Job 27:23
Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.
Original Language Analysis
יִשְׂפֹּ֣ק
Men shall clap
H5606
יִשְׂפֹּ֣ק
Men shall clap
Strong's:
H5606
Word #:
1 of 6
to clap the hands (in token of compact, derision, grief, indignation, or punishment); by implication of satisfaction, to be enough; by implication of
עָלֵ֣ימוֹ
H5921
עָלֵ֣ימוֹ
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
2 of 6
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
כַפֵּ֑ימוֹ
their hands
H3709
כַפֵּ֑ימוֹ
their hands
Strong's:
H3709
Word #:
3 of 6
the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-
וְיִשְׁרֹ֥ק
at him and shall hiss
H8319
וְיִשְׁרֹ֥ק
at him and shall hiss
Strong's:
H8319
Word #:
4 of 6
properly, to be shrill, i.e., to whistle or hiss (as a call or in scorn)
Cross References
Lamentations 2:15All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?1 Kings 9:8And at this house, which is high, every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and to this house?Zephaniah 2:15This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.
Historical Context
Public shaming was central to ancient Near Eastern honor/shame culture. Hissing and clapping signified communal rejection and curse. Zephaniah 2:15 describes Nineveh's fate: "every one that passeth by her shall hiss." Job envisions the wicked suffering ultimate social disgrace alongside divine judgment. In honor cultures, this is worse than death—perpetual infamy.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Christ's experience of public mockery (Mark 15:29-32) redefine shame for believers?
- What role does public accountability play in God's judgment?
- How should we respond to seeing the wicked prosper, knowing their future judgment?
Analysis & Commentary
Men shall clap their hands at him (יִשְׂפְּקוּ־עָלָיו כַפּוֹ, yispeku-alav kappo)—The verb saphaq (שָׂפַק) means "to clap" or "strike together," expressing scornful derision. Clapping can signify joy (Psalm 47:1) or mockery (Lamentations 2:15, Nahum 3:19). Here it's contempt. The phrase shall hiss him out of his place (וְיִשְׁרֹק עָלָיו מִמְּקֹמוֹ) uses sharaq (שָׁרַק, "to hiss, whistle"), expressing astonishment or scorn. The wicked will be expelled from their place (maqom, position, dwelling) with public derision.
This is the reversal motif: the proud will be humbled, the exalted brought low (Luke 1:52). Public shame awaits those who defied God. This finds ultimate expression in Revelation 18:20—"Rejoice over her, thou heaven... for God hath avenged you on her." The gospel's scandal is that Christ bore this mockery (Matthew 27:39-44, clapping, wagging heads) so believers escape final shame. We exchange places: His shame becomes ours temporarily; His glory becomes ours eternally.