Job 27:16

KJV

Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;

KJV (with Strong's)

Though he heap up {H6651} silver {H3701} as the dust {H6083}, and prepare {H3559} raiment {H4403} as the clay {H2563};

Complete Jewish Bible

Even if he piles up silver like dust and stores away clothing [in mounds] like clay -

Berean Standard Bible

Though he heaps up silver like dust and piles up a wardrobe like clay,

American Standard Version

Though he heap up silver as the dust, And prepare raiment as the clay;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 27:16 powerfully illustrates the immense, yet ultimately superficial, material prosperity that the wicked may accumulate. By likening their amassed silver to common dust and their prepared raiment to abundant clay, Job employs vivid imagery to underscore the sheer quantity of their ill-gotten gains. This verse functions as a critical rhetorical point within Job's final monologue, setting the stage for his subsequent exposition on the inevitable and dramatic downfall of such unrighteous wealth, thereby challenging simplistic notions of divine retribution and highlighting the transient nature of earthly riches.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 27 is an integral part of Job's final and most extended monologue, which spans chapters 27-31. Having endured the arguments of his three friends and the younger Elihu, Job now takes the floor to deliver his definitive defense and a profound statement on God's justice and the fate of the wicked. In this chapter, Job reasserts his integrity and unwavering faith, even as he acknowledges the perplexing reality of the wicked's temporary prosperity. Verses 11-23 specifically elaborate on the destiny of the unrighteous, detailing their initial abundance followed by a swift and often public ruin. Verse 16 serves as a striking visual of this initial, deceptive wealth, portraying the vastness of the wicked's possessions before Job pivots to describe their ultimate dispossession and judgment. This passage is crucial for Job's argument, as it refutes the simplistic retribution theology of his friends by demonstrating that the wicked can indeed flourish for a season, yet divine justice will ultimately prevail, though perhaps not in the immediate timeframe humans expect.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, wealth was fundamentally tied to tangible assets such as precious metals, fine garments, livestock, and land. Silver was a primary form of currency and a highly valued commodity, often accumulated in hoards as a store of wealth. Raiment, particularly numerous or luxurious garments, served as a significant indicator of social status, power, and affluence, as clothing was often labor-intensive to produce and represented considerable investment. The cultural significance of these items makes the comparisons in Job 27:16 particularly potent. "Dust" (`'âphâr`) was ubiquitous in the arid and semi-arid environments of the ancient Near East, symbolizing commonness, abundance, and ephemerality. "Clay" (`chômer`) was a readily available and inexpensive material, primarily used for construction (bricks) or pottery, also signifying abundance and low intrinsic value. The juxtaposition of highly valued silver and raiment with common dust and clay would have immediately conveyed a sense of overwhelming quantity, perhaps even hinting at the ultimate worthlessness or impermanence of such material possessions when contrasted with enduring spiritual realities.
* **Key Themes:** This verse significantly contributes to several profound themes woven throughout the book of Job. Firstly, it directly addresses the enduring theological problem of **the prosperity of the wicked**, a theme explored extensively in wisdom literature and prophetic books, as seen in [Psalm 73](/psalms/73 "Psalm 73 - The Prosperity of the Wicked") and [Jeremiah 12:1](/jeremiah/12-1 "Jeremiah 12:1 - Why do the wicked prosper?"). Job acknowledges the observable reality that the unrighteous can amass great material wealth, challenging the simplistic notion that prosperity is always a direct sign of divine blessing. Secondly, the verse emphasizes the **transience and ultimate futility of earthly riches** when detached from righteousness and viewed from an eternal perspective. By comparing valuable possessions to common elements like dust and clay, the verse subtly undermines their lasting value, foreshadowing their inevitable loss and dissolution, a concept echoed in [Proverbs 23:5](/proverbs/23-5 "Proverbs 23:5 - Riches take flight") and [Ecclesiastes 5:10-15](/ecclesiastes/5-10-15 "Ecclesiastes 5:10-15 - The Futility of Riches"). Lastly, Job 27:16 sets up a stark **contrast between outward appearance and inner reality**, and between temporary gain and ultimate divine judgment. The described abundance is merely a fleeting façade for the impending ruin detailed in the subsequent verses of [Job 27](/job/27 "Job 27 - Job's Final Monologue"), reinforcing Job's core argument that true security and enduring blessing are found not in material possessions but in an unwavering relationship with God.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Heap up (Hebrew, _tsâbar'_):** A primitive root meaning to aggregate, gather together, or lay up. This verb indicates a deliberate and continuous process of amassing, suggesting a methodical and perhaps even obsessive accumulation of wealth by the wicked. It implies a large, growing collection.
* **Silver (Hebrew, _keçeph'_):** Refers to the precious metal, often used as currency or for valuable objects. In the ancient world, silver was a primary indicator of wealth, economic power, and status. Its accumulation signified significant prosperity and influence.
* **Dust (Hebrew, _ʻâphâr'_):** Denotes fine, dry particles of earth. It commonly symbolizes abundance, commonness, and ephemerality. It can also be associated with something easily scattered, blown away, or returned to its base state. The comparison of silver to dust conveys an almost limitless quantity, but also hints at its potential worthlessness or ease of dispersal.
* **Clay (Hebrew, _chômer'_):** Refers to mire or potter's clay, a very common and inexpensive material used for construction or pottery. Like dust, it implies abundance and low intrinsic value. It can also suggest something easily molded, broken, or returned to its base form. The comparison of valuable raiment to clay underscores the vast quantity but also hints at its commonness or lack of enduring substance.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Though he heap up silver as the dust":** This clause vividly portrays the immense quantity of wealth accumulated by the wicked. The verb "heap up" suggests a deliberate and continuous process of amassing, indicating a vast and ever-growing store. The simile comparing silver—a precious and valuable commodity—to "dust"—a ubiquitous, common, and often worthless element—is striking. It conveys not just a large quantity, but an almost immeasurable amount, like the dust of the earth, highlighting the apparent boundless material abundance that can characterize the unrighteous.
* **"and prepare raiment as the clay;":** This parallel clause further elaborates on the wicked's material possessions, emphasizing their sheer volume. "Prepare" implies not merely acquiring but also arranging, making ready, or having a vast inventory of garments. "Raiment" refers to clothing, which in ancient cultures could be quite valuable and a significant marker of status. The comparison of this valuable commodity to "clay"—a common, cheap, and abundant building material—reinforces the idea of overwhelming quantity. It suggests that their clothing is so numerous it is likened to something as ubiquitous and inexpensive as raw earth, underscoring the sheer scale of their possessions, which are so vast they almost lose their individual value.

#### Literary Devices
Job 27:16 masterfully employs several potent literary devices to convey its message. The most prominent is **Simile**, evident in the direct comparisons "silver as the dust" and "raiment as the clay." These similes are highly effective, utilizing common, abundant, and often ephemeral elements (dust, clay) to describe valuable possessions (silver, raiment), thereby emphasizing the vast quantity of wealth accumulated by the wicked. This also subtly hints at the low intrinsic value or transient nature of such earthly riches when viewed from an eternal perspective. Furthermore, the verse utilizes **Hyperbole**, exaggerating the amount of wealth to an almost unbelievable degree (silver like dust, raiment like clay). This exaggeration serves to underscore the extreme material prosperity that the wicked can attain, making their subsequent downfall, detailed in the following verses, even more stark and impactful. The verse also functions as a form of **Anticipatory Irony**, as the description of immense, seemingly blessed abundance sets up a dramatic contrast with the wicked's ultimate loss and ruin, which Job describes immediately after this verse. The apparent blessing of material wealth is ironically a prelude to divine judgment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 27:16 contributes significantly to the broader biblical discourse on wealth, divine justice, and the nature of true prosperity. It candidly acknowledges a reality often observed in the world: that the unrighteous can indeed accumulate vast material riches. However, this observation is consistently tempered by the overarching biblical understanding that such wealth, when acquired or hoarded without righteousness, is ultimately fleeting and cannot provide true security, lasting joy, or divine favor. The verse serves as a powerful preface to Job's subsequent declaration of divine judgment, asserting that despite their temporary abundance, the wicked will ultimately lose their possessions and face God's just recompense. This aligns with a consistent prophetic and wisdom theme throughout Scripture that warns against placing ultimate trust in material goods, emphasizing that God's justice will prevail, often stripping the unrighteous of their ill-gotten gains. The true treasure, as the Scriptures consistently teach, lies not in what one accumulates on earth but in one's relationship with God and the spiritual riches that endure eternally.

* [Proverbs 13:22](/proverbs/13-22 "Proverbs 13:22 - The Sinner's Wealth Stored for the Righteous")
* [Luke 12:16-21](/luke/12-16-21 "Luke 12:16-21 - The Parable of the Rich Fool")
* [James 5:1-3](/james/5-1-3 "James 5:1-3 - Warning to the Rich")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 27:16 presents a profound challenge to our contemporary understanding and pursuit of wealth. In a world that frequently equates success, blessing, and happiness with material accumulation, this verse serves as a sobering reminder that vast riches can be amassed even by those who disregard God's ways and live without righteousness. The stark imagery of "silver as the dust" and "raiment as the clay" is a powerful metaphor, impressing upon us that earthly possessions, no matter how abundant or valuable they may seem, are ultimately common, transient, and utterly incapable of providing true security, lasting joy, or eternal satisfaction. This should prompt a deep self-examination: Where do we place our ultimate trust and hope? Are we diligently pursuing spiritual riches, cultivating a life of integrity, and seeking God's kingdom, or are we caught in the endless, often deceptive, cycle of accumulating material goods that are destined to perish, be lost, or fail to satisfy? The verse calls us to a radical reorientation of our values, shifting our focus from the perishable to the eternal, and from what we can gather on earth to what truly matters in God's eyes. It encourages us to live with an eternal perspective, understanding that true wealth is found not in the fleeting abundance of this world, but in a vibrant relationship with our Creator and in living a life of righteousness, generosity, and faith.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the imagery of "silver as dust" and "raiment as clay" challenge my perception of material wealth and its true, enduring value?**
* **In what ways might I be subtly prioritizing earthly accumulation and fleeting possessions over spiritual growth and eternal security?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate a heart that values God's kingdom and righteousness more than worldly possessions?**
* **How does the transient nature of the wicked's wealth, as described here, inform my understanding of divine justice and God's ultimate sovereignty in the world?**

### FAQ
**Does Job 27:16 imply that all wealthy people are wicked?**

Answer: No, Job 27:16 does not imply that all wealthy people are wicked. Rather, it is an observation within Job's argument concerning the *specific* case of the wicked, demonstrating that they *can* accumulate vast wealth, at least for a time. The Bible presents numerous examples of righteous individuals who were also wealthy, such as Abraham, who was "very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold" ([Genesis 13:2](/genesis/13-2 "Genesis 13:2 - Abraham's Great Wealth")), and King David. The verse's primary point is to challenge the simplistic theology espoused by Job's friends, who believed that prosperity was always a direct sign of righteousness and suffering always a direct consequence of sin. Job shows that the wicked can indeed prosper materially, but their prosperity is ultimately fleeting and does not guarantee God's favor or lasting security. The issue is not wealth itself, but the heart's attitude towards it, the means by which it is acquired, and how it is used.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Job 27:16 vividly describes the transient and ultimately empty accumulation of material wealth by the unrighteous, it powerfully foreshadows the radical redefinition of "riches" brought by Jesus Christ. The earthly treasures likened to common dust and abundant clay stand in stark contrast to the eternal, incorruptible treasures offered through Christ. Jesus consistently warned against the deceptive allure of material wealth, urging His followers to "lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal" ([Matthew 6:19-21](/matthew/6-19-21 "Matthew 6:19-21 - Lay Up Treasures in Heaven")). He taught that true life is not found in the abundance of possessions ([Luke 12:15](/luke/12-15 "Luke 12:15 - Life Not in Possessions")), but in seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness ([Matthew 6:33](/matthew/6-33 "Matthew 6:33 - Seek First the Kingdom")). Christ Himself, though "rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich" ([2 Corinthians 8:9](/2_corinthians/8-9 "2 Corinthians 8:9 - Christ's Poverty for Our Riches")). His ultimate sacrifice on the cross secured for believers an inheritance that is "imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you" ([1 Peter 1:4](/1_peter/1-4 "1 Peter 1:4 - An Imperishable Inheritance")), far surpassing any silver or raiment. Thus, Job's lament about the wicked's fleeting wealth ultimately points to the enduring, spiritual wealth found only in union with Christ, the true and eternal treasure.

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

Zechariah 9:3

And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.

Matthew 6:19

¶ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

Job 22:24

Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the [gold] of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.

Habakkuk 2:6

Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth [that which is] not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!

James 5:2

Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.

1 Kings 10:27

And the king made silver [to be] in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he [to be] as the sycomore trees that [are] in the vale, for abundance.