Job 4:9

9 When God breathes deeply, they perish; by a breath of his nostril they are annihilated.

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 Think! What innocent person has ever perished? When have those who do the right thing been destroyed?

8 As I've observed, those who plow sin and sow trouble will harvest it.

9 When God breathes deeply, they perish; by a breath of his nostril they are annihilated.

10 The roar of a lion and snarl of the king of beasts— yet the teeth of lions are shattered;

11 the lion perishes without prey, and its cubs are scattered.