Job 20:7

KJV

[Yet] he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where [is] he?

KJV (with Strong's)

Yet he shall perish {H6} for ever {H5331} like his own dung {H1561}: they which have seen {H7200} him shall say {H559}, Where {H335} is he?

Complete Jewish Bible

but he will vanish completely, like his own dung -those who used to see him will ask, 'Where is he?'

Berean Standard Bible

he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who had seen him will ask, ‘Where is he?’

American Standard Version

Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: They that have seen him shall say, Where is he?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 20:7 encapsulates Zophar the Naamathite's unwavering conviction regarding the swift and ignominious demise of the wicked. In this climactic statement from his second speech, Zophar asserts that despite any temporary ascent or perceived prosperity, the unrighteous are destined for utter destruction and complete disappearance, their memory and influence vanishing as contemptibly as refuse. This verse serves as a stark declaration of the inevitable divine judgment that, in Zophar's rigid theology, awaits all who oppose God, leaving no trace or legacy behind.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 20:7 is a powerful declaration embedded within Zophar's second and final speech, which spans [Job 20](/job/20 "Job 20 - Zophar's Second Speech"). As one of Job's three friends, Zophar is responding to Job's impassioned laments and his persistent claims of innocence amidst profound suffering. Unlike Job, who grapples with the inexplicable mystery of his affliction, Zophar adheres to a simplistic, retributive theology: the righteous are blessed, and the wicked inevitably suffer. This verse functions as a climactic pronouncement of his belief in the immediate and total downfall of the wicked, directly challenging Job's experience of righteous suffering. It follows Zophar's vivid descriptions of the wicked's fleeting success and precedes further imagery of their inescapable ruin, emphasizing the transient nature of their power and wealth. The verse's harsh imagery reinforces Zophar's unyielding stance against Job's perceived defiance of traditional wisdom.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, prosperity, numerous offspring, and a long life were widely regarded as clear indicators of divine blessing and righteousness, while suffering, barrenness, and premature death were frequently interpreted as signs of divine displeasure and hidden sin. This prevailing cultural assumption forms the bedrock of Zophar's argument against Job. Furthermore, the concept of a lasting name, an enduring legacy, and a good reputation were paramount in these societies; to "perish forever" and have one's memory erased was considered the ultimate disgrace and a fate worse than death. The imagery of "dung" (or "refuse") would have been particularly offensive and potent, signifying the lowest form of waste, utterly worthless and deserving only of disposal. This underscores the profound contempt and complete obliteration of the wicked in Zophar's view, a fate reserved for the most despised and forgotten.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes prevalent in the book of Job and broader wisdom literature. It highlights **the transience of wicked prosperity**, asserting that any success achieved by the unrighteous is fleeting and ultimately baseless, as echoed in [Psalm 73:18-19](/psalms/73-18-19 "Psalm 73:18-19 - The Slippery Path of the Wicked"). It also underscores the theme of **utter annihilation and disgrace**, portraying a complete loss of legacy, honor, and memory, as their existence becomes as discarded as refuse. Underlying Zophar's words, though misapplied to Job, is the theological principle of **divine judgment and justice**, where God's righteousness will ultimately prevail, and the wicked will not escape retribution. This concept is explored more broadly in [Psalm 37](/psalms/37 "Psalm 37 - The Destiny of the Righteous and Wicked"), which contrasts the enduring inheritance of the righteous with the swift disappearance of the wicked, and also in [Proverbs 11:4](/proverbs/11-4 "Proverbs 11:4 - Riches Do Not Profit in the Day of Wrath").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Perish (Hebrew, _ʾābad_):** This verb (H6) signifies "to wander away," "to lose oneself," and by strong implication, "to perish" or "to be destroyed." When coupled with "forever," it emphasizes a permanent and complete disappearance, suggesting not necessarily eternal conscious torment in a modern theological sense, but rather a total erasure from memory, influence, and effective existence. It speaks to the utter nullification of their being and impact in the world.
* **Forever (Hebrew, _netsach_):** This noun (H5331), often used adverbially, means "continually," "to the most distant point of view," or "perpetually." In this context, it intensifies the preceding verb "perish," indicating an absolute and irreversible cessation. The wicked's vanishing is not temporary or cyclical but final, signifying a complete and permanent end to their presence and influence.
* **Dung (Hebrew, _gêlel_):** This noun (H1561) is a strong and offensive term, referring specifically to excrement or refuse, often in the plural (as in the KJV's "dung"). The comparison to "his own dung" is a vivid and visceral metaphor implying that the wicked person's end is not just final, but also utterly contemptible, disgusting, and worthy only of being cast away and forgotten. It underscores the profound disgrace and worthlessness of their ultimate fate, devoid of any honor or lasting value.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Yet he shall perish for ever":** This clause declares the absolute and permanent end of the wicked individual. The verb "perish" (Hebrew _ʾābad_) denotes complete destruction and disappearance, while "for ever" (Hebrew _netsach_) emphasizes the finality and irrevocability of this fate. It suggests that their existence, influence, and memory will be entirely erased, leaving no enduring mark upon the earth.
* **"like his own dung":** This is a powerful and intentionally offensive simile. The comparison to "dung" (Hebrew _gêlel_) highlights the utter worthlessness, defilement, and contemptibility of the wicked person's ultimate state. Just as excrement is discarded, forgotten, and treated with disgust, so too will the wicked be treated with disdain and consigned to oblivion, stripped of all honor, legacy, and dignity.
* **"they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?":** This rhetorical question underscores the complete absence and lack of a lasting trace. It implies that the wicked person, despite any previous prominence or power, will vanish so completely that even those who knew them will be left searching in vain, unable to find any evidence of their former existence or influence. It emphasizes the total obliteration of their presence and memory, reinforcing the theme of their utter insignificance in the long run.

#### Literary Devices
Job 20:7 employs several potent literary devices to convey Zophar's harsh and condemnatory message. The most prominent is **Simile**, as the wicked person's fate is explicitly compared to "his own dung." This comparison is not merely descriptive but highly pejorative and visceral, designed to evoke disgust and utter contempt, emphasizing the ignominious and worthless end of the unrighteous. **Hyperbole** is also present in the phrase "perish for ever," intensifying the sense of complete and irreversible destruction beyond mere death, suggesting an absolute erasure from memory and existence that is total and without recall. Finally, the verse concludes with a powerful **Rhetorical Question**, "Where is he?", which serves to highlight the absolute disappearance of the wicked. This question requires no answer, as its purpose is to emphasize the profound and undeniable absence, reinforcing the theme of utter annihilation and the futility of their temporary success.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
While Zophar's application of this principle to Job is flawed and ultimately condemned by God, the underlying theological truth of the wicked's ultimate downfall is a consistent theme throughout biblical wisdom literature. This verse speaks to God's ultimate justice, asserting that earthly prosperity or apparent impunity for the wicked is temporary and illusory. God's moral order ensures that those who live in defiance of Him will face a reckoning, and their influence, memory, and achievements will not endure. This serves as a strong warning against the allure of unrighteous gain and encourages trust in God's sovereign hand, even when justice seems delayed. It contrasts sharply with the enduring legacy and hope promised to the righteous, whose memory is blessed and whose path shines brighter and brighter.

* [Psalm 37:10](/psalms/37-10 "Psalm 37:10 - The Wicked Will Be No More")
* [Psalm 73:17-20](/psalms/73-17-20 "Psalm 73:17-20 - The End of the Wicked")
* [Proverbs 10:25](/proverbs/10-25 "Proverbs 10:25 - The Wicked's Overthrow")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 20:7, despite its origin in Zophar's misguided counsel, offers a profound truth for reflection: the ultimate fate of those who reject God's ways is one of futility and oblivion. In a world where the wicked often seem to prosper and justice appears delayed, this verse serves as a powerful reminder not to envy their temporary success or be disheartened by their apparent ease. Their achievements, built on unrighteousness, are as transient and worthless as "dung," destined to be cast away and forgotten. Our focus, therefore, should not be on fleeting worldly gains or recognition, but on building a life of righteousness and faithfulness to God, which yields an enduring legacy and eternal reward. Trusting in God's ultimate justice frees us from the need to see immediate retribution and allows us to focus on living a life that truly matters in His sight, knowing that true value and lasting memory are found only in Him. This perspective cultivates patience, perseverance, and a deep reliance on God's perfect timing and righteous judgment, encouraging us to invest in what truly lasts.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the imagery of "perishing like his own dung" challenge our modern understanding of success and legacy?**
* **In what ways might we be tempted to envy the temporary prosperity of those who disregard God, and how can this verse reorient our perspective?**
* **How does trusting in God's ultimate justice, even when it seems delayed, impact our daily walk and choices?**
* **What kind of "legacy" are we truly striving to build, and how does it align with God's eternal values?**

### FAQ
**Does "perish for ever" mean eternal damnation in hell?**

Answer: While the phrase "perish for ever" (Hebrew _ʾābad neṣaḥ_) certainly denotes a permanent and complete destruction, it primarily emphasizes the utter cessation of influence, memory, and earthly existence, rather than explicitly detailing a specific post-mortem state like eternal conscious torment as understood in later theological developments. In the context of Job, it speaks to the ignominious end of the wicked, their name and legacy being utterly erased, as if they never existed, and their memory becoming contemptible. The focus is on their complete disappearance from the world and from the minds of men, as well as their ultimate worthlessness in God's sight. While the Old Testament hints at an afterlife and divine judgment, the primary emphasis here is on the finality and disgrace of their earthly end and the complete lack of a lasting trace, as seen in [Psalm 9:5-6](/psalms/9-5-6 "Psalm 9:5-6 - The Perishing of the Wicked"). Other biblical texts provide more detail on the nature of divine judgment beyond this life, but in Job 20:7, the emphasis is on the finality and disgrace of their earthly end.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Job 20:7 speaks of the perishing of the wicked from Zophar's limited and often misapplied perspective, it ultimately points to the comprehensive and perfect justice revealed in Jesus Christ. The temporary triumph and ultimate demise of the wicked, as described by Zophar, foreshadows Christ's decisive victory over all sin, evil, and death. Unlike the fleeting power of the unrighteous, Christ's kingdom is eternal, and His triumph ensures that all that opposes God will ultimately "perish" and be brought to nothing. The ignominious end of the wicked finds its ultimate contrast in the glorious and eternal life offered through Christ's atoning sacrifice and resurrection. Those who are "in Christ" do not perish but receive eternal life ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God's Love and Eternal Life")), a lasting inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading ([1 Peter 1:4](/1_peter/1-4 "1 Peter 1:4 - An Incorruptible Inheritance")), and a name that will never be blotted out from the Book of Life ([Revelation 3:5](/revelation/3-5 "Revelation 3:5 - Names in the Book of Life")). Thus, while the wicked's memory is cast away like "dung," the righteous, through Christ, are eternally remembered and glorified, their lives bearing fruit that endures for eternity ([John 15:16](/john/15-16 "John 15:16 - Bearing Lasting Fruit")). Christ is the ultimate Judge who will bring every hidden thing to light ([Luke 12:2](/luke/12-2 "Luke 12:2 - Nothing Hidden Is Hidden Forever")) and ensure that true justice prevails, separating the wheat from the chaff ([Matthew 3:12](/matthew/3-12 "Matthew 3:12 - The Winnowing Fork")). His resurrection guarantees that death has lost its sting for believers ([1 Corinthians 15:55](/1_corinthians/15-55 "1 Corinthians 15:55 - O Death, Where Is Your Sting?")), transforming the "perishing" into an eternal dwelling with 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

2 Kings 9:37

And the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; [so] that they shall not say, This [is] Jezebel.

1 Kings 14:10

Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, [and] him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone.

Psalms 83:10

[Which] perished at Endor: they became [as] dung for the earth.

Job 14:10

But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where [is] he?

Job 7:10

He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.

Job 4:20

They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding [it].

Jeremiah 8:2

And they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried; they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth.