Job 20:16

He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him.

He shall suck {H3243} the poison {H7219} of asps {H6620}: the viper's {H660} tongue {H3956} shall slay {H2026} him.

He sucks the poison of asps, the viper's fangs will kill him.

He will suck the poison of cobras; the fangs of a viper will kill him.

He shall suck the poison of asps: The viperโ€™s tongue shall slay him.

Commentary

Context

Job 20:16 is part of Zophar the Naamathite's second speech to Job, where he vehemently argues for the swift and severe punishment of the wicked. Throughout the book of Job, Job's three friends (Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar) operate under a retributive theology, believing that suffering is always a direct result of sin. In this chapter, Zophar paints a grim picture of the wicked person's ultimate downfall, asserting that any prosperity they experience is fleeting and their end will be catastrophic. This verse, with its vivid and disturbing imagery, encapsulates Zophar's conviction that the wicked will be consumed by their own evil, or by the very things they sought to gain.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Inevitable Judgment: Zophar asserts that divine judgment is inescapable for the wicked. Despite any apparent success or temporary escape, their end is certain destruction, often by the very instruments of their sin.
  • Self-Inflicted Ruin: The imagery suggests that the consequences of wickedness are not merely external punishments but can also be self-destructive. The "poison" and "viper's tongue" imply that the very nature of evil contains the seeds of its own demise.
  • Symbolism of Deadly Snakes: Asps and vipers are highly venomous snakes, common in the ancient Near East. Their poison symbolizes lethal and insidious danger, representing the deadly nature of sin and the severe, often hidden, consequences that follow. This imagery evokes a sense of immediate, fatal retribution.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew words used for "asp" (ืคึผึถืชึถืŸ - pethen) and "viper" (ืึถืคึฐืขึถื” - 'eph'eh) refer to highly venomous snakes known for their deadly bites. The phrase "suck the poison" emphasizes the direct and intimate encounter with the deadly consequences, as if one willingly partakes in the very thing that will destroy them. The "viper's tongue" is a metaphor for the fatal strike or the destructive power unleashed, leading to death.

Related Scriptures

Zophar argues that the wicked, despite temporary prosperity, ultimately face inevitable and deadly consequences, as if they were to suck the poison of serpents. This vivid imagery underscores the idea that the very evil a person commits can become their undoing, leading to their destruction, much like the bite of a serpent. While Zophar's theology is ultimately critiqued in the book of Job, the Bible consistently teaches that there are consequences for unrighteous living, and that sin, like a hidden venom, can lead to spiritual and physical death (Romans 6:23).

Practical Application

While Zophar's specific application of retributive theology to Job's suffering is shown to be flawed, the underlying principle that wickedness has dire consequences remains a biblical truth. This verse serves as a stark warning about the destructive nature of sin. It reminds us that choosing a path of unrighteousness, though it may offer temporary gratification or apparent gain, ultimately leads to ruin. The "poison" we embrace will eventually consume us. It encourages a life of integrity and righteousness, trusting in God's ultimate justice and recognizing that true prosperity comes from walking in His ways, not from ill-gotten gains.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 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

    ยถ 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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