Job 4:9

9 By the breath of God they perish, and by the spirit of his anger they are consumed.

Job 4:9 Meaning and Commentary

Job 4:9

By the blast of God they perish
They and their works, the ploughers, sowers, and reapers of iniquity; the allusion is to the blasting of corn by the east wind, or by mildew having used the figures of ploughing and sowing before; and which is as soon and as easily done as corn, or anything else, is blasted in the above manner; and denotes the sudden and easy destruction of wicked men by the power of God, stirred up by his wrath and indignation, because of their sins; who when he blows a blast on their persons, substance, and families, they perish at once:

and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed;
meaning his wrath and anger, which is like a stream of brimstone, and kindles a fire on the wicked, which are as fuel to it, and are soon consumed by it; the allusion is to breath in a man's nostrils, and the heat of his wrath and fury discovered thereby: some think this refers to Job's children being destroyed by the wind, see ( Isaiah 11:4 ) .

Job 4:9 In-Context

7 Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? Or where were the righteous cut off?
8 Even as I have seen, those that plow iniquity and sow wickedness, reap the same.
9 By the breath of God they perish, and by the spirit of his anger they are consumed.
10 The roaring of the lion and the voice of the fierce lion and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.
11 The old lion perishes for lack of prey, and the stout lion’s whelps are scattered abroad.
The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010