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JOB 20
PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS
NASB | NKJV | NRSV | TEV | NJB |
Zophar Says, "The Triumph of the Wicked Is Short" | Zophar's Sermon on the Wicked Man | Second Discourse of Zophar | Zophar | The Course Of Justice Admits of No Exceptions |
20:1-11 (2-11) |
20:1 |
20:1-11 (2-11) |
20:1-3 (1-3) |
20:1-29 (2-29) |
20:2-3 (2-3) |
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20:4-11 (4-11) |
20:4-11 (4-11) |
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20:12-19 (12-19) |
20:12-19 (12-19) |
20:12-19 (12-19) |
20:12-28 (12-28) |
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20:20-29 (20-29) |
20:20-29 (20-29) |
20:20-29 (20-29) |
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20:29 (29) |
READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")
FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL
This is a study guide commentary, which
means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the
light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not
relinquish this to a commentator.
Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS
Cycle 1 | Cycle 2 | Cycle 3 | ||
Eliphaz | (chapters) | 4-5 | 15 | 22 |
Job | 6-7 | 16-17 | 23-24 | |
Bildad | 8 | 18 | 25 | |
Job | 9-10 | 19 | 26 | |
Zophar | 11 | 20 | ? | |
Job | 12-14 | 21 | 27 |
WORD AND PHRASE STUDY
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 20:1-11
1Then
Zophar the Naamathite answered,
2"Therefore
my disquieting thoughts make me respond,
Even because of my inward
agitation.
3I
listened to the reproof which insults me,
And the spirit of my understanding
makes me answer.
4Do
you know this from of old,
From
the establishment of man on earth,
5That the triumphing of the
wicked is short,
And the
joy of the godless momentary?
6Though
his loftiness reaches the heavens,
And
his head touches the clouds,
7He
perishes forever like his refuse;
Those
who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?'
8He flies away like a dream,
and they cannot find him;
Even
like a vision of the night he is chased away.
9The eye which saw him sees
him no longer,
And his
place no longer beholds him.
10His
sons favor the poor,
And
his hands give back his wealth.
11His
bones are full of his youthful vigor,
But
it lies down with him in the dust."
20:1 "Zophar" See notes at Job 11:1. This man is listed in the Septuagint of Gen. 30:11 and 1 Chr. 1:36. The Septuagint also calls him "the King of Mineans," which is a Semitic tribe in South Arabia.
20:2-3 "my disquieting thoughts. . .inward agitation. . .reproof which insults me" Job has really angered Zophar! Because
20:3 | |
NASB, NKJV, Peshitta, JPSOA | "the spirit of my understanding makes me answer" |
NRSV, REB | "a spirit beyond my understanding gives me the answers" |
NJB | "my mind inspires me with an answer" |
NIV | "my understanding inspires me" |
MT, LXX | "a spirit from understanding answers me" |
Is Zophar affirming either
20:4 "Do you know this from of old,
From the establishment of man on earth" This is an
argument from traditional wisdom (cf. Job 8:8; 15:18). The whole purpose of the Book
of Job is to react against the traditional wisdom (i.e., the two ways, Deut. 30:15,19;
Psalm 1) that God prospers those He loves (who are obedient) and punishes those
He hates (who are disobedient).
▣ "earth" See SPECIAL TOPIC: LAND, COUNTRY, EARTH.
20:5 "That the triumphing of the wicked is short" This is also the assertion of Psalm 37. This is the major theological tenant of Job's three friends. In Job 20:5-11 this theme is developed; joy is brief for the wicked (Psalm 73).
By innuendo Zophar is accusing Job of being
20:6 "his loftiness reaches the heavens,
And his head touches the clouds" This may just be Hebrew imagery of
▣ "heavens" See SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVEN.
20:7 The OT presents the afterlife in several ways.
The afterlife is one of several doctrines that begin in the OT but are developed in the NT. Theologians call this "Progressive Revelation." "The two ways" focuses on this life, not an afterlife, in light of the Mosaic Covenant (i.e., Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 27-29).
20:10 "His sons favor the poor,
And his hands give back his wealth" This is either a statement of fact
or irony. Some see this as a rich man's sons, themselves being poor now, or that they
feed the poor to try to make amends for their father's wicked behavior.
20:11 "in the dust" Dust is a euphemism for the grave (cf. Job 7:21; 1716; 21:26).
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 20:12-19
12"Though
evil is sweet in his mouth
And
he hides it under his tongue,
13Though
he desires it and will not let it go,
But
holds it in his mouth,
14Yet
his food in his stomach is changed
To
the venom of cobras within him.
15He
swallows riches,
But
will vomit them up;
God
will expel them from his belly.
16He
sucks the poison of cobras;
The
viper's tongue slays him.
17He
does not look at the streams,
The
rivers flowing with honey and curds.
18He
returns what he has attained
And
cannot swallow it;
As
to the riches of his trading,
He
cannot even enjoy them.
19For
he has oppressed and forsaken the poor;
He has seized a house which he has
not built."
20:12-19 This expresses the traditional position that sin bears the seeds of its own destruction.
20:17 This verse has three words which refer to the same thing.
Commentators suggest that to #2 should be added "of oil," and thereby make a parallel with "honey and curds" (cf. Job 20:17b).
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 20:20-29
20"Because
he knew no quiet within him,
He
does not retain anything he desires.
21Nothing remains for him to
devour,
Therefore his
prosperity does not endure.
22In
the fullness of his plenty he will be cramped;
The hand of everyone who suffers
will come against him.
23When
he fills his belly,
God
will send His fierce anger on him
And
will rain it on him while he is eating.
24He may flee from the iron
weapon,
But the
bronze bow will pierce him.
25It
is drawn forth and comes out of his back,
Even the glittering point from his
gall.
Terrors come upon
him,
26Complete
darkness is held in reserve for his treasures,
And unfanned fire will devour him;
It will consume the survivor in
his tent.
27The
heavens will reveal his iniquity,
And
the earth will rise up against him.
28The increase of his house
will depart;
His
possessions will flow away in the day of His anger.
29This is the wicked man's
portion from God,
Even
the heritage decreed to him by God."
20:23-28 The VERBS in this section express a "curse formula" (three JUSSIVE forms).
20:23 | |
NASB, NKJV | "while he is eating" |
NRSV | "as their food" |
NJB | —omit— |
JPSOA | "His weapons upon him" |
REB | "cruel blows" |
Peshitta | "while he wars against him" |
The MT has "into his bowels" (BDB 535). The UBS Handbook, p. 382, suggests that the emendation which changes the last word to "bread" (BDB 536) is preferable.
The MT has בלחומו; this could be derived from three roots.
20:25b "the glittering point" This imagery could be
Maybe Zophar is using Job's imagery from Job 6:4 to infer he is a sinner receiving his just dues.
20:27 "The heavens. . .the earth" This seems to refer to the legal need for two witnesses (cf. Deut. 4:26; 30:19; 31:28; 32:1; Isa. 1:2).
▣ "reveal" This verse and Job 20:12b imply hidden sin. This is what the three comforters claim about Job. He must be hiding sin!
20:28b "the day of His anger" The Bible clearly and repeatedly asserts that all humans will stand before God to give an account of the gift of life! The question in Job: is this divine confrontation and its consequences in this life or the afterlife? In context it must refer to this life!
SPECIAL TOPIC: JUDGMENT IN THE NT
20:29 Zophar's summary statement related to "the two ways."
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are
responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You,
the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.
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