Job 20:23

Translation
King James Version
¶ 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.
Ask
KJV (with Strong's)
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.
Ask
Complete Jewish Bible
"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.
Ask
Berean Standard Bible
When he has filled his stomach, God will vent His fury upon him, raining it down on him as he eats.
Ask
American Standard Version
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.
Ask
World English Bible Messianic
When he is about to fill his belly, God will cast the fierceness of his wrath on him. It will rain on him while he is eating.
Ask
Geneva Bible (1599)
He shall be about to fill his belly, but God shall sende vpon him his fierce wrath, and shall cause to rayne vpon him, euen vpon his meate.
Ask
Young's Literal Translation
It cometh to pass, at the filling of his belly, He sendeth forth against him The fierceness of His anger, Yea, He raineth on him in his eating.
Ask
See also
Psalms 78:30Psalms 78:31Numbers 11:33Exodus 9:23Genesis 19:24Malachi 2:2Luke 12:17
See on the biblical-era map
Job
Job View full PDF

Map © Biblica Open Bible Maps · CC BY-SA 4.0

In the KJVVerse 13,350 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Job 20:23, a pronouncement from Zophar the Naamathite, vividly articulates his belief in the swift and inescapable divine judgment awaiting the wicked. It paints a stark picture of an unrighteous individual at the precipice of perceived triumph and self-indulgence, only for God's intense wrath to be unleashed upon them with overwhelming and immediate force, underscoring the futility of worldly gain or fleeting pleasure in shielding one from the inevitable consequences of unrighteousness.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: This verse is a pivotal statement within Zophar's second and final speech in the book of Job, found in Job 20. Zophar, one of Job's three friends, is a staunch defender of the traditional retribution theology, asserting a direct and immediate correlation between sin and suffering, and righteousness and prosperity. His impassioned rhetoric, including this verse, directly confronts Job's bewildered lamentations regarding the apparent prosperity of the wicked, as articulated in Job 21:7. Zophar's pronouncements serve to condemn Job's perceived sinfulness and to uphold what he believes to be God's unwavering and predictable justice, thereby reinforcing the friends' argument that Job's suffering must be due to some hidden transgression.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: The setting of the book of Job is the ancient Near East, likely the land of Uz, a region known for its wisdom traditions. The prevailing theological framework of the era, particularly within these wisdom circles, often adhered to a system of divine retribution. This "Deuteronomic theology," which posits that good deeds are immediately rewarded and evil deeds immediately punished, was a common lens through which people understood God's interaction with humanity. Zophar's perspective in Job 20:23 perfectly encapsulates this traditional belief, reflecting a cultural expectation that divine justice would manifest swiftly and visibly in the earthly realm, serving as a clear deterrent to wickedness and an affirmation of divine order.
  • Key Themes: Zophar's speech, and Job 20:23 in particular, contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the broader narrative of Job. The most prominent is Divine Retribution, emphasizing God's absolute justice and the certainty of judgment for the wicked, a concept vigorously defended by Job's friends. Another crucial theme is the Futility of Wicked Prosperity, highlighting that any worldly success or fleeting enjoyment gained through unrighteousness is ultimately ephemeral and leads to inescapable destruction, a point Zophar uses to counter Job's observations. This verse also underscores the ongoing Theological Debate that forms the core of the book, as Zophar's simplistic and rigid view of justice is challenged by Job's inexplicable suffering and, ultimately, by God's own revelation, which unveils a more complex and nuanced understanding of divine sovereignty, justice, and the nature of human suffering beyond a simple cause-and-effect framework.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • Fill (Hebrew, mâlêʼ', H4390): This verb, H4390, means to fill or be full of, encompassing a wide range of applications from literal fullness to figurative completion or satisfaction. In the context of "fill his belly," it signifies the wicked person's complete satiety, indulgence, and the culmination of their material desires or ill-gotten gains. It suggests a moment of presumed ultimate satisfaction and security, often with an undertone of greed or gluttony.
  • Fury of his wrath (Hebrew, _chârôwn 'aph'_, H2740): This powerful idiomatic phrase combines H2740 (chârôwn), meaning "a burning of anger" or "sore displeasure," with H639 ('aph), which literally refers to the "nose" or "nostril" but figuratively denotes "anger" or "wrath" due to the rapid breathing associated with intense emotion. Together, "fury of his wrath" describes an intense, burning, and righteous divine indignation that is not capricious but demands immediate and decisive action against transgression, reflecting God's holy character and His unyielding opposition to evil.
  • Rain (Hebrew, mâṭar', H4305): The primitive root H4305 means "to rain" or "cause to rain." While its primary meaning is literal precipitation, here it is employed metaphorically to describe an overwhelming, inescapable, and pervasive outpouring of judgment. This imagery conveys the idea that God's judgment is not a single, isolated event but a comprehensive, continuous deluge that leaves no escape or shelter for the unrighteous, consuming them entirely.

Verse Breakdown

  • "When he is about to fill his belly": This opening clause sets a dramatic and ironic scene. It depicts the wicked individual at the zenith of their perceived success, satisfaction, or self-indulgence, perhaps enjoying the fruits of their unrighteousness or gloating in their prosperity. This moment implies complacency and a false sense of security, making the impending judgment all the more sudden and impactful. The irony lies in judgment striking precisely at the peak of their presumed triumph.
  • "[God] shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him": This part introduces the sudden, forceful, and direct divine intervention. The verb "cast" (from Hebrew shâlach, H7971) suggests a decisive, immediate, and intentional act of divine power. God's intense anger, described as the "fury of his wrath," is not merely a passive state but an active, targeted unleashing of righteous indignation, demonstrating His direct opposition to the wicked individual's actions and their consequences.
  • "and shall rain [it] upon him while he is eating": This final clause amplifies the overwhelming, pervasive, and inescapable nature of the judgment. The imagery of "raining" wrath suggests a continuous, comprehensive deluge that fully engulfs the wicked, leaving no avenue for escape. The phrase "while he is eating" further underscores the immediacy and totality of the judgment, interrupting their moment of indulgence and demonstrating that even in their most personal and satisfying acts, they cannot escape the divine reckoning. It highlights the suddenness and completeness of their downfall.

Literary Devices

Job 20:23 is powerfully constructed through several literary devices that amplify Zophar's message of impending doom and the certainty of divine retribution for the wicked. Irony is profoundly present, as the moment of the wicked's greatest perceived satisfaction and security—"when he is about to fill his belly"—is precisely when divine judgment strikes. This creates a stark contrast between human expectation and divine reality. The verse also employs vivid Metaphor and compelling Imagery, particularly in the description of God's wrath being "cast" and "rained" upon the wicked, evoking a sense of an overwhelming, inescapable deluge that consumes them. The phrase "fill his belly" itself functions as a metaphor for complete self-indulgence, material prosperity, and perhaps even gluttony or greed. Furthermore, Juxtaposition is skillfully used to highlight the stark contrast between the wicked's act of feasting and God's furious, destructive judgment, emphasizing the sudden, unyielding, and absolute nature of divine justice.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Zophar's declaration in Job 20:23, while stemming from a limited and ultimately incomplete theological framework within the book of Job, resonates with broader biblical themes concerning God's righteous character and the ultimate fate of the wicked. It underscores the universal principle that God is the moral governor of the universe, and that sin, though it may appear to prosper temporarily, carries an inevitable and certain consequence. While the timing and manifestation of this judgment are often far more complex and nuanced than Zophar's simplistic view suggests, the verse serves as a powerful reminder that true security, lasting satisfaction, and genuine prosperity cannot be found apart from righteousness. It points to a universal truth about the consequences of rejecting God's ways, a truth affirmed throughout scripture, even as the book of Job itself challenges the rigid application of retribution theology to all suffering. Divine justice, though sometimes delayed, is ultimately certain.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

While Zophar's theology in Job 20:23 is ultimately incomplete in its understanding of the complexities of suffering and divine timing, his vivid portrayal of divine judgment offers timeless warnings and profound insights for our lives. This verse challenges us to deeply examine the sources of our satisfaction, security, and identity. Are we pursuing fleeting worldly gains, self-indulgence, or material accumulation as our ultimate goal, or are we building our lives on the solid, enduring foundation of God's righteousness and His unchanging character? The passage reminds us that true peace, lasting prosperity, and genuine fulfillment are not found in accumulating wealth or power through unrighteous means, but in aligning our desires, actions, and very being with God's perfect will. It encourages us to cultivate a profound trust in God's perfect timing and His unwavering justice, even when the wicked seem to prosper or when life's circumstances appear unjust, knowing that all things will ultimately be brought to account before Him. This sobering truth should motivate us to live with unwavering integrity, profound humility, and a deep reverence for God's holiness, recognizing that genuine and eternal satisfaction comes from Him alone, and that a life lived in rebellion against Him leads to ultimate emptiness and judgment.

Questions for Reflection

  • How does Zophar's perspective in this verse challenge or affirm your personal understanding of divine justice and its manifestation in the world today?
  • In what ways might we, in our modern context, be tempted to "fill our belly" with things that ultimately lead to spiritual emptiness, dissatisfaction, or even divine judgment, rather than true satisfaction in God?
  • Considering the certainty of God's ultimate judgment and reckoning, how does this truth motivate you to live a life of greater integrity, deeper faith, and more profound dependence on Him in your daily choices?

FAQ

Does this verse mean God always punishes the wicked immediately and visibly?

Answer: Zophar's statement in Job 20:23 reflects a common ancient Near Eastern retribution theology, which posited a direct and immediate correlation between sin and suffering. While God's justice is indeed certain and His opposition to evil unwavering, the book of Job itself, through Job's inexplicable experience and God's later speeches from the whirlwind (Job 38-41), ultimately challenges this simplistic view. The reality is that God's timing and methods of judgment are sovereign, mysterious, and often beyond human comprehension. The wicked do not always suffer immediate, visible punishment in this life, as acknowledged by the psalmist in Psalm 73 and by Solomon in Ecclesiastes 8:11, who notes that "because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil." However, the verse still powerfully conveys the ultimate certainty of divine reckoning and the futility of unrighteous prosperity.

Is Zophar's theology in this verse entirely correct or complete?

Answer: Zophar's theology in Job 20:23 is partially correct in that God is indeed a righteous judge who will bring all things to account and is utterly opposed to sin. However, it is incomplete and ultimately proven inadequate by the broader narrative of the book of Job. Zophar, like Job's other friends, operates from a rigid, dogmatic framework that assumes all suffering is a direct and immediate result of personal sin, and all prosperity is a sign of righteousness. The book of Job aims to deconstruct this simplistic retribution theology, demonstrating that righteous people can suffer for reasons beyond their sin, and that God's ways are far more complex, mysterious, and sovereign than human wisdom can fully grasp. Thus, while the verse speaks a profound truth about divine justice and the consequences of wickedness, it is not the whole truth about God's intricate dealings with humanity or the nature of suffering.

What does "fill his belly" truly signify in this context?

Answer: In Job 20:23, "fill his belly" is a powerful and evocative metaphor that extends far beyond mere physical eating or satiety. It signifies the wicked person's complete satisfaction, abundance, and unrestrained indulgence in worldly pleasures, ill-gotten gains, or self-centered pursuits. It represents the pinnacle of their perceived success, security, and material gratification, often implying greed, gluttony, or an unbridled pursuit of personal desires at the expense of righteousness. The phrase highlights the profound irony that at the very moment they feel most secure, satisfied, and triumphant in their unrighteous prosperity, God's inescapable judgment intervenes, demonstrating the fleeting and ultimately destructive nature of their earthly gains.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

While Job 20:23 speaks of God's wrath being "cast" and "rained" upon the wicked, its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment lies in the profound theological truth that God's righteous wrath against sin was fully and perfectly poured out upon Jesus Christ on the cross. The "fury of his wrath" that Zophar describes as falling upon the unrighteous was, for all who believe, absorbed by the Lamb of God. Isaiah 53:5 prophesies that Jesus was "wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." Through His perfect life, atoning sacrifice, and glorious resurrection, Christ bore the full weight of divine judgment that humanity deserved, becoming sin for us so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). Thus, for those who are "in Christ," the terrifying judgment described by Zophar has been averted by Christ's finished work on Calvary. The "eating" or "filling the belly" of the wicked, symbolizing fleeting worldly satisfaction, stands in stark contrast to the true spiritual nourishment and eternal satisfaction found only in Jesus, who declared, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst" (John 6:35). For those who reject this divine provision and refuse to come to Christ for salvation, however, the "wrath of God remains on them" (John 3:36), underscoring the enduring relevance of Zophar's warning in the context of eternal judgment and the absolute necessity of faith in Christ for salvation.

Copy as

Commentary on Job 20 verses 23–29

Zophar, having described the many embarrassments and vexations which commonly attend the wicked practices of oppressors and cruel men, here comes to show their utter ruin at last.

I. Their ruin will take its rise from God's wrath and vengeance, Job 20:23. The hand of the wicked was upon him (Job 20:22), every hand of the wicked. His hand was against every one, and therefore every man's hand will be against him. Yet, in grappling with these, he might go near to make his part good; but his heart cannot endure, nor his hands be strong, when God shall deal with him (Eze 22:14), when God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him and rain it upon him. Every word here speaks terror. It is not only the justice of God that is engaged against him, but his wrath, the deep resentment of provocations given to himself; it is the fury of his wrath, incensed to the highest degree; it is cast upon him with force and fierceness; it is rained upon him in abundance; it comes on his head like the fire and brimstone upon Sodom, to which the psalmist also refers, Psa 11:6. On the wicked God shall rain fire and brimstone. There is no fence against this, but in Christ, who is the only covert from the storm and tempest, Isa 32:2. This wrath shall be cast upon him when he is about to fill his belly, just going to glut himself with what he has gotten and promising himself abundant satisfaction in it. Then, when he is eating, shall this tempest surprise him, when he is secure and easy, and in apprehension of no danger; as the ruin of the old world and Sodom came when they were in the depth of their security and the height of their sensuality, as Christ observes, Luk 17:26, etc. Perhaps Zophar here reflects on the death of Job's children when they were eating and drinking.

II. Their ruin will be inevitable, and there will be no possibility of escaping it (Job 20:24): He shall flee from the iron weapon. Flight argues guilt. He will not humble himself under the judgments of God, nor seek means to make his peace with him. All his care is to escape the vengeance that pursues him, but in vain: if he escape the sword, yet the bow of steel shall strike him through. God has weapons of all sorts; he has both whet his sword and bent his bow (Psa 7:12, Psa 7:13); he can deal with his enemies cominus vel eminus - at hand or afar off. He has a sword for those that think to fight it out with him by their strength, and a bow for those that think to avoid him by their craft. See Isa 24:17, Isa 24:18; Jer 48:43, Jer 48:44. He that is marked for ruin, though he may escape one judgment, will find another ready for him.

III. It will be a total terrible ruin. When the dart that has struck him through (for when God shoots he is sure to hit his mark, when he strikes he strikes home) comes to be drawn out of his body, when the glittering sword (the lightning, so the word is), the flaming sword, the sword that is bathed in heaven (Isa 34:5), comes out of his gall, O what terrors are upon him! How strong are the convulsions, how violent are the dying agonies! How terrible are the arrests of death to a wicked man!

IV. Sometimes it is a ruin that comes upon him insensibly, Job 20:26. 1. The darkness he is wrapped up in is a hidden darkness: it is all darkness, utter darkness, without the least mixture of light, and it is hid in his secret place, whither he has retreated and where he hopes to shelter himself; he never retires into his own conscience but he finds himself in the dark and utterly at a loss. 2. The fire he is consumed by is a fire not blown, kindled without noise, a consumption which every body sees the effect of, but nobody sees the cause of. It is plain that the gourd is withered, but the worm at the root, that causes it to wither, is out of sight. He is wasted by a soft gentle fire - surely, but very slowly. When the fuel is very combustible, the fire needs no blowing, and that is his case; he is ripe for ruin. The proud, and those that do wickedly, shall be stubble, Mal 4:1. An unquenchable fire shall consume him (so some read it), and that is certainly true of hell-fire.

V. It is a ruin, not only to himself, but to his family: It shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle, for the curse shall reach him, and he shall be cut off perhaps by the same grievous disease. There is an entail of wrath upon the family, which will destroy both his heirs and his inheritance, Job 20:28. 1. His posterity will be rooted out: The increase of his house shall depart, shall either be cut off by untimely deaths or forced to run their country. Numerous and growing families, if wicked and vile, are soon reduced, dispersed, and extirpated, by the judgments of God. 2. His estate will be sunk. His goods shall flow away from his family as fast as ever they flowed into it, when the day of God's wrath comes, for which, all the while his estate was in the getting by fraud and oppression, he was treasuring up wrath.

VI. It is a ruin which will manifestly appear to be just and righteous, and what he has brought upon himself by his own wickedness; for (Job 20:27) the heaven shall reveal his iniquity, that is, the God of heaven, who sees all the secret wickedness of the wicked, will, by some means or other, let all the world know what a base man he has been, that they may own the justice of God in all that is brought upon him. The earth also shall rise up against him, both to discover his wickedness and to avenge it. The earth shall disclose her blood, Isa 26:21. The earth will rise up against him (as the stomach rises against that which is loathsome), and will no longer keep him. The heaven reveals his iniquity, and therefore will not receive him. Whither then must he go but to hell? If the God of heaven and earth be his enemy, neither heaven nor earth will show him any kindness, but all the hosts of both are and will be at war with him.

VII. Zophar concludes like an orator (Job 20:29): This is the portion of a wicked man from God; it is allotted him, it is designed him, as his portion. He will have it at last, as a child has his portion, and he will have it for a perpetuity; it is what he must abide by: This is the heritage of his decree from God; it is the settled rule of his judgment, and fair warning is given of it. O wicked man! thou shalt surely die, Eze 33:8. Though impenitent sinners do not always fall under such temporal judgments as are here described (therein Zophar was mistaken), yet the wrath of God abides upon them, and they are made miserable by spiritual judgments, which are much worse, their consciences being either, on the one hand, a terror to them, and then they are in continual amazement, or, on the other hand, seared and silenced, and then they are given up to a reprobate sense and bound over to eternal ruin. Never was any doctrine better explained, or worse applied, than this by Zophar, who intended by all this to prove Job a hypocrite. Let us receive the good explication, and make a better application, for warning to ourselves to stand in awe and not to sin.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 23–29. Public domain.
Copy as
Olympiodorus of AlexandriaAD 600
COMMENTARY ON JOB 20:21-23
Perhaps not even his goods will flourish, but they will become corrupted while still in bloom. In fact, if he appears to be full and abundant in all goods, then every need and affliction will assault him, so that he fills his belly, that is, fills his soul with every pain. “Let God send upon him the fury of wrath; let him bring a torrent of pains upon him.” God, by striking him with the most severe punishment, will bury him in pains as under a snowstorm.
Gregory the DialogistAD 604
29. The Lord ‘rains His war’ upon this hypocrite, when he smites his deeds with the swords of His judgments. Thus for God to ‘rain war,’ is His pressing hard to destruction the life of the wicked man by His strict sentences from on high. God ‘raining war’ is His smiting the hearts that are lifted up against Himself, and His wounding the blasted soul with the darts of His judgments, as with a kind of thickening drops of rain, that when he is now carried off to judgment, one while he should remind himself how he coveted wickedly, and more wickedly set himself to heap together the things he coveted, at another time grieve that he is parted from the things thus heaped together, and one day feel the very fire of retribution, which, that he might not live well, he was too indifferent to foresee.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
Copy as

Continue studying Job 20:23 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.

Read & Compare

Commentaries

Original Language & Research

Sermons, Hymns & Audio

TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.