Job 20:18
That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein.
Original Language Analysis
מֵשִׁ֣יב
for shall he restore
H7725
מֵשִׁ֣יב
for shall he restore
Strong's:
H7725
Word #:
1 of 8
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
וְלֹ֣א
H3808
וְלֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
3 of 8
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יִבְלָ֑ע
and shall not swallow it down
H1104
יִבְלָ֑ע
and shall not swallow it down
Strong's:
H1104
Word #:
4 of 8
to make away with (specifically by swallowing); generally, to destroy
כְּחֵ֥יל
according to his substance
H2428
כְּחֵ֥יל
according to his substance
Strong's:
H2428
Word #:
5 of 8
probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength
Cross References
Job 20:10His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.Job 20:15He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.Job 31:29If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:Job 31:25If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much;Job 20:5That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?Proverbs 1:12Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:Jeremiah 51:44And I will punish Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth out of his mouth that which he hath swallowed up: and the nations shall not flow together any more unto him: yea, the wall of Babylon shall fall.Jeremiah 22:13Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work;Jeremiah 22:17But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it.Jeremiah 51:34Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon hath devoured me, he hath crushed me, he hath made me an empty vessel, he hath swallowed me up like a dragon, he hath filled his belly with my delicates, he hath cast me out.
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern law required restitution for theft and fraud (Exodus 22). Multiple restitution (sometimes fourfold or more) could impoverish the thief. Zophar assumes Job secretly defrauded others, requiring such restitution. God's later vindication proves this false.
Questions for Reflection
- How do we make proper restitution when we've wronged others?
- What is the difference between restitution for actual wrong versus assumption of wrong without evidence?
- How does the Gospel both require justice and offer grace regarding past wrongs?
Analysis & Commentary
Labor brings no enjoyment: 'That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein.' The wicked must restore what they gained—no enjoyment of their labor. Full restitution leaves them without gain. While true for those who gained through oppression, this doesn't explain Job's losses. Job's labor was righteous, yet he lost its fruit.