Job 27:16

16 If they store up silver like dust, amass clothing like clay,

Job 27:16 Meaning and Commentary

Job 27:16

Though he heap up silver as the dust
Which, as it denotes the great abundance of it collected together, so it expresses the bias and disposition of such a man's mind, that he cannot be content without amassing great quantities of it, and also his diligence and success therein, see ( 1 Kings 10:27 ) ( Psalms 39:6 ) ( Habakkuk 2:6 ) ;

and prepare raiment as the clay;
not merely, for use, but pomp and show, to fill his wardrobes with; and formerly, raiment was part of the treasure of great men: the phrase signifies that he might have such a variety of raiment, and such large quantities of it, that he would value it no more than so much clay; or else that his riches, consist of what it would, would be both polluting and troublesome to him; the Septuagint version reads "gold" instead of "raiment", as in ( Zechariah 9:3 ) , where like expressions are used of Tyre.

Job 27:16 In-Context

14 If their children increase, they belong to the sword; their offspring won't have enough bread.

15 Their survivors will be buried with the dead; their widows won't weep.

16 If they store up silver like dust, amass clothing like clay,

17 they may amass, but the righteous will wear it; the innocent will divide the silver.

18 They built their houses like nests, like a hut made by a watchman.