Job 20:27

Authorized King James Version

The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
יְגַלּ֣וּ
shall reveal
to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively, to reveal
#2
שָׁמַ֣יִם
The heaven
the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r
#3
עֲוֹנ֑וֹ
his iniquity
perversity, i.e., (moral) evil
#4
וְ֝אֶ֗רֶץ
and the earth
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
#5
מִתְקוֹמָ֘מָ֥ה
shall rise up
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
#6
לֽוֹ׃
H0

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection