Job27

Job 27 opens with Job reaffirming his unwavering integrity and righteousness, vowing to maintain his blamelessness until death despite feeling vexed by God. He then contrasts his stance with the futile hope of the hypocrite, whose cries God will not hear in trouble. Finally, Job describes the inevitable and severe judgment awaiting the wicked, whose wealth, family, and very existence will be swept away by divine wrath and human scorn.

Job's Final Parable Begins

1
Iyov continued his speech:
2
"I swear by the living God, who is denying me justice, and by Shaddai, who deals with me so bitterly, ​
3
that as long my life remains in me and God's breath is in my nostrils,
4
my lips will not speak unrighteousness, or my tongue utter deceit.

An Oath of Integrity

5
Far be it from me to say you are right; I will keep my integrity till the day I die. ​
6
I hold to my righteousness; I won't let it go; my heart will not shame me as long as I live.
7
"May my enemy meet the doom of the wicked; my foe the fate of the unrighteous. ​
8
For what hope does the godless have from his gain when God takes away his life? ​
9
Will God hear his cry when trouble comes upon him?
10
Will he take delight in Shaddai and always call on God?
11
"I am teaching you how God uses his power, not hiding what Shaddai is doing. ​
12
Look, you all can see for yourselves; so why are you talking such empty nonsense?

The Portion of the Wicked

13
"This is God's reward for the wicked man, the heritage oppressors receive from Shaddai: ​
14
if his sons become many, they go to the sword; and his children never have enough to eat.
15
Those of his who remain are buried by plague, and their widows do not weep. ​
16
Even if he piles up silver like dust and stores away clothing [in mounds] like clay -
17
he may collect it, but the just will wear it, and the upright divide up the silver.
18
He builds his house weak as a spider's web, as flimsy as a watchman's shack. ​
19
He may lie down rich, but his wealth yields nothing; when he opens his eyes, it isn't there.
20
Terrors overtake him like a flood; at night a whirlwind steals him away.
21
The east wind carries him off, and he's gone; it sweeps him far from his place.
22
Yes, it hurls itself at him, sparing nothing; he does all he can to flee from its power.
23
[People] clap their hands at him in derision and hiss him out of his home. ​

Study Notes for Job 27

Verse 2

Job’s oath is paradoxical: he swears by the living God who, in Job's perception, has unjustly tormented him and withheld fair judgment, highlighting his profound commitment to truth despite his suffering.

Verse 5

Job refuses to 'justify' his friends (admit they are right about his guilt), confirming his absolute determination to maintain his integrity and claim of innocence until death.

Verse 7

Job uses a curse formula, essentially stating, 'May my enemies suffer the fate of the wicked,' thereby framing the following description of retribution as a standard he knows he does not meet.

Verse 8

The term translated 'hypocrite' (*chaneph*) refers primarily to the godless or impious person. Job questions the value of earthly gain if one lacks a genuine relationship with God when death or judgment arrives.

Verse 11

Job asserts his authority to teach his friends, implying that they have either misinterpreted or misapplied the traditional wisdom of God’s justice to his specific case.

Verse 13

This verse introduces a detailed description of the wicked man’s doom, which aligns closely with the traditional wisdom espoused by the friends. Job recounts this doctrine to prove he understands it, even if his experience contradicts its application.

Verse 15

To be 'buried in death' suggests an ignoble end, perhaps being unmourned or simply forgotten. The wicked man is denied the honor and ritual associated with a proper burial.

Verse 18

The comparison of the wicked man's house to the fragile work of a moth (a cocoon) or a temporary booth emphasizes the utter lack of permanence and security in his earthly achievements.

Verse 23

The final image of public scorn—clapping hands in derision and hissing—reinforces the complete misery and dishonor of the wicked man's ultimate fate, marked by total rejection from the community.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options