Job 20:25
It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him.
Original Language Analysis
וַיֵּצֵ֪א
and cometh out
H3318
וַיֵּצֵ֪א
and cometh out
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
2 of 8
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
וּ֭בָרָק
yea the glittering sword
H1300
וּ֭בָרָק
yea the glittering sword
Strong's:
H1300
Word #:
4 of 8
lightning; by analogy, a gleam; concretely, a flashing sword
מִֽמְּרֹרָת֥וֹ
of his gall
H4846
מִֽמְּרֹרָת֥וֹ
of his gall
Strong's:
H4846
Word #:
5 of 8
properly, bitterness; concretely, a bitter thing; specifically bile; also venom (of a serpent)
יַהֲלֹ֗ךְ
cometh out
H1980
יַהֲלֹ֗ךְ
cometh out
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
6 of 8
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
Cross References
Job 16:13His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.Job 18:11Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet.Deuteronomy 32:41If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.Job 15:21A dreadful sound is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him.
Historical Context
Ancient warfare involved brutal close combat. Arrows and spears often remained embedded in bodies until extracted—a secondary trauma. Zophar's audience would vividly imagine this scenario. The 'terrors' may also reference death's psychological horror in ancient Near Eastern thought, where Sheol represented shadowy, joyless existence. Without clear resurrection hope, death inspired profound dread.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Zophar's description of death's terrors contrast with the believer's hope in Christ who conquered death?
- What does Zophar's graphic cruelty toward Job reveal about how theology can be weaponized?
- How should we speak about divine judgment without delighting in others' potential destruction?
Analysis & Commentary
It is drawn, and cometh out of the body (שָׁלַף וַיֵּצֵא מִגֵּוָה, shalaph vayyetse miggevah)—the arrow is pulled out from the torso, the verb shalaph meaning to draw out or extract. The glittering sword cometh out of his gall (וּבָרָק מִמְּרֹרָתוֹ יֵצֵא, uvaraq mimerortho yetse)—baraq means lightning or glittering blade; meroroth (gall/bile) represents the vital organs. The withdrawal of the weapon causes maximum agony.
Terrors are upon him (עָלָיו אֵימִים, alav emim)—emim denotes overwhelming dread, the same word describing primeval giants (Deuteronomy 2:10). Zophar paints death as traumatic terror, not peaceful passing. His graphic description reveals his cruelty toward suffering Job—he wants Job to envision this violent end as his deserved fate.