Job 27:18

KJV

He buildeth his house as a moth, and as a booth [that] the keeper maketh.

KJV (with Strong's)

He buildeth {H1129} his house {H1004} as a moth {H6211}, and as a booth {H5521} that the keeper {H5341} maketh {H6213}.

Complete Jewish Bible

He builds his house weak as a spider's web, as flimsy as a watchman's shack.

Berean Standard Bible

The house he built is like a moth’s cocoon, like a hut set up by a watchman.

American Standard Version

He buildeth his house as the moth, And as a booth which the keeper maketh.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 27:18 profoundly illustrates the transient and ultimately futile nature of any security, wealth, or legacy built by the wicked. Through vivid similes of a moth's fragile dwelling and a temporary field shelter, the verse underscores Job's assertion that while the unrighteous may appear to prosper, their foundations are inherently unstable, offering no lasting protection against the inevitable judgment of God. This declaration serves as a counter-argument to his friends' simplistic theology, affirming divine sovereignty and the ultimate downfall of those who build their lives apart from righteousness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 27:18 is situated within Job's final, extended discourse (chapters 27-31), where he reasserts his innocence and grapples with the paradox of God's justice in the face of his suffering. Having exhausted the arguments with his three friends, Job now speaks with a renewed, albeit still struggling, conviction about God's ultimate sovereignty and the eventual fate of the wicked. In chapter 27, Job describes the ultimate downfall of the ungodly, despite their temporary prosperity. This particular verse serves as a powerful metaphor for the inherent instability of a life built on unrighteousness, contrasting it sharply with the enduring nature of true wisdom and justice, themes explored throughout the book of Job, especially in [Job 28](/job/28 "Job 28 - Where Wisdom Is Found") and [Job 29](/job/29 "Job 29 - Job's Past Prosperity"). Job's monologue here anticipates the divine intervention that will ultimately vindicate him, even as he articulates a truth about God's justice that his friends failed to apply correctly.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, a "house" (Hebrew: *bayit*) was more than just a physical dwelling; it represented security, lineage, legacy, and stability. To "build one's house" implied establishing a lasting dynasty or a secure future. The imagery of a "moth's house" or cocoon highlights extreme fragility. Moths were known pests that destroyed valuable garments and fabrics, and their cocoons or webs are delicate, easily brushed away. The "booth" (Hebrew: *sukka*) refers to a temporary, flimsy shelter, often constructed from branches or light materials, used by watchmen in vineyards or fields during harvest time to guard crops. These structures were never intended for permanent habitation and were abandoned once their short-term purpose was served. This cultural understanding emphasizes the stark contrast between the desired permanence of a "house" and the fleeting, vulnerable nature of the structures used in the simile, underscoring the precariousness of the wicked's perceived security. This concept of temporary shelter is also seen in the [Feast of Booths](/leviticus/23-42 "Leviticus 23:42 - Feast of Tabernacles"), reminding Israel of their wilderness wanderings.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within the book of Job and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it highlights **The Fragility of Ill-Gotten Gains and Worldly Security**. Job asserts that any prosperity, wealth, or perceived security gained through injustice or apart from God's blessing is fundamentally unstable and destined for collapse. It offers no lasting protection against divine judgment or the vicissitudes of life, much like the temporary dwellings mentioned. Secondly, it reinforces the theme of **Divine Judgment and Justice**. While Job struggles to understand the timing and method of God's justice in his own life, he never wavers from the conviction that God is ultimately just and that the wicked will not escape their deserved end. This verse serves as a declaration of that inevitable judgment, aligning with the biblical principle that the wicked are often set in [slippery places](/psalm/73-18 "Psalm 73:18 - The Wicked's Slippery Path") leading to destruction. Finally, the verse speaks to the **Transience of Human Endeavors Apart from God**. It underscores the vanity of human efforts to build lasting security or legacy without a divine foundation, contrasting the fleeting nature of worldly achievements with the enduring nature of righteousness and God's eternal purposes, a theme echoed in [Ecclesiastes 1](/ecclesiastes/1 "Ecclesiastes 1 - The Vanity of Life").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Moth (Hebrew, _ʿash_):** This word refers to a clothes moth, an insect notorious for consuming and destroying fabrics. In the context of "building his house as a moth," it evokes the image of a moth spinning a delicate cocoon or creating a web. Such a structure is inherently fragile, easily destroyed, and offers no true security or permanence. It suggests something that is both insubstantial and ultimately self-destructive, as the moth's "house" leads to its own transformation, but here it represents the decay of what is built by the wicked.
* **Booth (Hebrew, _sukka_):** A *sukka* is a temporary shelter, often made of branches, leaves, or light materials, typically erected for short-term purposes, such as a watchman's hut in a vineyard during harvest season, or for nomadic encampments. Its very nature is impermanent, exposed to the elements, and easily dismantled or abandoned. It signifies a lack of stability, permanence, and true protection, contrasting sharply with the concept of a solid, enduring "house" or home.
* **Keeper (Hebrew, _notser_):** The "keeper" is a watchman, usually guarding a vineyard or field from thieves or animals. The booth is built by the keeper, but it is only for the duration of the harvest or the temporary need for vigilance. The keeper himself is a transient figure in the field, and his dwelling reflects that transience. This reinforces the idea that the "house" of the wicked is merely a temporary, functional structure, not a permanent abode or legacy.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"He buildeth his house as a moth":** This clause introduces the first simile, comparing the wicked person's efforts to establish security or a legacy ("his house") to the fragile, easily destroyed dwelling of a moth. Just as a moth's cocoon or web offers no substantial protection and is easily swept away or consumed, so too are the achievements and perceived security of the wicked. Their foundation is inherently weak, susceptible to decay and destruction, and ultimately, self-undoing.
* **"and as a booth [that] the keeper maketh":** The second simile reinforces the theme of impermanence and vulnerability. The "booth" is a temporary, flimsy shelter erected by a "keeper" (a watchman) in a field. It is built for a specific, short-term purpose—to guard crops during harvest—and is then abandoned or collapses. This imagery emphasizes that the wicked's "house," their accumulation of wealth or power, is not a true, enduring home or legacy, but a provisional, insecure structure that offers no lasting refuge and is destined to be discarded or to fall apart.

#### Literary Devices
Job 27:18 is rich in **Imagery** and **Simile**. The verse employs two distinct **Similes** to powerfully convey its message: "as a moth" and "as a booth [that] the keeper maketh." These comparisons are explicit, using the conjunction "as" to draw a direct parallel between the wicked person's "house" (representing their security, wealth, or legacy) and these two examples of extreme fragility and impermanence. The **Imagery** of a delicate moth's dwelling, easily destroyed, and a flimsy, temporary field booth, abandoned after use, creates vivid mental pictures for the audience. This **Imagery** evokes a strong sense of vulnerability, transience, and ultimate futility. Furthermore, there is an implicit **Contrast** at play: the wicked strive to build something substantial and lasting ("his house"), but their efforts result in structures that are the antithesis of permanence, contrasting with the enduring nature of righteousness and divine truth. The choice of these specific images is a masterstroke of **Figurative Language**, effectively communicating the insubstantiality of a life built on unrighteousness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 27:18 stands as a profound theological statement on the nature of true security and the inevitable consequences of a life lived apart from God's righteous principles. It asserts that all human endeavors, no matter how grand or seemingly successful, are ultimately fleeting and vulnerable if they are not founded upon divine truth and justice. The "house" built by the wicked, though it may appear strong for a season, lacks an eternal foundation and is thus susceptible to collapse under the weight of divine judgment or the natural decay of all things temporal. This verse serves as a stark reminder that true and lasting security is not found in material accumulation or worldly power, but in a right relationship with God, who alone provides an unshakeable foundation and an enduring inheritance. It speaks to the biblical theme that God is the ultimate judge, and while He may permit the wicked to prosper for a time, their end is always one of dissolution and destruction.

* [Psalm 49:11-13](/psalm/49-11 "Psalm 49:11-13 - The Folly of Worldly Wealth")
* [Proverbs 10:25](/proverbs/10-25 "Proverbs 10:25 - The Steadfastness of the Righteous")
* [Psalm 73:18-20](/psalm/73-18 "Psalm 73:18-20 - The Wicked's Slippery Path")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 27:18 serves as a potent warning and a profound call to self-examination for every individual. It compels us to critically assess the very foundation upon which we are constructing our lives, our aspirations, and our sense of security. Are we, like the wicked described by Job, investing our energy, time, and resources into building "houses" that are as fragile as a moth's cocoon or as temporary as a field watchman's booth? This might manifest as pursuing fleeting material wealth, seeking fleeting social status, clinging to transient pleasures, or building a reputation based on superficial achievements, all of which offer no lasting stability or true refuge from the storms of life or the ultimate judgment of God. The verse challenges us to consider whether our pursuits are rooted in eternal values—righteousness, integrity, faith, and a deep relationship with God—or whether they are merely temporary shelters that will inevitably crumble. It urges us to shift our focus from the perishable to the permanent, from the temporal to the eternal, recognizing that true security and an enduring legacy are found only in aligning our lives with God's enduring purposes and His unshakeable Word.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "house" am I currently building in my life, and what is its true foundation?**
* **In what ways might I be prioritizing temporary worldly security over eternal spiritual security?**
* **How does the imagery of the "moth" and the "booth" challenge my perceptions of success and permanence?**
* **What practical steps can I take to ensure that my life is built on an enduring, rather than a fragile, foundation?**

### FAQ
**What does "He buildeth his house as a moth" mean?**

Answer: This vivid simile means that the wicked person's efforts to establish security, wealth, or a lasting legacy ("his house") are as fragile and easily destroyed as a moth's cocoon or web. Moths are known for destroying garments, and their structures are delicate and insubstantial. The comparison emphasizes that anything built on unrighteousness or apart from God's blessing is inherently unstable, offering no true protection or permanence, and is ultimately destined to decay or be swept away. It underscores the futility and vulnerability of worldly security when it lacks a divine foundation, much like the warning in [Matthew 6:19](/matthew/6-19 "Matthew 6:19 - Laying Up Treasures in Heaven") about treasures on earth.

**How does Job 27:18 relate to the overall message of the book of Job?**

Answer: Job 27:18 is a crucial part of Job's final discourse, where he defends his integrity and articulates his understanding of God's justice, even amidst his suffering. While his friends incorrectly applied the principle that suffering always indicates sin, Job here affirms the ultimate truth that the wicked will indeed face judgment and their prosperity is fleeting. This verse reinforces the book's broader themes: the mystery of suffering, the sovereignty of God, and the ultimate distinction between the transient nature of worldly security and the enduring nature of righteousness. It shows Job's unwavering faith in God's justice, even when he doesn't fully comprehend its timing or method, ultimately pointing to the truth that only God provides true and lasting security, as seen in [Job 42](/job/42 "Job 42 - Job's Restoration and Confession").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 27:18, with its stark imagery of the wicked building a fragile, temporary "house," finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who is the only true and eternal foundation upon which humanity can build an enduring life and legacy. The fleeting nature of the moth's dwelling and the keeper's booth stands in direct contrast to the unshakeable kingdom and eternal security offered in Christ. While the Old Testament highlights the instability of human efforts apart from God, the New Testament reveals Jesus as the solid rock upon whom we are called to build our lives. As Jesus Himself taught in the Sermon on the Mount, those who hear His words and put them into practice are like the wise builder who dug down deep and laid his foundation on the rock, so that when the floods came, the house stood firm ([Matthew 7:24-27](/matthew/7-24 "Matthew 7:24-27 - The Wise and Foolish Builders")). Conversely, those who build on sand, or on the flimsy structures of worldly pursuits, will see their "house" collapse. The apostle Paul further emphasizes this, declaring that no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ ([1 Corinthians 3:11](/1_corinthians/3-11 "1 Corinthians 3:11 - Christ the Only Foundation")). Therefore, the "house" that endures is not built on personal achievement, material wealth, or fleeting power, but on faith in the finished work of Christ, who is our eternal refuge, our secure dwelling, and the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, offering a kingdom that cannot be shaken ([Hebrews 12:28](/hebrews/12-28 "Hebrews 12:28 - A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken")).

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 8:14

Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust [shall be] a spider's web.

Job 8:15

He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.

Isaiah 1:8

And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.

Isaiah 51:8

For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.

Isaiah 38:12

Mine age is departed, and is removed from me as a shepherd's tent: I have cut off like a weaver my life: he will cut me off with pining sickness: from day [even] to night wilt thou make an end of me.

Lamentations 2:6

And he hath violently taken away his tabernacle, as [if it were of] a garden: he hath destroyed his places of the assembly: the LORD hath caused the solemn feasts and sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion, and hath despised in the indignation of his anger the king and the priest.