The verse shows that persistent torment awaits those who refuse to turn from wrongdoing.
Eliphaz, speaking to Job, describes the condition of those who live in wickedness as he asserts, “The wicked man writhes in pain all his days, And numbered are the years stored up for the ruthless.” (v.20) Although this verse does not mention a specific location or person by name, it addresses a universal principle: sin often brings internal torment and trouble. In the context of the Book of Job, which many scholars date as one of the oldest biblical accounts (some propose around 2000-1800 BC), Eliphaz is endeavoring to explain suffering in humanity, albeit with an incomplete understanding of God’s ways. He assumes that those who face calamity, like Job, have likely committed wrongdoing and thus experience pain as a direct result of their misdeeds.
The phrase “writhes in pain all his days” (v.20) vividly illustrates the ceaseless distress that Eliphaz believes wickedness yields. From a broader biblical perspective, the condemnation of wicked actions echoes throughout scripture. For instance, Romans 6:23 teaches that sin leads to spiritual death. Eliphaz’s viewpoint here generalizes that suffering is evidence of sin, though the rest of Job’s story clarifies that not every hardship is a direct punishment for wrongdoing, and that God’s purposes can transcend simple cause-and-effect reasoning.
Eliphaz also refers to “the years stored up for the ruthless” (v.20) to imply that those who oppress others will eventually meet the consequences of their behavior. When we consider the life and message of Jesus as portrayed in the New Testament, He calls believers to a righteous, repentant life that frees them from the kind of perpetual pain Eliphaz describes. Though in Job’s case, his suffering was not the result of his own wickedness, this verse remains relevant as a reminder that malicious actions can lead to ongoing anguish.
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Job 15:20 meaning
Eliphaz, speaking to Job, describes the condition of those who live in wickedness as he asserts, “The wicked man writhes in pain all his days, And numbered are the years stored up for the ruthless.” (v.20) Although this verse does not mention a specific location or person by name, it addresses a universal principle: sin often brings internal torment and trouble. In the context of the Book of Job, which many scholars date as one of the oldest biblical accounts (some propose around 2000-1800 BC), Eliphaz is endeavoring to explain suffering in humanity, albeit with an incomplete understanding of God’s ways. He assumes that those who face calamity, like Job, have likely committed wrongdoing and thus experience pain as a direct result of their misdeeds.
The phrase “writhes in pain all his days” (v.20) vividly illustrates the ceaseless distress that Eliphaz believes wickedness yields. From a broader biblical perspective, the condemnation of wicked actions echoes throughout scripture. For instance, Romans 6:23 teaches that sin leads to spiritual death. Eliphaz’s viewpoint here generalizes that suffering is evidence of sin, though the rest of Job’s story clarifies that not every hardship is a direct punishment for wrongdoing, and that God’s purposes can transcend simple cause-and-effect reasoning.
Eliphaz also refers to “the years stored up for the ruthless” (v.20) to imply that those who oppress others will eventually meet the consequences of their behavior. When we consider the life and message of Jesus as portrayed in the New Testament, He calls believers to a righteous, repentant life that frees them from the kind of perpetual pain Eliphaz describes. Though in Job’s case, his suffering was not the result of his own wickedness, this verse remains relevant as a reminder that malicious actions can lead to ongoing anguish.