Job 11:20

Job 11:20 is part of Zophar the Naamathite's first discourse to Job, where he harshly rebukes Job and defends God's justice, arguing that Job's suffering must be due to hidden sin. In this verse, Zophar vividly describes the ultimate fate of the wicked, painting a bleak picture of their inevitable downfall and the futility of their expectations.

Context

Zophar is one of Job's three friends who come to comfort him in his distress. Unlike Eliphaz and Bildad, Zophar is more direct and less nuanced in his accusations, portraying God as a punitive judge who always punishes the wicked and rewards the righteous. He believes Job’s suffering is proof of his wickedness and urges Job to repent and confess his sins. This verse serves as a climactic statement in his argument, asserting that the wicked have no true hope or escape from divine retribution, contrasting with the prosperity he promises to the righteous in Job 11:17-19.

Key Themes

• Inevitable Judgment for the Wicked: Zophar emphasizes that those who persist in wickedness cannot avoid the consequences of their actions. Their "eyes shall fail," signifying their inability to find a way out or perceive any relief, leading to ultimate destruction.
• The Futility of False Hope: The core message of the verse is that the hope of the wicked is utterly baseless and will vanish completely, like life itself at the moment of death. It is a hope built on sand, destined to crumble.
• Divine Justice: Underlying Zophar's words is the strong conviction that God is just and will not allow evil to triumph indefinitely. While his application to Job was flawed, the principle of God's ultimate justice against wickedness is a recurring theme throughout biblical wisdom literature.

Linguistic Insights

• "Eyes of the wicked shall fail": The Hebrew word for "fail" is kalah (כלה), which means to be consumed, finished, or wasted away. It suggests a complete fading or weakening of their ability to see, understand, or find a way out. Their vision of escape or success will simply vanish.
• "They shall not escape": The Hebrew term manos (מנוס) refers to flight or refuge. Zophar asserts that there is no place for the wicked to flee, no refuge, and no way to avoid their deserved fate.
• "Their hope [shall be as] the giving up of the ghost": This powerful phrase translates the Hebrew mappach nephesh (מפח נפש), which literally means "the expiration of breath" or "the gasping of life." It paints a vivid picture of hope that vanishes completely, as life does at death, emphasizing its utter non-existence and finality. This contrasts sharply with the hope of the righteous, which is a steadfast expectation.

Related Scriptures

The concept of the wicked's ultimate downfall and the vanity of their hope is a consistent theme in Scripture:

• Psalm 1:6 declares, "For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish."
• Proverbs 11:7 states, "When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth." This echoes Zophar's sentiment precisely.
• In the New Testament, Romans 6:23 reminds us that "the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Practical Application

While Zophar's accusations against Job were misguided, the universal truth embedded in this verse remains profoundly relevant:

1. Examine Your Hope: This verse challenges us to consider the foundation of our hope. Is it built on fleeting worldly pursuits, or on the enduring promises of God? True, biblical hope is not wishful thinking but a confident expectation grounded in God's character and His finished work in Christ.
2. Consequences of Unrighteousness: It serves as a stark warning that a life lived apart from God, pursuing wickedness, ultimately leads to despair and destruction. There is no true escape or lasting peace outside of God's will.
3. God's Unwavering Justice: Despite the complexities of suffering in this life, this verse affirms the ultimate reality of divine justice. God will not be mocked; the way of the wicked will indeed perish, and their false hopes will dissolve. This should encourage those who seek righteousness and warn those who persist in sin.