The increase of his house shall depart, [and his goods] shall flow away in the day of his wrath.
The increase {H2981} of his house {H1004} shall depart {H1540}, and his goods shall flow away {H5064} in the day {H3117} of his wrath {H639}.
The income of his household will be carried off; his goods will flow away on the day of his wrath.
The possessions of his house will be removed, flowing away on the day of God’s wrath.
The increase of his house shall depart; His goodsshall flow away in the day of his wrath.
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Job 27:14
If his children be multiplied, [it is] for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread. -
Job 27:19
The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he openeth his eyes, and he [is] not. -
Job 20:10
¶ His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods. -
Job 21:30
That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath. -
Deuteronomy 28:31
Thine ox [shall be] slain before thine eyes, and thou shalt not eat thereof: thine ass [shall be] violently taken away from before thy face, and shall not be restored to thee: thy sheep [shall be] given unto thine enemies, and thou shalt have none to rescue [them]. -
Revelation 18:17
For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, -
Matthew 16:26
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Job 20:28 KJV is part of Zophar the Naamathite's second speech, where he continues to assert that the wicked will inevitably face severe consequences and lose all their material possessions. This verse specifically highlights the fleeting nature of wealth acquired through unrighteous means, emphasizing its impermanence in the face of divine judgment.
Context
This verse is found within Zophar's impassioned argument against Job, who maintained his innocence despite his immense suffering. Zophar, like Job's other friends Eliphaz and Bildad, operates under the traditional wisdom theology of his day: that God directly rewards the righteous with prosperity and punishes the wicked with calamity. In this speech, Zophar paints a vivid picture of the wicked person's downfall, insisting that their temporary success will ultimately lead to utter ruin. His words, though containing elements of truth about God's justice, are misapplied to Job's situation, as Job's suffering was not a direct result of his sin.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word translated "flow away" (יֶהְלֹךְ, yeh'lokh, from the root הָלַךְ, halakh, 'to go' or 'to walk') here carries the strong sense of going away, departing, or being swept away, often implying complete disappearance or dissipation. Coupled with "increase" (יְבוּל, yevul, meaning 'produce' or 'yield') and "goods" (חֵילוֹ, kheilo, meaning 'strength' or 'wealth'), it paints a picture of total loss of accumulated prosperity. The phrase "in the day of his wrath" (בְּיוֹם אַפּוֹ, b'yom appo) signifies God's intense anger, where appo literally refers to the 'nose' or 'nostril', used metaphorically for intense fury or divine displeasure.
Practical Application
While Zophar's application to Job was flawed and did not account for righteous suffering, the underlying principle that ill-gotten gains are fleeting and that God will ultimately judge injustice remains a biblical truth. This verse serves as a reminder not to envy the temporary success of the wicked (as seen in Psalm 73:3) or to build one's life on transient material possessions. Instead, it encourages believers to pursue righteousness and trust in God's perfect timing for justice. True security is found not in accumulated wealth, but in a right relationship with God, as the ultimate treasures are laid up in heaven, beyond the reach of earthly decay or divine wrath.