Job 15:21
A dreadful sound is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him.
Original Language Analysis
פְּחָדִ֥ים
A dreadful
H6343
פְּחָדִ֥ים
A dreadful
Strong's:
H6343
Word #:
2 of 6
a (sudden) alarm (properly, the object feared, by implication, the feeling)
בְּאָזְנָ֑יו
is in his ears
H241
בְּאָזְנָ֑יו
is in his ears
Strong's:
H241
Word #:
3 of 6
broadness. i.e., (concrete) the ear (from its form in man)
בַּ֝שָּׁל֗וֹם
in prosperity
H7965
בַּ֝שָּׁל֗וֹם
in prosperity
Strong's:
H7965
Word #:
4 of 6
safe, i.e., (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e., health, prosperity, peace
Cross References
Job 18:11Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet.1 Thessalonians 5:3For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.Leviticus 26:36And upon them that are left alive of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none pursueth.1 Corinthians 10:10Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.Revelation 9:11And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.Psalms 92:7When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever:Job 27:20Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night.
Historical Context
Ancient understanding recognized that fear and anxiety often indicated guilty conscience (Proverbs 28:1). However, Scripture also shows the righteous experiencing fear and distress without guilt (Psalms of lament, Jeremiah's struggles).
Questions for Reflection
- How do we distinguish anxiety from guilty conscience versus anxiety from suffering or mental health challenges?
- What pastoral damage occurs when we assume all fear indicates hidden sin?
- How does the Gospel address both guilty conscience and non-guilt-related anxiety?
Analysis & Commentary
The wicked live in fear: 'A dreadful sound is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him.' Inner terror haunts the wicked even during external prosperity. The 'dreadful sound' suggests constant dread of judgment. This describes guilty conscience—sin brings psychological torment. While true for the wicked, Eliphaz wrongly assumes Job's distress proves guilt. Anxiety can arise from suffering without indicating wickedness.