Job 20:23

¶ [When] he is about to fill his belly, [God] shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain [it] upon him while he is eating.

When he is about to fill {H4390} his belly {H990}, God shall cast {H7971} the fury {H2740} of his wrath {H639} upon him, and shall rain {H4305} it upon him while he is eating {H3894}.

"This is what will fill his belly! -[God] will lay on him all his burning anger and make it rain over him, into his insides.

When he has filled his stomach, God will vent His fury upon him, raining it down on him as he eats.

When he is about to fill his belly, Godwill cast the fierceness of his wrath upon him, And will rain it upon him while he is eating.

Commentary

Job 20:23 (KJV) is a powerful and stark declaration by Zophar the Naamathite, one of Job’s three friends. This verse describes the swift and inevitable divine judgment that he believes befalls the wicked, even at the height of their perceived success or enjoyment.

Context

This verse is part of Zophar's second speech, where he vehemently argues for God's immediate and strict justice. Zophar, like Bildad and Eliphaz, maintains the traditional view that suffering is a direct consequence of sin, and prosperity is a sign of righteousness. He believes that the wicked, despite temporary triumph (as he states in Job 20:5), will ultimately face God's severe retribution. This speech is a direct challenge to Job's assertion that the wicked often prosper (Job 21:7), and it reflects a common, yet incomplete, understanding of divine justice at the time.

Key Themes

  • Sudden Divine Retribution: The phrase "When he is about to fill his belly" vividly portrays a moment of presumed satisfaction or security, only for God's "fury of his wrath" to strike instantly. This emphasizes the unexpected and inescapable nature of divine judgment on those who live in unrighteousness.
  • God's Inescapable Justice: Zophar highlights that no amount of worldly success or self-indulgence can shield the wicked from God's ultimate reckoning. The imagery of God "raining" wrath upon them suggests an overwhelming and pervasive judgment that cannot be avoided.
  • The Futility of Wicked Prosperity: The verse implies that the enjoyment derived from wicked gain is fleeting and ultimately leads to destruction. It underscores the biblical principle that genuine satisfaction cannot be found apart from righteousness.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV translation captures the intensity of the original Hebrew. The phrase "fury of his wrath" (Hebrew: charon apho) is a strong expression for God's intense anger, often used in contexts of severe judgment. The verb "cast" (Hebrew: shalach) implies a forceful, decisive action, while "rain" (Hebrew: matar) conveys a deluge, signifying an overwhelming and comprehensive outpouring of divine displeasure, leaving no escape for the unrighteous. This vivid imagery underscores the completeness of the impending judgment.

Practical Application

While Zophar's theology is ultimately limited and doesn't fully account for the complexities of suffering, his statement in Job 20:23 serves as a timeless warning against the pursuit of unrighteous gain and a reminder of God's ultimate justice. It encourages believers to:

  • Live Righteously: Understand that true peace and security come from living in accordance with God's will, not from worldly accumulation or selfish desires.
  • Trust God's Timing: Recognize that divine judgment, though sometimes delayed, is certain. This can bring comfort to those who witness the temporary prosperity of the wicked (as seen in Psalm 73:18-19).
  • Beware of Self-Indulgence: The verse's imagery of "filling his belly" can be a caution against unchecked greed, gluttony, or any form of self-serving behavior that disregards God's commands.

Ultimately, Job 20:23 reminds us that God is a righteous judge who will bring all things to account, and the consequences of sin are unavoidable.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 78:30

    They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat [was] yet in their mouths,

  • Psalms 78:31

    The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen [men] of Israel.

  • Numbers 11:33

    And while the flesh [was] yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague.

  • Exodus 9:23

    And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt.

  • Genesis 19:24

    ¶ Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;

  • Malachi 2:2

    If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay [it] to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay [it] to heart.

  • Luke 12:17

    And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
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