Job 20:7
Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?
Original Language Analysis
לָנֶ֣צַח
for ever
H5331
לָנֶ֣צַח
for ever
Strong's:
H5331
Word #:
2 of 6
properly, a goal, i.e., the bright object at a distance travelled towards; hence (figuratively), splendor, or (subjectively) truthfulness, or (objecti
יֹאבֵ֑ד
Yet he shall perish
H6
יֹאבֵ֑ד
Yet he shall perish
Strong's:
H6
Word #:
3 of 6
properly, to wander away, i.e., lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)
רֹ֝אָ֗יו
they which have seen
H7200
רֹ֝אָ֗יו
they which have seen
Strong's:
H7200
Word #:
4 of 6
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
Cross References
Psalms 83:10Which perished at En-dor: they became as dung for the earth.Job 14:10But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?1 Kings 14:10Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone.2 Kings 9:37And the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel.Job 4:20They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it.Job 7:10He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.Job 8:18If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee.Jeremiah 8:2And they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried; they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth.
Historical Context
The image of dung as worthlessness appears across Scripture. Paul considers his credentials 'dung' (σκύβαλον, skubalon) compared to knowing Christ (Philippians 3:8). Zophar weaponizes this metaphor against Job, but the book's resolution proves Zophar spoke 'dung'—his theology was the refuse, not Job's life.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Zophar's crude insult reveal the depths to which theological argumentation can sink?
- When have you seen people use Scripture's vivid language to wound rather than heal?
- What does it mean that Job's words were preserved as Scripture while Zophar's condemnation proved false?
Analysis & Commentary
Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung (כְּגֶלְלוֹ לָנֶצַח יֹאבֵד, keglelo lanetsach yoved)—Zophar delivers the book's most visceral, repulsive image: the wicked person perishes כְּגֶלְלוֹ (keglelo, 'like his dung/excrement'). The noun גָּלָל (galal) is animal dung, used for fuel but considered unclean. לָנֶצַח (lanetsach, 'forever, perpetually') intensifies the judgment: permanent rubbish.
They which have seen him shall say, Where is he? (רֹאָיו יֹאמְרוּ אַיּוֹ, ro'av yomru 'ayyo)—The wicked vanish so completely that witnesses ask אַיּוֹ ('ayyo, 'Where?')—an interrogative of absence. Zophar assumes Job's suffering proves him wicked, headed for oblivion. The irony: Job will be vindicated, remembered, and his words canonized, while Zophar's name means 'chirper'—insignificant noise.