Job 20:6

Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;

Though his excellency {H7863} mount up {H5927} to the heavens {H8064}, and his head {H7218} reach {H5060} unto the clouds {H5645};

His pride may mount to the heavens, his head may touch the clouds;

Though his arrogance reaches the heavens, and his head touches the clouds,

Though his height mount up to the heavens, And his head reach unto the clouds;

Context of Job 20:6

This verse is part of Zophar the Naamathite's second speech to Job, found in Job chapter 20. Zophar, like Job's other friends, adheres to the traditional retribution theology, which posits that suffering is a direct consequence of sin, and prosperity is a sign of righteousness. In this speech, Zophar vehemently argues against Job's claims of innocence, asserting that the wicked, no matter how successful they appear, will inevitably face swift and utter destruction. Verse 6 uses vivid, hyperbolic imagery to describe the peak of a wicked person's perceived triumph or arrogance, setting the stage for the dramatic downfall described in the very next verse (Job 20:7).

Key Themes and Messages

  • Fleeting Prosperity of the Wicked: The verse vividly portrays a wicked individual reaching the zenith of power, wealth, or influence, almost touching the heavens. However, this extreme elevation is presented as temporary and ultimately meaningless in the face of divine judgment.
  • Human Arrogance and Pride: The imagery of "mounting up to the heavens" and "head reach unto the clouds" strongly suggests immense pride and a sense of invincibility on the part of the wicked. This hubris often precedes a great fall, a theme echoed throughout biblical wisdom literature.
  • Divine Sovereignty and Justice: Despite the apparent success and lofty position of the wicked, Zophar's underlying message, consistent with the friends' perspective, is that God's justice will prevail. No human elevation, however great, can escape the divine hand of judgment. This idea is a stark contrast to Job's own experience of suffering despite righteousness, which challenges this simplistic view of justice.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "excellency" here is govho (גָּבְהוֹ), which literally means "his height" or "his loftiness." It conveys a sense of elevated status, pride, or arrogance. The phrase "mount up to the heavens" (יַעֲלֶה לַשָּׁמַיִם - ya'aleh lashamayim) and "his head reach unto the clouds" (וְרֹאשׁוֹ יַגִּיעַ עַד־עָב - vero'sho yaggi'a 'ad-'av) are powerful hyperboles. They emphasize the extreme, almost divine, level of perceived power or self-importance the wicked person attains, making their subsequent destruction all the more dramatic and illustrative of God's ultimate control.

Related Scriptures

The theme of the wicked's temporary prosperity followed by sudden destruction is a recurring motif in the Bible. For example, Psalm 37:35-36 describes seeing the wicked in great power, only to have them vanish. Similarly, Psalm 73:18-20 speaks of God setting the wicked in "slippery places" and their sudden ruin. This verse also foreshadows the biblical principle that pride goes before destruction.

Practical Application

Job 20:6 serves as a powerful reminder that earthly success, power, or fame, especially when achieved through wickedness or accompanied by pride, is ultimately fleeting. It encourages believers not to be dismayed when the unrighteous seem to prosper, or when they appear to reach unimaginable heights of influence. Instead, it calls for trust in God's perfect timing and His unwavering justice. True and lasting exaltation comes not from human achievement or arrogance, but from humility before God, as seen in passages like James 4:10: "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Obadiah 1:3

    The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation [is] high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?

  • Obadiah 1:4

    Though thou exalt [thyself] as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.

  • Isaiah 14:13

    For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

  • Isaiah 14:14

    I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

  • Genesis 11:4

    And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top [may reach] unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

  • Matthew 11:23

    And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

  • Amos 9:2

    Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down:

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