Job 20:21

KJV

There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.

KJV (with Strong's)

There shall none of his meat {H400} be left {H8300}; therefore shall no man look {H2342} for his goods {H2898}.

Complete Jewish Bible

nothing is left that he did not devour; therefore his well-being will not last.

Berean Standard Bible

Nothing is left for him to consume; thus his prosperity will not endure.

American Standard Version

There was nothing left that he devoured not; Therefore his prosperity shall not endure.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 20:21, part of Zophar the Naamathite's second discourse, emphatically declares the utter and complete desolation awaiting the wicked. Zophar argues that any wealth or provisions accumulated through unrighteousness will be entirely consumed, leaving absolutely nothing behind. This verse serves as a stark pronouncement of the transient and ultimately futile nature of ill-gotten gains, asserting that divine justice ensures the wicked's material legacy will vanish without a trace.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within Zophar's second and final speech, found in [Job 20](/job/20 "Job 20 - Zophar's Second Discourse on the Wicked's Fate"). Zophar, one of Job's three friends, passionately upholds the traditional wisdom that suffering is a direct consequence of sin, and prosperity is a sign of divine favor. His discourse is a direct response to Job's lamentations and his assertion of innocence, attempting to convince Job that his suffering must be due to hidden sin. Zophar's argument in [Job 20](/job/20 "Job 20 - The Short-Lived Triumph of the Wicked") focuses on the swift and catastrophic downfall of the wicked, presenting a vivid picture of their inevitable ruin despite any temporary success. Verse 21 specifically highlights the complete destruction of their material possessions as a key aspect of this divine retribution, reinforcing the friends' flawed theological framework that God's justice is always immediate and observable in earthly circumstances.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Job is set in a patriarchal society, likely reflecting ancient Near Eastern (ANE) wisdom traditions. In this cultural milieu, material wealth and the establishment of a lasting legacy through one's descendants and possessions were highly valued. The concept of "goods" and "meat" (provisions) was intrinsically linked to a family's honor, security, and future. The idea that "no man look for his goods" would have been particularly devastating, implying not just personal destitution but the complete erasure of one's material inheritance and the failure to establish a lasting name. This context underscores the severity of Zophar's pronouncement, tapping into deep-seated cultural anxieties about loss of legacy and complete ruin, reinforcing the belief in a retributive justice system where the wicked would face ultimate, tangible consequences.
* **Key Themes:** Zophar's words in [Job 20:21](/job/20-21 "Job 20:21 - The Utter Ruin of the Wicked's Possessions") contribute to several key themes prevalent in the book of Job and wider wisdom literature.
* **The Transience of Ill-Gotten Gains:** A central message is that wealth acquired through unrighteousness is inherently unstable and fleeting. Zophar emphasizes that such "meat" or "goods" will not endure, highlighting the futility of seeking prosperity through unjust means. This theme resonates with other biblical teachings, such as those found in [Proverbs 21:6](/proverbs/21-6 "Proverbs 21:6 - The Futility of Ill-Gotten Wealth").
* **Complete Ruin and Loss:** The verse powerfully conveys total destruction, not merely a reduction in wealth but its absolute disappearance. "There shall none of his meat be left" and "therefore shall no man look for his goods" signify an obliteration of material legacy, leaving nothing to inherit or even remember. This speaks to the comprehensive nature of divine judgment on the wicked.
* **Divine Retribution:** Underlying Zophar's statement is the strong conviction that God's justice ensures the wicked do not ultimately benefit from their wrongdoing. While Zophar's application of this principle to Job is flawed, the belief in an ultimate reckoning for unrighteousness is a recurring biblical theme, though its timing and manifestation are often more complex than the friends suggest. For a broader perspective on the wicked's portion, [Psalm 73:18-20](/psalms/73-18 "Psalm 73:18-20 - The Slippery Slope of the Wicked") offers a similar sentiment.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Meat (Hebrew, _ma'akhal'_):** מַאֲכָל (ma'akhal) broadly refers to food, sustenance, or provisions. In this context, it extends beyond literal food to encompass all the material resources, wealth, and accumulated assets a person acquires for their livelihood and enjoyment. Its complete absence signifies total deprivation and the utter consumption of all that was unjustly gained.
* **Goods (Hebrew, _ṭûḇ'_):** טוּב (ṭûḇ) denotes goodness, prosperity, or wealth. Here, it specifically refers to the accumulated possessions, riches, and general well-being of the wicked. The phrase "no man look for his goods" implies not just the loss of these items but also the complete absence of any remaining legacy or inheritance, rendering the wicked person's material existence utterly erased from memory and future expectation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"There shall none of his meat be left":** This clause vividly portrays the absolute and complete consumption or disappearance of all the wicked person's accumulated wealth and provisions. The Hebrew emphasizes a total lack of residue, signifying utter destitution and the futility of their unjust gains. It speaks to a divine judgment that leaves no trace of their ill-gotten prosperity.
* **"therefore shall no man look for his goods":** This consequence underscores the finality of the wicked's ruin. Not only are their possessions gone, but there is nothing left to seek, inherit, or even remember. It speaks to the obliteration of their material legacy and the failure of their attempts to establish lasting prosperity through unrighteousness, highlighting the complete and permanent nature of their loss.

#### Literary Devices
Zophar employs several **literary devices** to emphasize the severity and finality of the wicked's downfall. The most prominent is **hyperbole**, where the statements "none of his meat be left" and "no man look for his goods" are exaggerated to convey absolute destruction and oblivion. This overstatement serves to underscore the utter futility of ill-gotten gain. There is also strong **imagery** of desolation and emptiness, painting a vivid picture of a life stripped bare of all its material comforts and legacy. The two clauses function in a form of **consequential parallelism**, where the first clause (the disappearance of "meat") directly leads to and reinforces the second (no one seeking "goods"), creating a powerful cause-and-effect statement about divine retribution. Zophar's declaration also carries the weight of a **prophetic utterance**, presented as an undeniable truth about the universal fate of the wicked, even though its specific application to Job is flawed.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
While Zophar's application of this principle to Job was a misdiagnosis of Job's suffering, the underlying theological truth about the temporary nature of material wealth, especially that acquired unrighteously, remains a consistent theme throughout Scripture. This verse powerfully articulates the conviction that divine justice ultimately prevails, ensuring that ill-gotten gains offer no lasting security or legacy. It challenges the human tendency to find ultimate security in accumulated possessions, particularly when such accumulation comes at the expense of righteousness or justice. The Bible consistently teaches that true prosperity is not merely material and that God is sovereign over all resources, ensuring that what is built on injustice will ultimately crumble. This serves as a potent reminder for believers to prioritize eternal values and trust in God's ultimate justice, even when the prosperity of the wicked seems to endure for a time.

* [Psalm 37:35-36](/psalms/37-35 "Psalm 37:35-36 - The Fleeting Nature of the Wicked")
* [Proverbs 13:22](/proverbs/13-22 "Proverbs 13:22 - The Legacy of the Righteous and the Sinner")
* [James 5:1-6](/james/5-1 "James 5:1-6 - Warning to the Rich Oppressors")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 20:21, though spoken by Zophar in error concerning Job, contains a profound truth for all believers: the ultimate futility and transience of wealth acquired through unrighteousness. In a world often driven by the pursuit of material gain, this verse serves as a stark warning against covetousness, exploitation, and any means of acquiring "meat" or "goods" that dishonors God or harms others. It calls us to examine the source of our prosperity and to recognize that true security and lasting inheritance are not found in perishable earthly possessions, but in a right relationship with God and in the eternal treasures He offers. Our ultimate trust should be in God's provision and His perfect justice, knowing that what is built on unrighteousness will ultimately collapse, while what is built on faith and integrity will endure. It encourages us to live with an eternal perspective, prioritizing spiritual richness over fleeting material gain.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the temporary nature of earthly possessions, as described by Zophar, challenge my priorities and values today?**
* **In what ways might I be tempted to seek "meat" or "goods" through means that are not righteous in God's eyes, and how can I resist these temptations?**
* **How does trusting in God's ultimate justice, even when it seems delayed, impact my perspective on the apparent prosperity of the wicked in the world around me?**
* **What "treasures" am I truly laying up, and where is my ultimate security found in light of this verse?**

### FAQ

**Did Zophar's statement in Job 20:21 apply to Job's situation?**

Answer: No, Zophar's statement, while articulating a general principle found elsewhere in Scripture regarding the fate of the wicked, was a misapplication to Job's specific situation. The central tension of the book of Job is precisely that Job was a righteous man who suffered immensely, not because of hidden sin or unrighteous gain, but for reasons beyond his comprehension. Zophar, like the other friends, operated under a rigid retributive theology that failed to account for the complexities of divine sovereignty and human suffering. While the *principle* that ill-gotten gains do not last is biblically sound, Zophar's *accusation* that Job's suffering was a result of such unrighteousness was incorrect.

**Does this verse imply that all wealthy people are wicked or that wealth itself is inherently bad?**

Answer: No, this verse does not imply that all wealthy people are wicked or that wealth itself is inherently bad. The context of [Job 20:21](/job/20-21 "Job 20:21 - The Wicked's Ruin") is specifically about the "wicked" and their "meat" and "goods," implying wealth obtained through unjust or unrighteous means. The Bible contains examples of righteous individuals who were wealthy (e.g., Abraham, David, Job himself before his trials), and it often speaks of wealth as a blessing from God. However, Scripture consistently warns against the love of money ([1 Timothy 6:10](/1_timothy/6-10 "1 Timothy 6:10 - The Root of All Evil")), the pursuit of wealth through unrighteousness ([Proverbs 28:8](/proverbs/28-8 "Proverbs 28:8 - Wealth Gained by Interest")), and trusting in riches instead of God ([Psalm 52:7](/psalms/52-7 "Psalm 52:7 - Trusting in Riches")). Zophar's words are a condemnation of ill-gotten gain and the false security it offers, not a blanket condemnation of wealth.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 20:21, though spoken within the Old Testament framework of retributive justice and misapplied to Job, finds its ultimate and profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Zophar's pronouncement on the wicked's fleeting "meat" and vanishing "goods" stands in stark contrast to the eternal and incorruptible inheritance secured by Christ for His followers. Jesus Himself warned against laying up [treasures on earth](/matthew/6-19 "Matthew 6:19 - Laying Up Treasures on Earth"), where moth and rust destroy, advocating instead for [treasures in heaven](/matthew/6-20 "Matthew 6:20 - Laying Up Treasures in Heaven"), which are imperishable. The "meat" that truly sustains and the "goods" that truly last are not found in earthly possessions, especially those gained unjustly, but in the [spiritual blessings in Christ](/ephesians/1-3 "Ephesians 1:3 - Spiritual Blessings in Christ"). The wicked's ultimate loss, as described by Zophar, points to a spiritual reality: those who reject Christ and build their lives on self-serving pursuits will find that all their supposed gains vanish, leaving them utterly destitute in the face of eternal judgment. Conversely, Christ, who, though He was rich, yet for our sakes [became poor, so that through His poverty we might become rich](/2_corinthians/8-9 "2 Corinthians 8:9 - Christ's Sacrifice and Our Riches"), demonstrates that true wealth is found not in accumulation but in self-giving love and obedience to God. He offers the [true bread of life](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life") and an [inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading](/1_peter/1-4 "1 Peter 1:4 - An Imperishable Inheritance"), kept in heaven for those who are guarded by God's power through faith. Thus, Zophar's words, in their prophetic echo, underscore that only what is built on Christ will endure, while all that is built on unrighteousness will ultimately vanish, leaving nothing behind but eternal emptiness.

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 15:29

He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he prolong the perfection thereof upon the earth.

Jeremiah 17:11

[As] the partridge sitteth [on eggs], and hatcheth [them] not; [so] he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.

Luke 16:24

And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

Luke 16:25

But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

Job 18:19

He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings.