Job 20:29

KJV

This [is] the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.

KJV (with Strong's)

This is the portion {H2506} of a wicked {H7563} man {H120} from God {H430}, and the heritage {H5159} appointed {H561} unto him by God {H410}.

Complete Jewish Bible

This is God's reward for the wicked, the heritage God decrees for him."

Berean Standard Bible

This is the wicked man’s portion from God, the inheritance God has appointed him.”

American Standard Version

This is the portion of a wicked man from God, And the heritage appointed unto him by God.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Zophar the Naamathite's final and most forceful speech, serving as his definitive summary of the destiny awaiting the wicked. He asserts that the suffering and downfall of those who oppose God are not random occurrences but a divinely appointed "portion" and "heritage," emphasizing his rigid belief that all earthly suffering is a direct, immediate, and visible consequence of sin. This verse encapsulates the core of the friends' flawed theological framework, which struggles to reconcile Job's righteous suffering with their simplistic view of divine justice.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as the powerful, concluding statement of Zophar's second and final speech in the book of Job, found in [Job 20](/job/20 "Job Chapter 20 - Zophar's Second Speech"). Throughout this chapter, Zophar passionately describes the fleeting prosperity and inevitable, catastrophic downfall of the wicked. He paints vivid pictures of their wealth vanishing, their children suffering, and their lives ending in terror, all as a direct result of God's swift and visible judgment. Zophar's discourse is a direct response to Job's earlier lamentations and assertions of innocence, particularly Job's questioning of why the wicked often prosper (e.g., [Job 21](/job/21 "Job Chapter 21 - Job's Response to Zophar")). For Zophar, [Job's immense suffering](/job/1-13 "Job 1:13 - The Calamities Begin") is irrefutable proof of his hidden wickedness, and this concluding verse solidifies his unyielding conviction that God's justice operates on a clear, cause-and-effect principle: sin leads directly to suffering.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Job is set in the land of Uz, likely in the patriarchal period, though its exact dating is debated. The cultural backdrop reflects ancient Near Eastern wisdom traditions, which often explored themes of justice, suffering, and the nature of God. In many ancient cultures, prosperity was seen as a sign of divine favor, and suffering as a sign of divine displeasure or punishment for sin. This perspective is strongly held by Job's friends, including Zophar, who operate within a conventional retribution theology. They believe that God's moral order is always immediately and visibly manifested in earthly circumstances. Their understanding of "heritage" (Hebrew: *nachalah*) would typically refer to a positive, lasting inheritance, often land or blessings. Zophar's use of it here, to describe a negative, divinely assigned fate, is a stark and ironic twist, emphasizing the inescapable nature of the wicked's doom.
* **Key Themes:** Zophar's speech, culminating in [Job 20:29](/job/20-29 "Job 20:29 - The Portion of the Wicked"), highlights several key themes, though often through a limited and flawed lens. The most prominent theme is **Divine Retribution**, the belief that God actively punishes the wicked, meting out their "portion" and "heritage" of suffering and destruction. This is intrinsically linked to their understanding of **God's Justice**, which Zophar presents as a simplified, mechanistic system where all earthly suffering is a direct indicator of sin. The book of Job as a whole, particularly through [God's speeches from the whirlwind](/job/38-1 "Job 38:1 - God Answers Job"), profoundly challenges this simplistic view, revealing a more complex picture of God's sovereignty, wisdom, and justice that transcends human comprehension. The verse also underscores the **Consequences of Wickedness**, powerfully asserting that a life lived in opposition to God leads to an inescapable negative outcome, divinely ordained. Finally, even within Zophar's flawed theology, there is an acknowledgment of the **Sovereignty of God**, as he is depicted as the ultimate authority who "appoints" destinies, whether for good or ill.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Portion (Hebrew, _ḥēleq_):** This term refers to an allotted share, a part, or a division. It can be used positively (e.g., a share of land, a blessing) or negatively (a share of punishment). Here, Zophar uses it to describe the specific, divinely determined lot or destiny assigned to the wicked, emphasizing that it is not random but a fixed allocation from God. It suggests a precise, measured judgment rather than an arbitrary misfortune.
* **Heritage (Hebrew, _naḥălāh_):** While often used to denote an inheritance, particularly land given by God to Israel (e.g., [Numbers 26:53](/numbers/26-53 "Numbers 26:53 - Land Divided by Lot")), it signifies a lasting possession or an enduring legacy. Zophar's use of *naḥălāh* for the wicked's fate is ironic and potent. It implies that their punishment is not temporary or fleeting but a permanent, generational, and inescapable legacy, deeply woven into their very existence and passed down, much like a family inheritance. This emphasizes the certainty and perpetuity of their doom.
* **Appointed (Hebrew, _ʾāmar_):** This verb literally means "to say," "to command," or "to declare." In this context, it carries the weight of a divine decree or pronouncement. It signifies that the wicked man's heritage is not merely a consequence but an explicit, authoritative declaration and ordination by God. This reinforces the idea of divine agency and certainty in their judgment, leaving no room for doubt in Zophar's mind about the source and inevitability of their fate.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"This [is] the portion of a wicked man from God":** Zophar begins with a definitive declaration, "This is," pointing to the preceding descriptions of the wicked's downfall in [Job 20](/job/20 "Job Chapter 20 - Zophar's Second Speech"). He asserts that the fate he has described—their fleeting prosperity, their inevitable suffering, their ultimate destruction—is precisely the "portion" or allotted share specifically designated for a "wicked man." The crucial phrase "from God" immediately establishes the divine origin and authority behind this judgment, leaving no ambiguity about the source of their destiny. It is not accidental or circumstantial, but divinely ordained.
* **"and the heritage appointed unto him by God":** This second clause functions as a powerful parallel and intensification of the first. "Heritage" reinforces the idea of a lasting, inescapable destiny, not just a temporary allotment. The phrase "appointed unto him by God" further emphasizes the direct, intentional, and authoritative role of God in decreeing this fate. The repetition of "from God" and "by God" acts as a rhetorical device, hammering home Zophar's conviction that the wicked's suffering is a direct, personal, and certain decree from the Almighty, leaving no room for appeal or escape.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several impactful literary devices. **Parallelism** is evident in the two clauses, where "portion of a wicked man from God" is mirrored and amplified by "the heritage appointed unto him by God." This synonymous parallelism reinforces the central message of divine retribution. The use of **Irony** is profound in Zophar's application of "heritage" (*naḥălāh*). Traditionally, a heritage is a positive, lasting inheritance, often a blessing from God. Here, it is ironically twisted to describe a negative, divinely ordained curse, highlighting the severity and permanence of the wicked's punishment. The **Repetition** of "from God" and "by God" serves as a powerful **Emphasis**, underscoring the divine agency and certainty of the judgment. This rhetorical device leaves no doubt about Zophar's conviction that God is the direct and active orchestrator of the wicked's downfall, making their fate both inevitable and inescapable.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 20:29, while presenting a limited and ultimately challenged view of divine justice, serves as a stark reminder of the biblical truth that actions have consequences and that God is ultimately just. Zophar's rigid theology, which insists on immediate and visible retribution for sin, is a common human attempt to simplify God's complex sovereignty and the mystery of suffering. However, the verse's insistence on God as the source of "portion" and "heritage" for the wicked points to the broader theological theme of God's absolute authority over all destinies, even if His ways are not always immediately discernible or explicable to human understanding. The book of Job, in its entirety, challenges the simplistic notion that suffering always equates to sin, yet it never denies God's ultimate justice or His sovereign control over all things.

* [Psalm 11:5](/psalm/11-5 "Psalm 11:5 - God Hates the Wicked")
* [Proverbs 10:29](/proverbs/10-29 "Proverbs 10:29 - The Way of the Lord is a Stronghold")
* [Romans 2:5-6](/romans/2-5 "Romans 2:5-6 - God's Righteous Judgment")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Zophar's final words in Job 20:29, though misapplied to Job, compel us to reflect on the nature of divine justice and the consequences of our choices. While we must avoid the judgmental spirit of Job's friends, who wrongly attributed Job's suffering to hidden sin, we are reminded that there are indeed ultimate consequences for wickedness, and God's justice will prevail. This verse encourages us to consider the long-term outcomes of moral choices, not merely in terms of immediate earthly prosperity or suffering, but in light of God's eternal decrees. It challenges us to examine our own lives: are we living in alignment with God's will, or are we pursuing paths that, though seemingly prosperous now, lead to a divinely appointed "portion" of judgment? Our motivation for righteousness should not be solely fear of immediate retribution, but a deep reverence for a just and holy God who sees all and will ultimately set all things right. The verse underscores the importance of living a life of integrity, recognizing that true peace and an eternal "heritage" come from walking in obedience and faith, rather than from fleeting worldly gains.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Zophar's understanding of "portion" and "heritage" for the wicked challenge or affirm your own understanding of divine justice?**
* **In what ways might we, like Job's friends, be tempted to oversimplify the relationship between sin and suffering in our own lives or the lives of others?**
* **What does this verse, even within its flawed context, teach us about the ultimate sovereignty of God over human destiny?**
* **How can the concept of a divinely appointed "portion" for the wicked motivate us to pursue righteousness, not out of fear, but out of reverence for God's character?**

### FAQ
**Does Job 20:29 mean that all suffering is a direct punishment for sin?**

Answer: No, not necessarily. While Zophar and Job's other friends believed this, the book of Job as a whole challenges this simplistic view. Job's suffering is explicitly shown to be *not* a result of his sin, but part of a divine test of his faith and a demonstration of God's sovereign wisdom. The book teaches that while sin does have consequences, and God is indeed just, not all suffering is direct, immediate punishment for specific wrongdoing. [Jesus later clarifies this point in John 9:3](/john/9-3 "John 9:3 - Jesus on Suffering and Sin"), stating that a man was born blind "not that this man sinned, nor his parents, but that the works of God should be revealed in him." This verse, therefore, reflects Zophar's flawed theology, which the rest of the book refutes.

**What is the significance of the repetition of "from God" and "by God" in this verse?**

Answer: The repetition of "from God" and "by God" (or similar phrasing in other translations) is a powerful rhetorical device used by Zophar to emphasize the divine origin and absolute certainty of the wicked man's fate. He wants to leave no doubt that this "portion" and "heritage" is not accidental, nor is it merely a natural consequence of actions, but a direct, intentional, and inescapable decree from the Almighty. It underscores Zophar's conviction in God's active involvement in meting out judgment, reinforcing the idea that the wicked cannot escape their divinely appointed doom.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Job 20:29 speaks of the "portion" of the wicked, the New Testament reveals the ultimate "heritage" and "portion" that is found in Christ. The curse and judgment that Zophar describes as the inevitable lot of the wicked is precisely what Jesus absorbed and overcame on the cross. For those who are "in Christ," the portion of divine wrath is removed, and they receive an "inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven" ([1 Peter 1:4](/1_peter/1-4 "1 Peter 1:4 - An Imperishable Inheritance")). The "heritage appointed unto him by God" for the wicked becomes, for believers, the glorious and eternal inheritance of salvation and adoption as children of God ([Romans 8:17](/romans/8-17 "Romans 8:17 - Heirs with Christ")). Jesus, the righteous one, became sin for us, taking upon Himself the "portion" of judgment that was due to humanity, so that we might receive His righteousness and eternal life ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). Thus, Zophar's grim pronouncement, in its ultimate theological trajectory, points to the profound contrast between the just recompense for sin and the lavish grace and eternal inheritance secured for believers through the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")).

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 27:13

This [is] the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, [which] they shall receive of the Almighty.

Job 31:2

For what portion of God [is there] from above? and [what] inheritance of the Almighty from on high?

Job 31:3

[Is] not destruction to the wicked? and a strange [punishment] to the workers of iniquity?

Job 18:21

Surely such [are] the dwellings of the wicked, and this [is] the place [of him that] knoweth not God.

Matthew 24:51

And shall cut him asunder, and appoint [him] his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Lamentations 3:38

Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?

Psalms 11:5

The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.