Job 27:14-23

14 "Though his sons are many, they are destined 1for the sword; And his 2descendants will not be satisfied with bread.
15 "His survivors will be buried because of the plague, And their 3widows will not be able to weep.
16 "Though he piles up silver like dust And prepares garments as plentiful as the clay,
17 He may prepare it, 4but the just will wear it And the innocent will divide the silver.
18 "He has built his 5house like the spider's web, Or as a hut which the watchman has made.
19 "He lies down rich, but never again; He opens his eyes, and 6it is no longer.
20 "7Terrors overtake him like a flood; A tempest steals him away 8in the night.
21 "The east 9wind carries him away, and he is gone, For it whirls him 10away from his place.
22 "For it will hurl at him 11without sparing; He will surely try to 12flee from its power.
23 "Men will clap their hands at him And will 13hiss him from his place.

Job 27:14-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 27

Though Job's friends were become silent, and dropped the controversy with him, he still continued his discourse in this and the four following chapters; in which he asserts his integrity; illustrates and confirms his former sentiments; gives further proof of his knowledge of things, natural and divine; takes notice of his former state of prosperity, and of his present distresses and afflictions, which came upon him, notwithstanding his piety, humanity, and beneficence, and his freedom from the grosser acts of sin, both with respect to God and men, all which he enlarges upon. In this chapter he gives his word and oath for it, that he would never belie himself, and own that he was an hypocrite, when he was not, but would continue to assert his integrity, and the righteousness of his cause, as long as he lived, Job 27:1-6; for to be an hypocrite, and to attempt to conceal his hypocrisy, would be of no advantage to him, either in life, or in death, Job 27:7-10; and was this his character and case, upon their principles, he could expect no other than to be a miserable man, as wicked men are, who have their blessings turned into curses, or taken away from them, and they removed out of the world in the most awful and terrible manner, and under manifest tokens of the wrath and displeasure of God, Job 27:11-23.

Cross References 13

Footnotes 5

  • [a]. Lit "the sword is for them"
  • [b]. So ancient versions; Heb "his"
  • [c]. So ancient versions; Heb "moth"
  • [d]. So ancient versions; Heb "will be gathered"
  • [e]. Lit "hand"
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