Job 20:28
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Job 20:28
28 The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.
Chapter Context
Job 20 is a wisdom dialogue chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of sacrifice, faith, worship. Written during the patriarchal period (literary composition later), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Ancient wisdom traditions often wrestled with the problem of suffering and divine justice.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-29: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it provides essential context for understanding God's covenant relationship with His people. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Job and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Job 20:28
28 The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.
Analysis
The increase of his house shall depart (יִגֶל יְבוּל בֵּיתוֹ, yigel yevul betho)—yigel (shall depart, go into exile) suggests forced removal. Yevul means produce, income, or increase—everything accumulated through labor. His goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath (נִגָּרוֹת בְּיוֹם אַפּוֹ, niggaroth beyom appo)—nagar means to flow, pour out, be poured away like water. Yom appo (day of His wrath) clearly identifies divine judgment day.
Zophar concludes his speech with total material loss on judgment day. The irony cuts deep: Job has already experienced exactly this scenario (Job 1:13-22), yet maintained integrity. Zophar's theology cannot explain why the righteous Job suffered what should befall only the wicked. God's answer will come in chapters 38-41, revealing that divine wisdom transcends human retribution formulas. The NT develops this further—material prosperity never indicated spiritual state (Luke 12:15-21, 16:19-31).
Historical Context
Zophar's second speech (Job 20) represents his final contribution to the dialogue. After this, he falls silent—perhaps recognizing his arguments haven't moved Job, or simply having exhausted his theological arsenal. Ancient Near Eastern wisdom assumed divine-human moral symmetry: good deeds bring blessing, evil brings curse. Job's situation defied this framework, forcing later wisdom literature (Ecclesiastes) and ultimately NT revelation to provide fuller answers.
Reflection
- How does Job's actual experience of loss while righteous demolish Zophar's neat retribution theology?
- What is the relationship between temporal loss in this life and eternal loss in the day of God's wrath?
- How does the NT teaching on Christ bearing God's wrath transform how we understand the 'day of His anger'?
Word Studies
- Wrath: אַף (Aph) H639 - Wrath, anger