Job 20:20

20 Because he has not known satisfaction in his stomach, {he lets nothing escape that he desires}.

Job 20:20 Meaning and Commentary

Job 20:20

Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly
Or happiness in his children, so some in Bar Tzemach; rather shall have no satisfaction in his substance; though his belly is filled with hid treasure, it shall give him no contentment; he shall be a stranger to that divine art, but ever have a restless craving after more, which is his sin; but rather punishment is here meant, and the sense is, that he shall have no quiet in his conscience, no peace of mind, because of his sin in getting riches in an unlawful way:

he shall not save of that which he desired;
of his desirable things, his goods, his wealth, his riches, and even his children, all being gone, and none saved; respect may be had particularly to Job's case, who was stripped of everything, of all his substance and his children.

Job 20:20 In-Context

18 Returning [the] products of [his] toil, he will not swallow; according to the profit of his trade, {he will not enjoy},
19 for he has oppressed; he has abandoned [the] poor; he has seized a house but did not build it.
20 Because he has not known satisfaction in his stomach, {he lets nothing escape that he desires}.
21 {There is nothing left after he has eaten}; therefore his prosperity will not endure.
22 In the fullness of his excess {he will be in distress}; all of misery's power will come [upon] him.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Literally "in his desire he does not let be saved"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.