Job 22:16

KJV

Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:

KJV (with Strong's)

Which were cut down {H7059} out of time {H6256}, whose foundation {H3247} was overflown {H3332} with a flood {H5104}:

Complete Jewish Bible

the ones snatched away before their time, whose foundations a flood swept away?

Berean Standard Bible

They were snatched away before their time, and their foundations were swept away by a flood.

American Standard Version

Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundation was poured out as a stream,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 22:16, spoken by Eliphaz the Temanite, vividly describes the catastrophic end of the wicked, portraying them as individuals "cut down out of time" and whose "foundation was overflown with a flood." This verse serves as a key component of Eliphaz's argument that severe suffering is a direct consequence of grievous sin, implying that Job's calamities are proof of his unrighteousness. Through powerful imagery of premature demise and utter destruction, Eliphaz asserts the swift and decisive nature of divine judgment against those who pursue a path of wickedness, reinforcing the traditional retribution theology prevalent among Job's friends.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 22:16 is situated within the third and final speech of Eliphaz to Job, marking a significant escalation in his accusations. Throughout the Book of Job, the friends operate under a rigid framework of retribution theology, believing that God justly rewards the righteous with prosperity and punishes the wicked with suffering. In this chapter, Eliphaz moves beyond general principles to directly imply Job's guilt, urging him to repent (vv. 21-30). Verse 16 specifically refers to the "wicked men" mentioned in the preceding verse (v. 15), whose "old way" led to destruction. Eliphaz uses this imagery of sudden, overwhelming judgment as a veiled but pointed indictment of Job, suggesting that Job's current state is a direct result of his own unconfessed sins.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The cultural backdrop of the Book of Job is the ancient Near East, where wisdom literature often explored the themes of justice, suffering, and the nature of God's governance. The prevailing theological understanding, particularly among Job's friends, was a strict form of retribution theology: righteousness leads to blessing, and wickedness leads to curse. The imagery of a "flood" as an instrument of divine judgment would have resonated deeply within a culture familiar with the account of the Great Flood in [Genesis 6-9](/genesis/6 "Genesis 6-9 - The Account of the Great Flood"), which depicted a universal judgment against a wicked generation. The concept of a "foundation" being swept away speaks to the ultimate instability and insecurity of a life not built on righteous principles, a common metaphor for one's life or legacy.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within the Book of Job, particularly from the perspective of Eliphaz and his friends. It underscores the theme of **divine judgment** as swift, decisive, and catastrophic, especially for the wicked. It highlights the **consequences of sin**, presenting suffering and destruction as the inevitable outcome of unrighteous living, a central tenet of their retribution theology. Furthermore, it emphasizes the **brevity and ultimate futility of the wicked's prosperity**, asserting that while they may appear to flourish for a time, their end is always sudden and ruinous. This perspective is echoed in other wisdom texts, such as the reflections on the "slippery places" of the wicked in [Psalm 73](/psalms/73 "Psalm 73 - The Prosperity of the Wicked") and the contrast between the wicked and the righteous in [Proverbs 10](/proverbs/10 "Proverbs 10 - Contrasting the Righteous and the Wicked").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **cut down (Hebrew, _qummeṭu'_):** This verb, derived from the root קמט (qamat), means "to shrivel," "to diminish," or "to be withered." In this context, it suggests a premature and unnatural end, as if life itself has been suddenly and violently shriveled or cut short before its natural course. It conveys a sense of being made insignificant or destroyed before one's appointed time, emphasizing the abruptness and finality of their demise.
* **overflown (Hebrew, _yuṣṣaq'_):** From the root יצק (yatsaq), meaning "to pour out," "to melt," or "to cast." When used with "flood," it paints a picture of being utterly inundated, dissolved, or swept away by an overwhelming force. It implies a complete and irreversible submersion, leaving no trace behind, signifying the total annihilation of their foundation or existence.
* **flood (Hebrew, _sheṭeph'_):** This noun refers to a "torrent," "deluge," "rushing stream," or "overflowing." It denotes an irresistible, overwhelming force of water that sweeps everything before it. In biblical imagery, a *sheṭeph* often symbolizes divine judgment, an unstoppable force that brings about total destruction and purification.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Which were cut down out of time":** This clause vividly portrays the sudden and premature end of the wicked. The phrase "out of time" (לֹא־עֵת, *lo-ʿet*) emphasizes that their destruction was not a natural or expected end but an abrupt, divinely orchestrated intervention that shortened their lifespan. It suggests that these individuals did not live out their natural course but were violently removed from the earth, highlighting the unexpected and decisive nature of divine judgment.
* **"whose foundation was overflown with a flood":** This powerful metaphor depicts the complete and irreversible ruin of the wicked. The "foundation" represents the very basis of their lives, their security, prosperity, or even their lineage. The imagery of it being "overflown with a flood" signifies that their entire existence, no matter how seemingly stable or prosperous, was utterly dissolved and swept away by an overwhelming, irresistible force, leaving nothing behind. This illustrates the futility of building a life on unrighteousness, as it cannot withstand the deluge of divine reckoning.

#### Literary Devices
Job 22:16 employs several potent **Literary Devices** to convey its message of swift and utter destruction. The most prominent is **Metaphor**, where the wicked's life or security is likened to a "foundation" that is "overflown with a flood." This transforms an abstract concept of ruin into a tangible, vivid image of a structure being completely washed away, signifying total collapse and dissolution. The phrase "cut down out of time" uses **Imagery** that evokes a sense of premature, unnatural termination, like a plant withered before its season. This contributes to the overall **Hyperbole**, as the language used to describe the destruction is extreme, emphasizing the severity and totality of the judgment. Furthermore, there is a strong **Allusion** to the biblical account of the Noahic Flood, a well-known narrative of universal divine judgment, which lends immense weight and familiarity to Eliphaz's argument about the overwhelming power of God's wrath.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
While Eliphaz's application of retribution theology to Job's specific suffering was ultimately flawed and rebuked by God (as seen in [Job 42:7](/job/42-7 "Job 42:7 - God Rebukes Job's Friends")), the verse nonetheless articulates a broader biblical truth about God's justice and the eventual consequences of persistent wickedness. The Bible consistently teaches that a life lived in rebellion against God's ways leads to destructive outcomes, and that divine judgment is a reality. This judgment is not always immediate or visible in this life, but it is certain. The imagery of a foundation being swept away underscores the futility of building one's life on anything other than God's righteous principles, as only a life rooted in Him can withstand the storms of life and the ultimate reckoning. This truth serves as a warning to those who choose evil and a comfort to those who suffer unjustly, knowing that God is ultimately sovereign and just.

* [Psalm 73:18](/psalms/73-18 "Psalm 73:18 - The Wicked on Slippery Places")
* [Proverbs 10:25](/proverbs/10-25 "Proverbs 10:25 - The Storm and the Wicked")
* [Matthew 7:26](/matthew/7-26 "Matthew 7:26-27 - The Foolish Builder")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Eliphaz's words in Job 22:16, though misapplied to Job, serve as a stark reminder of the universal principle that actions have consequences and that God is ultimately just. We are called to examine our own lives, not to judge others, but to ensure that our "foundation" is built on enduring truth. The imagery of being "cut down out of time" and "overflown with a flood" challenges any sense of false security we might derive from worldly success or fleeting pleasures. It compels us to consider the ultimate end of our paths: are we building on sand, susceptible to every storm, or on the unshakeable rock of God's wisdom and righteousness? This verse invites humility and a sober assessment of our choices, urging us to align our lives with divine principles, not out of fear of immediate retribution, but out of a desire for true and lasting stability that transcends temporal circumstances.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the imagery of being "cut down" and "overflown" challenge our perception of security and permanence in this life?**
* **In what ways might we, like Eliphaz, be tempted to misapply biblical truths about judgment to others' suffering?**
* **What "foundation" are you building your life upon, and how does it stand against the metaphor of a flood?**

### FAQ

**Was Eliphaz's theology entirely wrong?**

Answer: No, Eliphaz's theology was not entirely wrong in its general principles, as the Bible does indeed teach about divine judgment and the consequences of sin. However, his significant error lay in his rigid application of this retribution theology directly to Job's suffering. He presumed that Job's immense suffering must be a direct result of grievous, unconfessed sin, failing to account for other reasons for suffering, such as testing, refining, or simply living in a fallen world. God later rebukes Eliphaz and his friends for not speaking what was right about Him, in contrast to Job, as recorded in [Job 42:7](/job/42-7 "God Rebukes Job's Friends").

**Does "out of time" imply predestination or a shortened lifespan?**

Answer: The phrase "out of time" (לֹא־עֵת) in Job 22:16 implies a premature, divinely-intervened end to life, cut short before its natural course. It speaks to the suddenness, unexpectedness, and unnaturalness of the judgment meted out to the wicked due to their actions, rather than an arbitrary or predetermined lifespan in the sense of theological predestination. Their "time" was not fulfilled because of their wickedness, leading to an abrupt and violent demise.

**How does the "flood" imagery relate to other biblical floods?**

Answer: The imagery of a "flood" (שֶׁטֶף, *sheṭeph*) as a force of divine judgment in Job 22:16 strongly echoes the [Noahic Flood account in Genesis 6-9](/genesis/6 "Genesis 6-9 - The Account of the Great Flood"), which was a universal judgment against a wicked generation. This motif of an overwhelming deluge signifying God's wrath and complete destruction appears elsewhere in prophetic literature, such as [Isaiah 28:2](/isaiah/28-2 "Isaiah 28:2 - God's Overwhelming Flood of Judgment") where God's judgment is described as an overwhelming flood. This common biblical metaphor serves to convey the irresistible and all-encompassing nature of divine reckoning.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Job 22:16, from Eliphaz's limited perspective, speaks of the judgment against the wicked, its deeper Christ-centered fulfillment lies in how Jesus addresses the very issues of sin, judgment, and foundation. Jesus Himself is the ultimate and only secure "foundation" upon which humanity can build a life that withstands the "flood" of judgment ([1 Corinthians 3:11](/1_corinthians/3-11 "1 Corinthians 3:11 - Christ Our Foundation")). He taught that those who hear His words and put them into practice are like the wise builder who built his house on the rock, so that when the rains came and the floods rose, it stood firm ([Matthew 7:24-25](/matthew/7-24 "Matthew 7:24-25 - The Wise and Foolish Builders")). Conversely, those who hear His words and do not obey are like the foolish builder whose house, built on sand, collapses in ruin. Most profoundly, Christ Himself bore the judgment for sin, becoming the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), so that those who believe in Him do not face the "flood" of God's wrath but receive eternal life ([Romans 5:9](/romans/5-9 "Romans 5:9 - Justified by His Blood")). He is the one who ultimately brings true justice and establishes an eternal, unshakeable kingdom ([Hebrews 12:28](/hebrews/12-28 "Hebrews 12:28 - An Unshakeable Kingdom")), offering a foundation that no earthly flood can ever sweep away.

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 15:32

It shall be accomplished before his time, and his branch shall not be green.

Genesis 7:17

¶ And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.

Genesis 7:24

And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.

2 Peter 2:5

And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth [person], a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

Matthew 24:37

But as the days of Noe [were], so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Matthew 24:39

And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Genesis 7:11

¶ In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.