King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him.
Complete Jewish Bible:
He sucks the poison of asps, the viper's fangs will kill him.
Berean Standard Bible:
He will suck the poison of cobras; the fangs of a viper will kill him.
American Standard Version:
He shall suck the poison of asps: The viper’s tongue shall slay him.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
He shall suck{H3243} the poison{H7219} of asps{H6620}: the viper's{H660} tongue{H3956} shall slay{H2026} him.
Cross-References (KJV):
Romans 3:13
- Their throat [is] an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps [is] under their lips:
Acts 28:3
- And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid [them] on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
Acts 28:6
- Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
Matthew 3:7
- ¶ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Isaiah 30:6
- The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence [come] the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people [that] shall not profit [them].
Deuteronomy 32:24
- [They shall be] burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust.
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Commentary for Job 20:16
Job 20:16 is part of the speech of Zophar the Naamathite, one of Job's three friends who come to comfort him in his suffering. The Book of Job addresses the question of why righteous people suffer and is a profound exploration of the themes of innocent suffering, faith, and the nature of God's justice.
In the context of Job 20, Zophar is responding to Job's lament and is harshly rebuking him, suggesting that Job's suffering is a consequence of wickedness. Zophar speaks metaphorically, using vivid imagery to convey the idea that the wicked will ultimately face divine retribution for their sins. Specifically, in Job 20:16, Zophar describes the wicked as someone who will "suck the poison of asps" and be "slain by the viper's tongue." This metaphor suggests that evil will eventually consume itself, and those who engage in wickedness will experience the destructive consequences of their actions, as if poisoned by a snake's bite. The "viper's tongue" may also symbolize the deceptive and harmful words of the wicked, which can figuratively kill one's reputation or spiritual well-being.
Historically, the Book of Job is one of the Wisdom books in the Hebrew Bible, and its dialogues reflect the ancient Near Eastern wisdom tradition, which often dealt with theodicy—the vindication of divine goodness and providence in the face of evil. The verse reflects the belief that, in the end, justice will prevail, and the universe is governed by a moral order that ensures the triumph of righteousness over wickedness, even if this order is not immediately apparent to humans.
In summary, Job 20:16 is a poetic declaration within a larger discourse on the fate of the wicked, emphasizing the destructive consequences of evil and the ultimate justice that awaits those who engage in it. The verse uses the stark imagery of venomous snakes to illustrate the self-destructive nature of wickedness and the belief that divine justice will ultimately be served.
*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: H3243
There are 30 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָנַק
Transliteration: yânaq
Pronunciation: yaw-nak'
Description: a primitive root; to suck; causatively, to give milk; milch, nurse(-ing mother), (give, make to) suck(-ing child, -ling). - Strong's Number: H7219
There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רֹאשׁ
Transliteration: rôʼsh
Pronunciation: roshe
Description: or רוֹשׁ; (Deuteronomy 32:32), apparently the same as רֹאשׁ; a poisonous plant, probably the poppy (from its conspicuous head); generally poison (even of serpents); gall, hemlock, poison, venom. - Strong's Number: H6620
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פֶּתֶן
Transliteration: pethen
Pronunciation: peh'-then
Description: from an unused root meaning to twist; an asp (from its contortions); adder. - Strong's Number: H660
There are 332 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶפְעֶה
Transliteration: ʼephʻeh
Pronunciation: ef-eh'
Description: from אֵפַע (in the sense of hissing); an asp or other venomous serpent; viper. - Strong's Number: H3956
There are 115 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָשׁוֹן
Transliteration: lâshôwn
Pronunciation: law-shone'
Description: or לָשֹׁן; also (in plural) feminine לְשֹׁנָה; from לָשַׁן; the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of water); [phrase] babbler, bay, [phrase] evil speaker, language, talker, tongue, wedge. - Strong's Number: H2026
There are 158 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: הָרַג
Transliteration: hârag
Pronunciation: haw-rag'
Description: a primitive root; to smite with deadly intent; destroy, out of hand, kill, murder(-er), put to (death), make (slaughter), slay(-er), [idiom] surely.