Job 24:20

The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken as a tree.

The womb {H7358} shall forget {H7911} him; the worm {H7415} shall feed sweetly {H4988} on him; he shall be no more remembered {H2142}; and wickedness {H5766} shall be broken {H7665} as a tree {H6086}.

May the womb forget them, may worms find them sweet, may they no longer be remembered -thus may iniquity be snapped like a stick.

The womb forgets them; the worm feeds on them; they are remembered no more. So injustice is like a broken tree.

The womb shall forget him; The worm shall feed sweetly on him; He shall be no more remembered; And unrighteousness shall be broken as a tree.

Commentary

Job 24:20 delivers a stark and somber reflection on the ultimate fate of the wicked, emphasizing mortality, oblivion, and final destruction. This verse forms part of Job's challenging discourse to his friends, who rigidly assert that all suffering is a direct consequence of sin and that the wicked are always punished swiftly.

Context of Job 24:20

In Job chapter 24, Job continues to grapple with the perplexing reality that the wicked often seem to prosper and escape immediate earthly judgment. He describes various acts of injustice and oppression committed by those who appear to go unpunished (Job 24:1-12). However, in verses like 18-24, Job shifts, perhaps acknowledging that despite their apparent success, the wicked ultimately face a desolate end, or he is pointing out that their prosperity is fleeting and their judgment, though unseen by man, is sure. Verse 20 specifically highlights the ultimate physical decay and the erasure from human memory that awaits such individuals, culminating in the decisive judgment against their wickedness.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Mortality and Decay: The vivid imagery of "the worm shall feed sweetly on him" underscores the inescapable reality of physical death and decomposition for all, regardless of their earthly standing.
  • Oblivion and Forgetfulness: "The womb shall forget him; he shall be no more remembered" speaks to the ultimate loss of human legacy and memory. In ancient cultures, being remembered was crucial; thus, to be forgotten was a profound indignity and a sign of complete erasure from human affairs. This echoes sentiments found in Ecclesiastes 9:5.
  • Certainty of Judgment: The powerful metaphor "wickedness shall be broken as a tree" signifies a complete and irreversible destruction of the wicked and their schemes. Even if justice seems delayed, this phrase asserts that divine judgment will eventually come, decisively ending their influence and power. This resonates with the psalmist's observation in Psalm 37:10, "For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be."

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "womb" (rechem) here emphasizes a profound forgetting, even by those who bore them. The phrase "feed sweetly" (Hebrew: mathak, to be sweet or pleasant) used with "worm" (rimmah) is deeply ironic, highlighting the grotesque reality of decay that is "sweet" only to the worms. "Broken as a tree" uses the word shaver, meaning to break, shatter, or destroy, emphasizing the finality and decisiveness of the judgment.

Practical Application

Job 24:20 serves as a powerful reminder of several timeless truths. Firstly, it highlights the ultimate equality of all in death; physical existence is temporary, and all return to dust, as seen in Psalm 90:3. Secondly, it challenges us to consider what truly endures beyond our fleeting lives. Earthly achievements and even human memory can vanish. Finally, the verse offers a sober warning about the consequences of wickedness, assuring that divine justice, though sometimes delayed from a human perspective, will ultimately prevail. It encourages a focus on eternal values rather than temporary earthly prosperity or reputation.

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Cross-References

  • Proverbs 10:7 (6 votes)

    ¶ The memory of the just [is] blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.

  • Daniel 4:14 (5 votes)

    He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:

  • Job 18:16 (3 votes)

    His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut off.

  • Job 18:17 (3 votes)

    His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street.

  • Job 19:26 (2 votes)

    And [though] after my skin [worms] destroy this [body], yet in my flesh shall I see God:

  • Isaiah 26:14 (2 votes)

    [They are] dead, they shall not live; [they are] deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.

  • Ecclesiastes 8:10 (2 votes)

    And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this [is] also vanity.