Job 20:24
He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.
Original Language Analysis
מִנֵּ֣שֶׁק
weapon
H5402
מִנֵּ֣שֶׁק
weapon
Strong's:
H5402
Word #:
2 of 6
military equipment, i.e., (collectively) arms (offensive or defensive), or (concretely) an arsenal
בַּרְזֶ֑ל
from the iron
H1270
בַּרְזֶ֑ל
from the iron
Strong's:
H1270
Word #:
3 of 6
iron (as cutting); by extension, an iron implement
תַּ֝חְלְפֵ֗הוּ
shall strike him through
H2498
תַּ֝חְלְפֵ֗הוּ
shall strike him through
Strong's:
H2498
Word #:
4 of 6
properly, to slide by, i.e., (by implication) to hasten away, pass on, spring up, pierce or change
Cross References
Isaiah 24:18And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake.Amos 5:19As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.2 Samuel 22:35He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
Historical Context
Iron weapons became widespread in the ancient Near East during the Iron Age (1200-600 BC), though the Job narrative predates this. The mention of iron may reflect later editorial updating of archaic terms for contemporary readers. Bronze bows required enormous strength and were prized weapons. Composite bows could pierce armor at considerable distance, making them symbols of inescapable divine judgment (Psalm 7:12-13).
Questions for Reflection
- How does the inescapability of divine judgment in Zophar's speech point to humanity's desperate need for a mediator?
- What is the relationship between temporal judgments (which the wicked sometimes escape) and final judgment (which no one escapes)?
- How should the certainty of judgment affect how we warn others, without becoming accusatory like Zophar?
Analysis & Commentary
He shall flee from the iron weapon (יִבְרַח מִנְּשֶׁק בַּרְזֶל, yivrah minneshek barzel)—Zophar's vivid battle imagery depicts the wicked as a fleeing warrior. Barzel (iron) represents superior weaponry that Bronze Age armies feared. The bow of steel shall strike him through (תַּחְלְפֵהוּ קֶשֶׁת נְחוּשָׁה, tachlephehu qeshet nechushah)—actually 'bow of bronze' (nechushah), not steel. The KJV's 'steel' reflects translation convention; bronze bows were formidable ancient weapons.
The imagery suggests inescapable judgment: flee from one weapon, you're struck by another. This anticipates Amos 5:19 (flee the lion, meet the bear). Zophar believes divine judgment pursues the wicked relentlessly. His error isn't the theology itself—God does judge sin—but identifying Job as the target. The NT affirms inescapable judgment (Hebrews 9:27) but reveals Christ as both judge and substitute.