Job 27:21

KJV

The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth: and as a storm hurleth him out of his place.

KJV (with Strong's)

The east {H6921} wind carrieth him away {H5375}, and he departeth {H3212}: and as a storm hurleth {H8175} him out of his place {H4725}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The east wind carries him off, and he's gone; it sweeps him far from his place.

Berean Standard Bible

The east wind carries him away, and he is gone; it sweeps him out of his place.

American Standard Version

The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth; And it sweepeth him out of his place.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 27:21 serves as a climactic declaration within Job's final discourse, asserting the inescapable and violent divine judgment awaiting the wicked, despite any temporary earthly prosperity they may experience. Through the potent imagery of a destructive east wind and a raging storm, the verse vividly portrays God's sovereign power to forcibly remove the unrighteous from their positions of influence and security, underscoring the fleeting nature of their success and the absolute certainty of their ultimate downfall.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically positioned at the conclusion of Job's final, extended monologue (chapters 27-31), where he passionately reasserts his own integrity and articulates his refined understanding of divine justice, often in stark contrast to the simplistic, retributive theology espoused by his friends. Specifically, [Job 27](/job/27 "Job 27 - Job's Final Discourse on the Wicked") functions as Job's definitive counter-argument to the idea that all suffering is a direct, immediate consequence of sin. While acknowledging that the wicked may indeed prosper for a season, Job meticulously details the inevitable and often catastrophic end that awaits them. [Job 27:13-20](/job/27-13 "Job 27:13-20 - The Calamities of the Wicked") describes the woes that befall the children and possessions of the ungodly, building to the powerful and climactic imagery of their personal expulsion in verse 21. This verse, therefore, acts as a summary and a forceful conclusion to his comprehensive description of the wicked's ultimate, irreversible fate.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The imagery of the "east wind" (Hebrew: _qadim_) held profound significance in the ancient Near East, particularly in the arid regions of the Levant. Unlike the refreshing westerly breezes, the _qadim_ was a hot, dry, and often violent wind originating from the vast desert expanses to the east. It was notorious for its destructive capabilities, known to wither crops, bring desolation, and stir up blinding sandstorms. Throughout biblical literature, the east wind frequently serves as a powerful symbol of divine judgment, destruction, and desolation, as vividly depicted in passages like [Genesis 41:6](/genesis/41-6 "Genesis 41:6 - The East Wind in Pharaoh's Dream"), where it blights the grain; [Ezekiel 17:10](/ezekiel/17-10 "Ezekiel 17:10 - The East Wind withering the Vine"), where it withers a vine; and [Hosea 13:15](/hosea/13-15 "Hosea 13:15 - The East Wind as God's Judgment"), where it is an instrument of divine wrath. This deeply ingrained cultural understanding would have immediately conveyed to Job's original audience a sense of irresistible, devastating force, highlighting the severity, suddenness, and inevitability of the judgment described.
* **Key Themes:** Job 27:21 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes woven throughout the book of Job and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it emphatically underscores the theme of **Divine Judgment**, portraying God's active, decisive, and often violent role in bringing about the downfall of the wicked, not as a passive decline but as a forcefully orchestrated removal. Secondly, it highlights the **Transience of Wicked Prosperity**, emphasizing that any temporary success, influence, or perceived security enjoyed by the unrighteous is ultimately tenuous, fleeting, and subject to sudden, catastrophic collapse. Their "place" of power or comfort is inherently insecure. Thirdly, the verse showcases **God's Sovereignty over Nature**, depicting natural elements like wind and storm as direct instruments of God's will, executing His righteous judgment. This reinforces the profound idea that God is in absolute control of all creation and can utilize any means to achieve His purposes, a truth echoed in [Psalm 107:25](/psalms/107-25 "Psalm 107:25 - God Commands the Stormy Wind"), where God commands the stormy wind.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **East wind (Hebrew, _qâdîym'_):** (H6921) This term refers to the fore or front part; hence (by orientation) the East, often adverbially, eastward, or specifically the east wind. In biblical contexts, it consistently denotes a hot, dry, and often violent wind originating from the desert, symbolizing desolation, judgment, and destruction. Its presence here immediately evokes an image of swift, irresistible, and devastating power.
* **Carrieth him away (Hebrew, _nâsâʼ'_):** (H5375) A primitive root meaning "to lift," this word, in context, implies a forceful, involuntary removal. The wicked individual is not willingly departing but is being swept up and away by an external, superior power, much like debris caught in a gale. It suggests an utter lack of control over one's fate.
* **Hurleth (Hebrew, _sâʻar'_):** (H8175) A primitive root meaning "to storm"; by implication, to shiver, i.e., fear; to be (horribly) afraid, fear, hurl as a storm, be tempestuous, come like (take away as with) a whirlwind. This verb conveys an extremely violent, tumultuous, and unceremonious expulsion. It intensifies the imagery, portraying not just a carrying away but a brutal casting out, emphasizing the severity and lack of agency of the wicked person in their downfall.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth":** This initial clause introduces the primary, divinely appointed agent of judgment—the destructive "east wind." The phrase "carrieth him away" vividly depicts a forceful, involuntary removal, underscoring the wicked individual's utter helplessness against this overwhelming divine force. The subsequent "and he departeth" is not a voluntary leaving but the inevitable and forced consequence of being swept away, a violent expulsion from their established position, influence, or even life itself.
* **"and as a storm hurleth him out of his place":** This second clause dramatically intensifies the imagery and confirms the nature of the expulsion. The "storm" (סוּפָה, _sûpâ_, implied by the verb _sâʻar_) amplifies the destructive power, while "hurleth him out" emphasizes the violent, unceremonious, and brutal casting away. The critical phrase "out of his place" signifies a complete and utter loss of security, status, influence, possessions, and all that the wicked person held dear. It implies a total displacement and ruin, leaving no trace of their former standing or perceived stability.

#### Literary Devices
Job 27:21 employs powerful **Imagery** to convey its message, painting a vivid and terrifying picture of a destructive natural force. The **Metaphor** and **Simile** are central to the verse, as the inevitable fate of the wicked is likened to being swept away by an "east wind" and "hurled" by a "storm." These natural phenomena serve as potent symbols of irresistible divine judgment, illustrating its overwhelming power, suddenness, and inevitability. The verse also utilizes a form of **Synthetic Parallelism**, where the second clause ("and as a storm hurleth him out of his place") builds upon and intensifies the idea presented in the first clause ("The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth"). Both clauses convey the same core idea of forceful, violent expulsion but through slightly different, yet complementary, destructive natural agents, reinforcing the absolute certainty and violence of the judgment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 27:21 offers a profound theological statement on the certainty of divine justice, even when its manifestation appears delayed or unseen in the temporal realm. It serves as a powerful refutation of the simplistic notion that prosperity is always a direct sign of righteousness and suffering a direct sign of sin, while simultaneously affirming that God's moral order will ultimately prevail. The verse underscores God's absolute sovereignty over creation, demonstrating His ability to use even the most powerful and destructive natural forces as direct instruments of His righteous judgment. It stands as a stark warning to the unrighteous that their temporary gains and perceived security are inherently fleeting, subject to a sudden, violent, and irreversible divine reckoning. For the righteous who may be enduring suffering or witnessing the apparent triumph of evil, it offers a comforting assurance that God sees, God acts, and He will ultimately set all things right, providing vindication and justice in His perfect timing.

* [Psalm 37:35-36](/psalms/37-35-36 "The End of the Wicked")
* [Proverbs 10:25](/proverbs/10-25 "The Storm and the Wicked")
* [Matthew 7:26-27](/matthew/7-26-27 "The Foolish Builder")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 27:21 serves as a timeless and sobering reminder of the ultimate accountability of all humanity before a just and sovereign God. In a world where injustice often seems to flourish and the wicked appear to prosper, this verse offers a crucial, eternal perspective: temporal success, influence, or security is never the final measure of a life. It challenges us to look beyond immediate circumstances and to place our unwavering trust in God's perfect timing and His unassailable righteousness. For those who may feel disheartened or even despairing by the apparent triumph of evil, it provides profound comfort and assurance that God's judgment, though it may tarry, is absolutely certain and decisively executed. Conversely, for those who might be tempted to pursue unrighteous gain, compromise their integrity, or live without regard for God's laws, it stands as a solemn warning that a life built on injustice, deceit, or self-serving ambition will ultimately be swept away, leaving them utterly displaced and without a secure "place" in the eternal order. Our true security, lasting prosperity, and eternal "place" are found only in aligning our lives with God's will, trusting in His immutable character, and building our foundations on the rock of His truth.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the vivid imagery of the "east wind" and "storm" challenge or confirm your current understanding of divine judgment and its nature?**
* **In what ways might we be subtly tempted to envy or admire the temporary prosperity of the wicked, and how does this verse powerfully reorient our perspective on true and lasting security?**
* **What "place" (e.g., security, status, influence, financial stability) are you currently building your life upon, and how does the message of Job 27:21 prompt you to critically evaluate its ultimate foundation?**
* **How can the profound truth of God's certain judgment both comfort the afflicted and serve as a necessary warning to the unrighteous within your own personal context and the broader community?**

### FAQ
**Does this verse imply that all suffering is a direct result of sin, as Job's friends argued?**

Answer: No, quite the opposite. While [Job 27:21](/job/27-21 "Job 27:21 - The East Wind and the Wicked") powerfully describes the certain judgment of the wicked, the broader narrative and theological thrust of the book of Job explicitly refute the simplistic, retributive theology of Job's friends. They insisted that all suffering is a direct consequence of sin, a view the book disproves through Job's own experience as a righteous man who suffered immensely without having sinned to deserve it. This verse is part of Job's own understanding that while the righteous may suffer, the wicked will ultimately face a certain and severe divine judgment—often sudden and complete—thereby affirming God's justice in the long run, even if the immediate connection between sin and suffering is not always clear for individuals. The book's primary message is that God's ways are deeper than human comprehension, and suffering is not always punitive, but His ultimate justice is assured.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While [Job 27:21](/job/27-21 "Job 27:21 - The East Wind and the Wicked") speaks of the swift and violent judgment awaiting the wicked, its ultimate fulfillment and deeper meaning are found profoundly in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus, as the righteous judge appointed by God the Father, perfectly embodies the divine justice foreshadowed in this verse. He spoke extensively about the inevitable separation of the righteous and the wicked, using powerful parables like the [wheat and weeds](/matthew/13-24-30 "Matthew 13:24-30 - Parable of the Weeds"), where the weeds (the wicked) are gathered and burned, and the [sheep and goats](/matthew/25-31-46 "Matthew 25:31-46 - The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats"), where the unrighteous are ultimately "cast out" into eternal punishment, much like the wicked man "hurled out of his place" by the storm. Furthermore, Jesus' divine authority and power over nature, demonstrated when He miraculously [calmed the storm](/mark/4-35-41 "Mark 4:35-41 - Jesus Calms the Storm") with a mere word, reveal Him as the very Lord who commands the winds and the waves—the same forces Job describes as instruments of divine judgment. For those who are "in Christ" by faith, there is no fear of being swept away by judgment, for they are given a secure and eternal "place" in God's kingdom, a stark contrast to the displacement and ruin of the wicked. The ultimate "east wind" of God's righteous judgment fell upon Christ on the cross, as He bore the full wrath for humanity's sin, allowing all who believe in Him to escape the storm of God's wrath and find refuge and eternal security in His embrace, securing a "place" that can never be taken away, as promised in [John 14:2-3](/john/14-2-3 "John 14:2-3 - Jesus Prepares a Place").

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 11:6

Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: [this shall be] the portion of their cup.

Psalms 83:15

So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.

Psalms 58:9

Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in [his] wrath.

Job 7:10

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

Job 21:18

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

Hosea 13:15

Though he be fruitful among [his] brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the LORD shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels.

Matthew 7:27

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.