Job 24:18

¶ He [is] swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards.

He is swift {H7031} as the waters {H6440}{H4325}; their portion {H2513} is cursed {H7043} in the earth {H776}: he beholdeth {H6437} not the way {H1870} of the vineyards {H3754}.

"May they be scum on the surface of the water, may their share of land be cursed, may no one turn on the way of their vineyards,

They are but foam on the surface of the water; their portion of the land is cursed, so that no one turns toward their vineyards.

Swiftly theypass awayupon the face of the waters; Their portion is cursed in the earth: They turn not into the way of the vineyards.

Commentary

Job 24:18 is a poignant verse from Job's discourse, where he grapples with the perplexing reality of the wicked seemingly prospering while the righteous suffer. In this chapter, Job describes the ungodly and their actions, often questioning why God does not immediately intervene. This specific verse paints a vivid picture of their ultimate fate.

Context

In Job 24, Job continues his argument with his friends, expressing his frustration that God's justice often seems delayed or hidden. He details various acts of injustice committed by the wicked—the oppression of the poor, robbery, and violence—and laments that they appear to escape immediate consequences. Verse 18 shifts from describing their deeds to prophesying their end, contrasting their present apparent freedom with a swift and certain downfall. This passage reflects a common biblical theme of the temporary prosperity of the wicked versus their ultimate destruction.

Key Themes

  • Fleeting Nature of Wicked Prosperity: The phrase "swift as the waters" suggests that any success or stability the wicked possess is transient. Like a swift current, it carries them away quickly, not to a safe harbor, but to ruin. Their apparent triumph is deceptive and short-lived.
  • Certainty of Divine Judgment: "Their portion is cursed in the earth" declares a definitive judgment. Despite their temporary gains, their inheritance, their very lot in life, is ultimately under a divine curse. This highlights God's ultimate sovereignty and justice, even if it is not immediately visible to human eyes. It speaks to the inevitable destruction awaiting those who walk in iniquity.
  • Separation from True Blessing: "He beholdeth not the way of the vineyards" is highly symbolic. Vineyards often represent prosperity, peace, and the fruit of righteous labor in biblical literature. The wicked, by not "beholding" or walking in this way, are either oblivious to the path of true blessing or are actively cut off from it. They are removed from places of peace and fruitful living, indicating their spiritual barrenness and ultimate exclusion from God's favor.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase translated "swift as the waters" (קַל־מַיִם, qal-mayim) conveys a sense of being light or quick, like water that flows rapidly or is easily swept away. It underscores the instability and impermanence of the wicked's position. The term "beholdeth not" (לֹא־יִפְנֶה, lo-yifneh) implies a turning away from, an ignoring, or a blindness to the proper path, emphasizing their deliberate choice to stray from God's ways and the blessings associated with them.

Practical Application

Job 24:18 offers comfort and a warning. For those who feel disheartened by the apparent success of the ungodly, this verse assures them that their prosperity is fleeting and their end is cursed. It reinforces the truth that God is just, and while His timing may differ from ours, His ultimate judgment is certain. For all, it serves as a powerful reminder to choose the "way of the vineyards"—the path of righteousness, which leads to true and lasting blessing, rather than the temporary and ultimately cursed portion of the wicked. It encourages perseverance in faith, trusting that God's justice will prevail and that the way of the ungodly shall perish.

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Cross-References

  • Isaiah 23:10 (2 votes)

    Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: [there is] no more strength.

  • Psalms 69:22 (2 votes)

    ¶ Let their table become a snare before them: and [that which should have been] for [their] welfare, [let it become] a trap.

  • Job 22:16 (2 votes)

    Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:

  • Proverbs 3:33 (2 votes)

    The curse of the LORD [is] in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.

  • Malachi 2:2 (2 votes)

    If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay [it] to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay [it] to heart.

  • Psalms 58:7 (2 votes)

    Let them melt away as waters [which] run continually: [when] he bendeth [his bow to shoot] his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.

  • Job 9:26 (2 votes)

    They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle [that] hasteth to the prey.