Job 21:18

KJV

They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.

KJV (with Strong's)

They are as stubble {H8401} before {H6440} the wind {H7307}, and as chaff {H4671} that the storm {H5492} carrieth away {H1589}.

Complete Jewish Bible

to make them like straw in the wind, like chaff carried off by a storm?

Berean Standard Bible

Are they like straw before the wind, like chaff swept away by a storm?

American Standard Version

That they are as stubble before the wind, And as chaff that the storm carrieth away?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 21:18, nestled within Job's profound and often challenging discourse, employs vivid agricultural metaphors to underscore the ultimate, though frequently delayed, instability and inevitable destruction awaiting the wicked. It serves as a powerful counterpoint to the simplistic retribution theology of his friends, asserting that despite their temporary prosperity and apparent security, the ungodly are fundamentally insubstantial and will ultimately be swept away by overwhelming divine judgment, much like worthless refuse scattered by a tempest.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a crucial component of Job's extended argument in [Job 21](/job/21 "Job 21 - Job's Argument on the Prosperity of the Wicked"), where he directly challenges the conventional wisdom of his three friends—Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. Their consistent theological premise is that suffering is a direct consequence of sin, implying Job's guilt. Job, however, observes a stark reality: the wicked often prosper, live long, and die peacefully, seemingly undisturbed by divine retribution (as highlighted in [Job 21:7-13](/job/21-7-13 "Job 21:7-13 - The Prosperity of the Wicked")). [Job 21:18](/job/21-18 "Job 21:18 - The Transience of the Wicked") follows this observation, shifting from the *apparent* security of the wicked to their *eventual* and certain vulnerability. It is part of Job's nuanced perspective that acknowledges the complexities of divine justice, which does not always align with human expectations or timelines.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The imagery of "stubble" and "chaff" is deeply embedded in the agricultural practices of the ancient Near East, particularly the process of grain harvesting and threshing. After cutting the grain, the remaining stalks ("stubble") were either left in the field or gathered. Threshing involved separating the valuable grain kernels from the lighter, worthless husks ("chaff") and straw, often by beating the harvested stalks on a threshing floor. This floor was typically an elevated, open area where the wind could naturally blow away the lighter chaff, leaving the heavier grain behind. This was a common, everyday sight, making the metaphor immediately comprehensible to Job's audience. "Wind" and "storm" were powerful, uncontrollable natural forces, frequently associated with divine action or judgment in the ancient world, reflecting the inherent vulnerability of human existence to the elements and, by extension, to God's sovereign power.
* **Key Themes:** [Job 21:18](/job/21-18 "Job 21:18 - The Transience of the Wicked") significantly contributes to several core themes within the book of Job. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates the **transience of wicked prosperity**, serving as a direct rebuttal to the simplistic retribution theology advocated by Job's friends. While the ungodly may enjoy temporary success, their foundation is ultimately insubstantial, akin to the worthless byproducts of the harvest. Secondly, the verse underscores the **ultimate vulnerability to divine judgment**. The "wind" and "storm" function as potent metaphors for the irresistible and overwhelming forces of God's justice, which will inevitably sweep away those who build their lives on unrighteousness, even if the timing is not immediately evident to human observers. This theme finds resonance with other biblical passages that employ similar imagery to describe the fate of the ungodly, such as the depiction of the [wicked being like chaff](/psalms/1-4 "Psalm 1:4 - The Ungodly are like Chaff") in [Psalm 1](/psalms/1 "Psalm 1 - The Two Ways").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Stubble (Hebrew, _teben'_):** H8401. This term refers to the refuse haum or stalks of grain, specifically the short stalks left in the field after harvesting or the broken straw from threshing. It is dry, light, and of little value, often burned or easily scattered. In biblical literature, _teben_ frequently symbolizes worthlessness, fragility, and that which is destined for destruction, particularly in the face of judgment.
* **Chaff (Hebrew, _môts'_):** H4671. This denotes the light, dry husks separated from grain during threshing. As the lightest part of the harvest, it is readily blown away by the wind, making it a potent symbol of insubstantiality, emptiness, and the ungodly who lack spiritual weight or foundation.
* **Storm (Hebrew, _çûwphâh'_):** H5492. Unlike a gentle breeze, a _çûwphâh_ signifies a hurricane or violent, destructive tempest. It implies an overwhelming, irresistible force, often used metaphorically for divine wrath or catastrophic judgment that sweeps away all in its path.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"They are as stubble before the wind":** This initial clause introduces the first agricultural metaphor, directly likening the wicked ("they") to "stubble." Just as stubble is dry, light, and easily displaced by even a moderate wind, so too are the wicked, despite any outward display of strength or prosperity, inherently unstable and vulnerable to external forces. This imagery emphasizes their lack of intrinsic value and their inability to withstand even common pressures, foreshadowing a more intense, inevitable scattering.
* **"and as chaff that the storm carrieth away":** This second clause intensifies the imagery, progressing from "stubble" to "chaff" and from "wind" to "storm." Chaff is even lighter and more worthless than stubble, representing the absolute insubstantiality and emptiness of the wicked. The "storm" signifies a more powerful, overwhelming, and destructive force, often a metaphor for divine judgment or severe tribulation. The verb "carrieth away" (Hebrew _gânab'_ - H1589, implying a sudden or stealthy removal) underscores the complete and irreversible disappearance of the wicked, swept into oblivion, leaving no trace, much like chaff dispersed by a violent tempest.

#### Literary Devices
Job 21:18 is rich in **Imagery** and **Simile**, drawing heavily on familiar agricultural scenes to convey profound theological truths. The wicked are explicitly compared to "stubble" and "chaff," two worthless byproducts of the harvest, through the use of the comparative "as." This creates vivid mental pictures of fragility, insubstantiality, and ultimate disposability. The progression from "wind" to "storm" (a form of **Climax** or **Intensification**) amplifies the sense of an irresistible, overwhelming force, often symbolic of divine judgment, that will inevitably sweep away the ungodly. The verse employs **Parallelism**, with the two clauses mirroring each other in structure and reinforcing the same central idea: the ultimate instability and destruction of the wicked. The stark contrast between the apparent prosperity of the wicked (as described earlier in the chapter) and their ultimate fate as worthless refuse highlights the **Irony** of their temporary success.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 21:18 powerfully articulates the biblical truth regarding the ultimate instability and destruction of the wicked, even if their judgment is not immediate or visibly apparent to human eyes. It challenges the simplistic cause-and-effect theology that often assumes instant retribution for sin. Instead, Job posits that while the wicked may prosper for a time, their foundation is inherently flawed and lacking substance. This verse aligns with a broader biblical theme that contrasts the fleeting nature of ungodly success with the enduring stability of the righteous, whose lives are rooted in God. The imagery of being "carried away" by wind or storm consistently points to divine judgment and the complete removal of those who oppose God's ways, emphasizing the certainty of God's justice, even if its timing remains a mystery to humanity.
* [Psalm 1:4](/psalms/1-4 "Psalm 1:4 - The Ungodly are like Chaff")
* [Isaiah 17:13](/isaiah/17-13 "Isaiah 17:13 - Nations Scattered Like Chaff")
* [Matthew 3:12](/matthew/3-12 "Matthew 3:12 - The Winnowing Fork of Judgment")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 21:18 serves as a profound spiritual reminder that true security and lasting prosperity are not found in worldly achievements, material wealth, or the absence of immediate suffering, especially when these are disconnected from righteousness and God's will. The imagery of stubble and chaff, easily scattered by the wind and storm, powerfully illustrates the ultimate emptiness and vulnerability of a life built on anything other than God. It compels us to examine the foundations of our own lives: Are we building on the solid rock of Christ's teachings, or on the shifting sands of temporary success and self-reliance? This verse encourages patience and unwavering faith in God's ultimate justice, even when it seems delayed or when the wicked appear to flourish. It calls believers to prioritize eternal values over temporal gains, understanding that only what is rooted in God will endure the inevitable storms of life and the final judgment.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What foundations am I building my life upon, and how does this verse challenge my understanding of true security and lasting value?**
* **How does Job's observation about the wicked's prosperity in [Job 21](/job/21 "Job 21 - Job's Argument on the Prosperity of the Wicked") resonate with my own observations of the world, and how should I reconcile this apparent disparity with God's perfect justice?**
* **In what ways might I be tempted to measure success by fleeting worldly standards (like the wicked Job describes) rather than by enduring eternal ones?**

### FAQ
**Why does Job say the wicked prosper if they are eventually swept away?**

Answer: Job's central point throughout [Job 21](/job/21 "Job 21 - Job's Argument on the Prosperity of the Wicked") is to challenge the simplistic, rigid theology of his friends, who insisted that all suffering is immediate punishment for sin and all prosperity is an instant reward for righteousness. Job observes that, in reality, the wicked often *do* prosper, live long lives, and die peacefully (e.g., [Job 21:7-13](/job/21-7-13 "Job 21:7-13 - The Prosperity of the Wicked")). This verse ([Job 21:18](/job/21-18 "Job 21:18 - The Transience of the Wicked")) acknowledges their eventual, ultimate destruction, but it does not specify *when* this will occur. It highlights the *fragility* and *insubstantiality* of their prosperity, rather than its immediate cessation. Job's argument underscores the *complexity* of divine justice and the timing of retribution, which is often beyond human comprehension and immediate observation.

**Is "wind" and "storm" always a metaphor for divine judgment?**

Answer: While "wind" (Hebrew _rûwach_, which can also mean "spirit" or "breath") and "storm" (Hebrew _çûwphâh_ or _sa'ar_) are frequently used in the Old Testament as powerful metaphors for divine judgment or overwhelming trouble sent by God (e.g., [Psalm 1:4](/psalms/1-4 "Psalm 1:4 - The Ungodly are like Chaff"); [Isaiah 29:6](/isaiah/29-6 "Isaiah 29:6 - Judgment with Storm and Tempest")), they can also represent any powerful, uncontrollable force that brings about destruction or change. In the specific context of [Job 21:18](/job/21-18 "Job 21:18 - The Transience of the Wicked"), given the broader theological discussion of God's sovereignty and justice, it is highly probable that these forces are understood as instruments of God's ultimate will, even if not always immediate or direct acts of retribution. They represent the inevitable, irresistible forces that will expose the true emptiness of the wicked's foundation.

**How does this verse relate to the idea of God's justice?**

Answer: This verse speaks profoundly to the *certainty* of God's justice, even if its timing is not always aligned with human expectations or immediate observations. It assures that while the wicked may seem to escape accountability in the short term, their foundation is inherently unstable and without lasting substance. They will ultimately be swept away by forces beyond their control, which are often understood as expressions of divine judgment. It affirms that God's justice is not absent but operates on a different timeline and with a different, comprehensive scope than human justice, ultimately ensuring that the insubstantiality of unrighteousness will be revealed and irrevocably removed. It calls for patient trust in God's perfect timing and righteous governance.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 21:18, with its stark imagery of the wicked being swept away like worthless chaff, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodies God's justice and provides the only true, enduring foundation for humanity. While the Old Testament often speaks of the judgment of the wicked in terms of powerful natural forces, the New Testament reveals Jesus as the one appointed by the Father to execute this definitive judgment, separating the righteous from the unrighteous. John the Baptist powerfully prophesied that Jesus would come with a "winnowing fork in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire" ([Matthew 3:12](/matthew/3-12 "Matthew 3:12 - The Winnowing Fork of Judgment")). This vivid imagery directly echoes Job's words, identifying Christ as the one who will definitively separate the valuable from the worthless. Furthermore, Jesus Himself taught about the critical importance of building one's life on a solid foundation, contrasting the wise builder who builds on the rock with the foolish builder who builds on sand, whose house collapses catastrophically in the storm ([Matthew 7:24-27](/matthew/7-24-27 "Matthew 7:24-27 - The Wise and Foolish Builders")). Christ is that unshakeable rock ([1 Corinthians 10:4](/1_corinthians/10-4 "1 Corinthians 10:4 - Christ, the Spiritual Rock")), and those who are in Him are not like chaff, but are eternally secure, rooted and built up in His righteousness and resurrection power ([Colossians 2:7](/colossians/2-7 "Colossians 2:7 - Rooted in Christ")). Thus, Job's lament about the fleeting nature of the wicked's prosperity points forward to the definitive judgment enacted by Christ and the eternal, unshakable security offered to all who find their refuge and foundation in Him.

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

Psalms 1:4

¶ The ungodly [are] not so: but [are] like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

Psalms 35:5

Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase [them].

Job 13:25

Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?

Psalms 83:13

O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.

Isaiah 17:13

The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but [God] shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.

Isaiah 29:5

Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones [shall be] as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly.

Isaiah 40:24

Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.