Job 20:17

He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.

He shall not see {H7200} the rivers {H6390}, the floods {H5104}, the brooks {H5158} of honey {H1706} and butter {H2529}.

He will not enjoy the rivers, the streams flowing with honey and cream.

He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream.

He shall not look upon the rivers, The flowing streams of honey and butter.

Commentary

Context

Job 20:17 is part of the third speech delivered by Zophar the Naamathite, one of Job's three friends. Throughout the book of Job, Zophar, like Eliphaz and Bildad, operates under the theological conviction that suffering is a direct result of sin. In this particular speech, Zophar aggressively asserts the swift and severe punishment that inevitably awaits the wicked. He paints a vivid picture of their brief prosperity leading to a sudden, complete downfall. This verse specifically describes what the wicked will ultimately be denied, contrasting their temporary gains with a future devoid of true blessing.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Transience of Wicked Prosperity: Zophar argues that the apparent success or wealth of the wicked is superficial and short-lived. They may accumulate riches, but they will not enjoy them in the long term. This theme is common among Job's friends, emphasizing that divine justice will always prevail, even if delayed.
  • Divine Retribution and Judgment: The verse serves as a declaration of the consequences for those who live wickedly. It highlights the belief that God will ultimately withhold His richest blessings from them, denying them true satisfaction and abundance.
  • Loss of True Blessing and Delight: The imagery used signifies a complete deprivation of the best things in life. The wicked will not experience the deep, lasting joys and provisions that are often associated with God's favor and a life lived righteously.

Symbolism and Imagery

The phrase "the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter" is a powerful and evocative metaphor for extreme abundance, luxury, and the choicest provisions. In the ancient Near East, "honey and butter" were highly prized commodities, symbolizing richness, delight, and the very best produce of the land. This imagery echoes the biblical description of the promised land as a "land flowing with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:8), which signified ultimate blessing, fertility, and prosperity from God. By stating the wicked "shall not see" these things, Zophar asserts they will be denied access to such ultimate and lasting blessing, regardless of their earthly acquisitions.

Practical Application

While Zophar's application of this principle to Job's suffering was flawed, the underlying truth about the ultimate fate of the wicked holds significant spiritual weight:

  • Do Not Envy the Wicked: This verse serves as a reminder not to be swayed or discouraged by the temporary prosperity of those who disregard God's ways. Their success is fleeting, and they will ultimately be cut off from true joy and lasting blessing, a sentiment echoed in Psalm 73.
  • God's Justice Prevails: It reaffirms the biblical principle that God is just. While the timing of divine judgment may not always align with human expectations, God's ultimate justice ensures that wickedness will not go unpunished and that true, lasting blessings are reserved for those who honor Him.
  • Seek Lasting Treasures: Believers are encouraged to focus on spiritual riches and eternal blessings rather than fleeting earthly gains. The true "honey and butter" are the spiritual provisions and eternal life found in Christ, which far surpass any temporary prosperity the world can offer.
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Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 32:13 (4 votes)

    He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock;

  • Deuteronomy 32:14 (4 votes)

    Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape.

  • Luke 16:24 (3 votes)

    And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

  • Job 29:6 (3 votes)

    When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;

  • Revelation 22:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

  • Jeremiah 17:6 (2 votes)

    For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, [in] a salt land and not inhabited.

  • Jeremiah 17:8 (2 votes)

    For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and [that] spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.