Job 15:30

KJV

He shall not depart out of darkness; the flame shall dry up his branches, and by the breath of his mouth shall he go away.

KJV (with Strong's)

He shall not depart {H5493} out of darkness {H2822}; the flame {H7957} shall dry up {H3001} his branches {H3127}, and by the breath {H7307} of his mouth {H6310} shall he go away {H5493}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"He will not escape from darkness. The flame will dry up his branches. By a breath from the mouth of [God], he will go away.

Berean Standard Bible

He will not escape from the darkness; the flame will wither his shoots, and the breath of God’s mouth will carry him away.

American Standard Version

He shall not depart out of darkness; The flame shall dry up his branches, And by the breath ofGod’smouth shall he go away.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 15:30, delivered by Eliphaz the Temanite in his second discourse, presents a stark and uncompromising depiction of the inevitable and absolute destruction awaiting the wicked. Through a series of potent metaphors—unending darkness, consuming fire, and a divine decree—Eliphaz asserts that the ungodly will suffer the complete loss of their prosperity, their lineage, and their very existence. This pronouncement reflects a rigid adherence to retribution theology, where suffering is viewed as a direct and transparent consequence of sin, a perspective that, while containing elements of truth about God's justice, is tragically misapplied to Job's unique and blameless suffering.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 15 marks Eliphaz's second and notably harsher response to Job's impassioned laments and self-defenses, particularly those found in [Job 13](/job/13 "Job 13 - Job's Plea to God") and [Job 14](/job/14 "Job 14 - The Frailty of Man"). Having previously offered a more measured, albeit still accusatory, counsel in [Job 4](/job/4 "Job 4 - Eliphaz's First Speech"), Eliphaz now escalates his accusations, condemning Job for his "empty words" and perceived disrespect toward God (Job 15:2-6). The core of his speech (Job 15:17-35) is a lengthy, almost poetic, exposition on the miserable and inevitable fate of the wicked. This serves as a thinly veiled, yet direct, indictment of Job, implying that his profound suffering is irrefutable evidence of his unrighteousness. Job 15:30 functions as a climactic and definitive summary of this grim prognosis, emphasizing the absolute and unavoidable doom that Eliphaz believes awaits all who defy God, including, by implication, Job himself.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Book of Job is set in the patriarchal period, reflecting ancient Near Eastern wisdom traditions. A pervasive theological framework during this era, often termed "retribution theology," posited a direct and immediate correlation between an individual's righteousness and their prosperity, and conversely, between their wickedness and their suffering. This worldview, deeply embedded in much of Israel's wisdom literature (e.g., [Proverbs](/proverbs/1 "Proverbs - The Book of Wisdom")), profoundly shaped Eliphaz's understanding of divine justice. He, along with Job's other friends, operates under the firm conviction that God's justice is always transparent, predictable, and immediately enacted in this life, rewarding the righteous and punishing the wicked. The vivid imagery of "branches" being dried up would have resonated deeply in a culture where lineage, offspring, and the continuity of a family name were paramount indicators of divine blessing and societal well-being.
* **Key Themes:** Eliphaz's speech in [Job 15](/job/15 "Job 15 - Eliphaz's Second Speech"), and particularly verse 30, contributes significantly to several major themes within the broader book of Job. Foremost among these is the theme of **Divine Justice and Human Suffering**, specifically challenging the simplistic framework of retribution theology. While Eliphaz presents a clear picture of God's justice against the wicked, the overarching narrative of the book of Job deliberately subverts this narrow view by demonstrating that Job's suffering is not a consequence of personal sin. Another prominent theme is the **Fate of the Wicked**, which is consistently portrayed throughout the book as one of inevitable destruction, loss of legacy, and ultimate despair, echoing similar sentiments found in passages like [Psalm 37](/psalms/37 "Psalm 37 - The Destiny of the Righteous and the Wicked") and [Psalm 73](/psalms/73 "Psalm 73 - The Prosperity of the Wicked"). Finally, the verse highlights **Divine Sovereignty and Power**, as the ultimate demise of the wicked is directly attributed to God's action, specifically "the breath of his mouth," underscoring His absolute control over all creation and all destinies.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Depart (Hebrew, _çûwr'_):** From a primitive root meaning "to turn off" or "to remove," this word signifies a complete and irreversible separation or withdrawal. In the context of "He shall not depart out of darkness," it emphasizes the inescapable nature of the wicked person's predicament. There is no turning away from, getting out of, or being removed from this state of perpetual gloom and judgment. It denotes a permanent and fixed condition.
* **Darkness (Hebrew, _chôshek'_):** This term, derived from a root meaning "to be dark," extends beyond mere absence of light. Biblically, _chôshek_ frequently symbolizes affliction, misery, despair, chaos, judgment, spiritual death, and profound ignorance or sorrow. To be unable to "depart out of darkness" therefore implies an inescapable, perpetual state of distress, doom, and utter separation from God's favor, blessing, and hope.
* **Branches (Hebrew, _yôwneqeth'_):** This feminine noun, meaning "a sprout" or "young twig," metaphorically represents the prosperity, vitality, offspring, or future generations of an individual. Its destruction by "flame" speaks to the complete and utter eradication of one's legacy, family line, and all that might signify success, continuity, or future hope. It implies a barrenness and ultimate end to all that was once vibrant.
* **Breath (Hebrew, _rûwach'_):** While _rûwach_ can mean "wind," "spirit," or "breath," in the phrase "by the breath of his mouth," it powerfully refers to the divine decree or the authoritative, powerful word of God. This is distinct from a person's dying breath. It evokes the creative and destructive power inherent in God's spoken word, emphasizing that the wicked's demise is not accidental or self-inflicted but a direct, decisive, and effortless act of divine judgment.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"He shall not depart out of darkness":** This opening clause immediately establishes the inescapable and perpetual nature of the wicked person's doom. Their condition is one of unremitting misery, judgment, and spiritual obscurity. There is no possibility of escape, no turning back towards light or relief, and no hope of emerging from this condemned state. It speaks to a finality and an utter lack of redemption for those who persist in wickedness.
* **"the flame shall dry up his branches":** This vivid and destructive imagery depicts a consuming fire, a common biblical symbol for divine wrath and judgment. The "branches," representing the wicked person's prosperity, offspring, and future prospects, are utterly consumed, withered, and rendered lifeless. This signifies a complete and irreversible destruction of all that they valued, all that might continue their legacy, and all sources of their earthly strength and influence.
* **"and by the breath of his mouth shall he go away":** This final, powerful clause attributes the wicked person's destruction to a supreme, divine agency. The "breath of his mouth" refers to the authoritative, decisive word or decree of God Himself. It implies a swift, effortless, and absolute act of judgment, where God's mere command is sufficient to bring about the wicked's utter demise, sweeping them away from existence and into oblivion.

#### Literary Devices
Job 15:30 is rich in powerful **Imagery**, painting a stark and vivid picture of the wicked's inevitable fate. The **metaphor** of "darkness" conveys a state of profound despair, judgment, and spiritual alienation, suggesting an inescapable doom. The "flame" serves as a potent **symbol** of divine wrath, consuming power, and destructive judgment. The "branches" are a clear **metaphor** for prosperity, lineage, and future hope, with their drying up emphasizing total ruin and the eradication of a legacy. The phrase "by the breath of his mouth" functions as a powerful **metonymy** or **synecdoche**, representing God's authoritative word, His irresistible power, and His decisive decree. Eliphaz also employs **hyperbole** in his description, exaggerating the absolute, inevitable, and devastating nature of the wicked's downfall to underscore his theological point and to implicitly condemn Job. The verse's structure also exhibits a form of **poetic parallelism**, where each successive clause reinforces and expands upon the central theme of inescapable divine judgment, building in intensity towards a climactic statement of God's ultimate power.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
While Eliphaz's direct application of these truths to Job was flawed, insensitive, and ultimately incorrect regarding Job's personal sin, Job 15:30 nonetheless articulates profound and enduring biblical principles concerning the ultimate consequences of persistent wickedness and the certainty of God's justice. It underscores the absolute certainty of divine judgment for those who defiantly reject God's ways, affirming that unrepentant sin does indeed carry serious and inescapable repercussions. The verse highlights God's sovereign power to execute His decrees, ensuring that no one can ultimately evade His righteous judgment. It serves as a stark reminder of the gravity of living in rebellion against the Creator, even as the broader narrative of Job cautions against simplistic interpretations of suffering as always being a direct result of personal sin.

* [Psalm 37:20](/psalms/37-20 "Psalm 37:20 - The Perishing of the Wicked")
* [Proverbs 10:25](/proverbs/10-25 "Proverbs 10:25 - The Wicked are Swept Away")
* [Matthew 25:41](/matthew/25-41 "Matthew 25:41 - Eternal Fire for the Wicked")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 15:30, despite its challenging and misapplied context within Eliphaz's theology, compels us to engage in profound reflection on the nature of divine justice and the ultimate consequences of human choices. It serves as a sober reminder that God is indeed righteous and will not allow wickedness to go unpunished indefinitely; His justice will ultimately prevail. For the believer, this truth should not primarily evoke fear, but rather a profound trust in God's perfect timing and His unwavering commitment to upholding righteousness, even when the apparent prosperity of the wicked seems to contradict it in the present. It also calls us to a posture of humility, warning against the temptation to hastily judge the suffering of others as a direct and immediate result of their sin, a grave mistake Eliphaz tragically made. Instead, we are encouraged to examine our own hearts, to walk in integrity and obedience, and to rely on God's boundless grace, knowing that His judgment is both sure and perfectly just.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Eliphaz's rigid view of justice in this verse challenge or affirm my own understanding of God's dealings with humanity and the nature of suffering?**
* **In what ways might I be tempted to apply a simplistic "retribution theology" to the suffering of myself or others, and what are the dangers of such an approach?**
* **How does this verse, despite its flawed application in Job's narrative, remind me of the seriousness of sin and the ultimate certainty of God's righteous judgment?**

### FAQ
**Is Eliphaz's description of the wicked accurate biblically?**

Answer:In principle, Eliphaz's description of the wicked's ultimate fate—characterized by darkness, destruction, and divine judgment—aligns with broader biblical teaching. The Scriptures consistently affirm that God is just and will indeed bring judgment upon unrepentant sin (e.g., [Psalm 9:17](/psalms/9-17 "Psalm 9:17 - The Wicked Go to Sheol")). However, Eliphaz's fundamental error lies in his rigid and immediate application of this universal truth to Job's particular situation. He assumes Job's immense suffering is *proof* of his wickedness, failing to grasp the complexity of God's purposes or the possibility of suffering for reasons other than direct personal sin, as the rest of the book of Job profoundly reveals.

**What does "by the breath of his mouth shall he go away" mean?**

Answer:This powerful and evocative phrase most likely refers to the authoritative, decisive word or decree of God. Just as God created the heavens and earth by the "breath of His mouth" or His spoken word ( [Psalm 33:6](/psalms/33-6 "Psalm 33:6 - Creation by God's Word")), He can also bring about destruction by it. It emphasizes the swiftness, effortlessness, and absolute certainty of divine judgment. The wicked person's demise is not by chance or their own doing, but by the direct, powerful command of God, sweeping them away from existence and into oblivion. It underscores God's absolute sovereignty and the irresistible power of His spoken word.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Job 15:30 speaks of the wicked's inevitable judgment and descent into darkness, it finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment and reinterpretation in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The "darkness" described for the wicked foreshadows the ultimate darkness that Christ, the perfectly righteous one, endured on the cross, as the sun was blotted out when He bore the sins of the world ([Matthew 27:45](/matthew/27-45 "Matthew 27:45 - Darkness at the Crucifixion")). He, the sinless Lamb of God, experienced the "flame" of God's wrath and judgment, not for His own transgressions, but as the substitute who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). By His voluntary sacrifice, He became the one who "went away" into death, only to conquer it triumphantly, so that all who believe in Him might not perish in the darkness of judgment but have eternal life and light ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World")). Furthermore, the "breath of his mouth" that brings judgment upon the wicked finds its ultimate, righteous expression in Christ, who will return to judge the living and the dead, consuming the lawless one with the "breath of His mouth" and bringing His kingdom to full fruition ([2 Thessalonians 2:8](/2_thessalonians/2-8 "2 Thessalonians 2:8 - The Lord's Breath Destroys the Lawless One")). Thus, Jesus is both the one who endured the judgment for us, offering salvation, and the one who will execute it righteously, offering escape from the darkness and flame to all who trust in Him.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Job 4:9

By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.

Job 20:26

All darkness [shall be] hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle.

Job 15:22

He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, and he is waited for of the sword.

Job 10:21

Before I go [whence] I shall not return, [even] to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;

Job 10:22

A land of darkness, as darkness [itself; and] of the shadow of death, without any order, and [where] the light [is] as darkness.

Mark 9:43

And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

Mark 9:49

For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.