Job 20:26
All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle.
Original Language Analysis
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
1 of 11
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
חֹשֶׁךְ֮
All darkness
H2822
חֹשֶׁךְ֮
All darkness
Strong's:
H2822
Word #:
2 of 11
the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness
לִצְפּ֫וּנָ֥יו
in his secret places
H6845
לִצְפּ֫וּנָ֥יו
in his secret places
Strong's:
H6845
Word #:
4 of 11
to hide (by covering over); by implication, to hoard or reserve; figuratively to deny; specifically (favorably) to protect, (unfavorably) to lurk
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
7 of 11
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
נֻפָּ֑ח
not blown
H5301
נֻפָּ֑ח
not blown
Strong's:
H5301
Word #:
8 of 11
to puff, in various applications (literally, to inflate, blow hard, scatter, kindle, expire; figuratively, to disesteem)
יֵ֖רַע
him it shall go ill
H3415
יֵ֖רַע
him it shall go ill
Strong's:
H3415
Word #:
9 of 11
properly, to be broken up (with any violent action) i.e., (figuratively) to fear
Cross References
Psalms 21:9Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.Psalms 120:4Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.Isaiah 30:33For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.Isaiah 8:22And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.Matthew 3:12Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.Matthew 8:12But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.Jude 1:13Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
Historical Context
Fire represented divine judgment throughout Scripture (Genesis 19:24, Leviticus 10:2, 2 Kings 1:10). 'Fire not blown' distinguished supernatural judgment from human-kindled fires. Ancient hearths required bellows or blowing to intensify flame; unbblown fire that still consumed demonstrated divine origin. This motif appears in wilderness judgment narratives (Numbers 11:1, 16:35).
Questions for Reflection
- How does divine judgment as 'fire not blown' emphasize God's active role rather than impersonal fate?
- What is the relationship between OT temporal judgments by fire and NT eternal judgment in Gehenna?
- How should we balance proclaiming God's judgment with extending His offer of mercy in Christ?
Analysis & Commentary
All darkness shall be hid in his secret places (כָּל־חֹשֶׁךְ טָמוּן לִצְפּוּנָיו, kol-choshek tamun litsppunav)—choshek (darkness) represents calamity and divine judgment throughout Scripture. Tamun (hidden, stored up) suggests judgment lies in wait. A fire not blown shall consume him (תְּאָכְלֵהוּ אֵשׁ לֹא־נֻפָּח, te'akhelhu esh lo-nuppach)—divinely kindled fire (esh lo-nuppach, not blown by man) that consumes without human agency.
Zophar describes supernatural judgment: darkness stored in hidden places and fire not requiring human kindling point to direct divine intervention. This imagery anticipates Gehenna in NT teaching—unquenchable fire (Mark 9:43-48). It shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle—even survivors won't escape. Zophar's relentless vision leaves no possibility of redemption or mercy.