Job 4:9

9 By the blast of God they perish , and by the breath of his nostrils are they 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 , they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
9 By the blast of God they perish , and by the breath of his nostrils are they 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 perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad .

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. by the breath...: that is, by his anger
The King James Version is in the public domain.