man's possessions ("substance") will not endure, nor will he maintain or improve ("prolong the perfection") his status or possessions on earth.
The themes of this verse include retributive justice, the transient nature of material wealth, and a warning against presuming upon one's security in this world. Eliphaz's words are meant to admonish Job, suggesting that his current state of misfortune is a result of divine punishment for wrongdoing. However, the Book of Job as a whole challenges this simplistic understanding of retribution, ultimately revealing the complexity of God's ways and the inadequacy of human wisdom to fully comprehend them. The reader is invited to grapple with the idea that righteousness and suffering are not always directly correlated, and that faith in God's wisdom is necessary even when human understanding fails.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H6238
There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָשַׁר
Transliteration: ʻâshar
Pronunciation: aw-shar'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to accumulate; chiefly (specifically) to grow (causatively, make) rich; be(-come, en-, make, make self, wax) rich, make (1 Kings 22:48 marg). See עָשָׂר. - Strong's Number: H2428
There are 228 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חַיִל
Transliteration: chayil
Pronunciation: khah'-yil
Description: from חוּל; probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength; able, activity, ([phrase]) army, band of men (soldiers), company, (great) forces, goods, host, might, power, riches, strength, strong, substance, train, ([phrase]) valiant(-ly), valour, virtuous(-ly), war, worthy(-ily). - Strong's Number: H6965
There are 596 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קוּם
Transliteration: qûwm
Pronunciation: koom
Description: a primitive root; to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative); abide, accomplish, [idiom] be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, [idiom] be dim, endure, [idiom] enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift up (again), make, [idiom] but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise (up), rear (up), remain, (a-) rise (up) (again, against), rouse up, set (up), (e-) stablish, (make to) stand (up), stir up, strengthen, succeed, (as-, make) sure(-ly), (be) up(-hold, -rising). - Strong's Number: H5186
There are 207 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָטָה
Transliteration: nâṭâh
Pronunciation: naw-taw'
Description: a primitive root; to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application; [phrase] afternoon, apply, bow (down, -ing), carry aside, decline, deliver, extend, go down, be gone, incline, intend, lay, let down, offer, outstretched, overthrown, pervert, pitch, prolong, put away, shew, spread (out), stretch (forth, out), take (aside), turn (aside, away), wrest, cause to yield. - Strong's Number: H4512
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִנְלֶה
Transliteration: minleh
Pronunciation: min-leh'
Description: from נָלָה; completion, i.e. (in produce) wealth; perfection. - Strong's Number: H776
There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶרֶץ
Transliteration: ʼerets
Pronunciation: eh'-rets
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.